Author James L. Nelson discusses his book "George Washington's Secret Navy"
2026-07-16 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Topsfield Town Library, 1 South Common St, Topsfield, MA, 01983, United States
As part of the Topsfield Library’s Rev 250 programming marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and with tall ships visiting Boston for Sail Boston 2026 , we are excited to host author James L. Nelson to discuss his book George Washington’s Secret Navy.
ABOUT THE BOOK: In 1775, General George Washington secretly armed a handful of small ships and sent them to sea against the world’s mightiest navy. This is the story of how America’s first commander-in-chief–whose previous military experience had been entirely on land–nursed the fledgling American Revolution through a season of stalemate by sending troops to sea. Mining previously overlooked sources, James L. Nelson’s swiftly moving narrative shows that George Washington deliberately withheld knowledge of his tiny navy from the Continental Congress for more than two critical months, and that he did so precisely because he knew Congress would not approve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: James L. Nelson was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine and graduated from UCLA with a degree in motion picture/television production. Finding that despite being in Southern California, it was a damp, drizzly November in his soul, Jim took the cure Melville recommended and decided to sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. For six years he worked on board traditional sailing ships, but on turning thirty he realizing it would be easier to write about sailing rather than actually doing it. His career as a writer began in 1994 and he has since written more than twenty-five works of maritime fiction and history. He is the winner or the American Library Association/William Young Boyd Award and the Naval Order’s Samuel Eliot Morison Award. Nelson has lectured all over the country and appeared on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic and BookTV. He currently lives, writes and sails in Harpswell, Maine, with his former shipmate, now wife Lisa and two of their four children.

Popular Music & Veterans
2026-07-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Agawam Public Library, Cooper Street 750, Agawam, MA, 01001, United States
The Agawam Public Library is pleased to welcome back Jon and Li Waterman for an evening of live music and military history. In their program, “Popular Music and Veterans”, Jon and Li Waterman supplement their well-received “Roots of American Popular Music” program with an exploration through songs of some of the experiences and sacrifices of veterans throughout American history. The program consists of songs, history, and an accompanying slideshow pertaining to some of the experiences of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Civil War and other conflicts alongside the history of popular music in America. The program is part of the series “Live Music Making History Live.”
About Sultana: Sultana is the acoustic duo of Jon and Li Waterman. Musician and songwriter Jon Waterman has been performing his original songs throughout his life. His music is influenced by intriguing characters and stories from history, the roots of the music he loves, and the diversity of the human experience. His song “Sultana” which tells the story of the Civil War steamboat disaster was selected to be featured at the Sultana museum in Marion, AR. Waterman has presented his programs “A Journey Through the Roots of American Popular Music” and “History and Legends through Song” in venues around the country, both in person and virtually. He has an M.A. in Popular Music History from Prescott College. Li is a classically trained guitarist and singer who formerly fronted the Rhode Island band Alien Tesh. She is also an artist and graduate of Museum School in Boston.
This program is sponsored by the Agawam Center Library Association.
Thurs. July 16 @ 6:30 pm at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper Street, Agawam, MA. Please register online at the Agawam Public Library’s website: https://agawamlibrary.libcal.com/event/15527763

Prepared for War: Sudbury and the Massachusetts Militia on the Eve of Lexington and Concord
2026-07-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Sudbury History Center and Museum, Old Sudbury Road 288, Sudbury, Massachusetts, 01776, United States
Join us on July 16th for a fascinating evening lecture on Sudbury and the Massachusetts Militia on the eve of Lexington and Concord!
In October 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered towns across the Colony to prepare for war with England. In response, the Colony entered a wartime phase that included creating minute companies, stockpiling arms, ammunition, and equipment, and establishing a defense network ready to mobilize if the redcoats marched from Boston into the countryside.
Join historian Alexander Cain as he discusees the Colony’s response to the British threat of war and examines the Massachusetts militia and minuteman system, with an emphasis on Sudbury on the eve of Lexington and Concord.

Revolutionary Legacies | History Happy Hour
2026-07-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Celebrate the Museum’s special exhibition, Revolutionary Legacies, with a special guided tour following a festive happy hour of wine, beer, and light refreshments in the Museum’s courtyard. Reflect on the nation’s founding principles, their continuous reinterpretation over the past 250 years, and consider what they mean today through textiles, ceramics, and relics from the 19th century.
Your ticket includes drinks outside in the courtyard before the tour, which begins at 7:15 pm.
$15 Members | $25 Non-Members

Concord Band Summer Concert at 51 Walden: “Boston Liberties”
2026-07-16 19:15 - 20:30 | 51 Walden Performing Arts Center, Walden Street 51, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
The Concord Band, directed by James O’Dell, will be performing at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord on Thursday, July 16 at 7:15pm. The theme of this concert is “Boston Liberties” and will feature pieces commissioned by the Band, as well as spirited works by John Philip Sousa, Clare Grundman, and Jay Chattaway. The venue at 51 Walden is fully air conditioned; the concert is free and donations are gratefully accepted.
For more information about the Concord Band Sounds of Summer Concert Series, see https://concordband.blogspot.com/2026/06/sounds-of-summer.html

Special Exhibit: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
2026-07-17, 2026-07-18 | How Do You See the World? experience, Massachusetts Avenue 210, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Learn about the revolutionary ideas and historical legacy of Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) — one of the only women to found a worldwide religion — in a temporary exhibit this spring and summer at the Christian Science Plaza celebrating MA250: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy.
This free exhibit is part of the interactive How Do You See the World?® experience, exploring the world through a lens of hope, progress, and generosity. Walk through the three-story, stained glass Mapparium® globe (ticketed) that shows the world as it was in 1935 — from the inside of the world, looking out. You can then explore “Our World: Mapping Progress,” an exhibit featuring stories from The Christian Science Monitor, the Pulitzer Prize-winning international news source headquartered in the building. Learn more about Eddy’s remarkable life and the global church she founded in “Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy.”
This special exhibit will be open through spring and summer 2026 as part of the statewide MA250 celebrations. Tickets for the Mapparium® globe are free for youth under 18, $6 for adults. All other exhibits, including this special exhibit, are free.
Hours of operation:
Monday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
The How Do You See the World?® experience is located at 210 Massachusetts Ave. in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay.
For additional information and to buy tickets to the Mapparium® globe, please visit christianscience.com/howdoyouseetheworld

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-07-17 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-18 08:00 - 14:00 | North Andover Historical Society, 800 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, 01845, United States
The Andover revolutionaries understood that creating a truly free society would take many generations. Their records and artifacts, preserved at the North Andover Historical Society, are here to remind us that history matters. They depict stories of battles won, hardships endured, hometown and battleground heroes, and the start of a long fight for liberty, equality and justice. Their ideals and aspirations are the standards by which we measure our progress today.
Come discover the amazing stories brought to life at the North Andover Historical Society (NAHS) through REV250, a series of programs and exhibits dedicated to the American Revolution.
The exhibit will be open every week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Please check the website for more information.

Collecting Wonders: Tomorrow’s Discoveries
2026-07-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Harvard Museum of Natural History, Oxford Street 26, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
When you imagine a museum, you might picture cases of artifacts. But the objects on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History are a tiny percentage of the total collections. Behind the scenes, experts care for 26 million specimens. These objects form the basis for studying life on Earth. They are records of the planet from different times and places. Objects span billions of years and come from every continent, ocean, and beyond. They are stone and bone, plant and animal, feather and fossil.
Since the early days of Harvard University, collections have been central to teaching and research. People continue to study these collections and uncover knowledge. Come explore some treasures of the collection!
Explore historic specimens presented to mark the 250th Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence on June 27.

Pop Quiz: 1776
2026-07-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Harvard Museum of Natural History, Oxford Street 26, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
Step back into the 18th century and put your detective skills to the test! Pop Quiz: 1776 takes you on a four-museum adventure to uncover surprising ways that life at Harvard was both similar to and—or different from —today. Would Harvard students in 1776 have known about the things we see and do today? Take a guess, then search for specific objects across our four museums—the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments—to check your answers.
Pro tip: join us any Sunday–Friday 11:00 am–4:00 pm to access all four museums!
Check museum’s website for closure dates.

Curator Tour: American Stories: Revolution to Rockwell
2026-07-17 09:30 - 10:30 | Norman Rockwell Museum, Glendale Road 9, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 01262, United States
Join Russell Lord, Chief of Curator Affairs, for a tour of American Stories: Revolution to Rockwell. This thematic exhibition explores how artists over the last 250 years have represented America’s evolving story. Lord will discuss how select works on view reflect and shape American identity. The tour will also touch on the role illustration has played in tracing the actual history of the nation as well as communicating our shared values and aspirations.
Limited space: reservations required.

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-07-17 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-07-18 09:30 - 16:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history.
In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government in society. Private letters, intimate diaries, and newspaper accounts reveal how the Declaration of Independence grew from draft to founding document. 1776: Declaring Independence spotlights handwritten copies of the Declaration by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as well as multiple early printings, including a rare Dunlap broadside. On and off the page, we explore how it echoed across the commonwealth and around the world, reshaping the colonists’ chances of launching a new nation. How did the Declaration change Americans’ quest for liberty, then and now? We invite visitors to trace the Declaration’s complex legacy as a national beacon for celebration and protest.
Check here for closures and more admission information: https://www.masshist.org/visit/hours-and-admission

Chasing Liberty: Black Newburyporters and Privateers in Highland Cemetery
2026-07-17 10:00, 2026-07-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Highland Cemetery, Hill Street 21, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Join Ghlee Woodworth for a walking tour focused on the memorials of Newburyport’s Black community and Revolutionary privateers.
Wander through Newburyport’s historic Highland Cemetery with a special guide – noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native. During this special event, Woodworth will focus on the memorials of Newburyport’s once-thriving Black community, and the graves of Newburyport’s legendary privateers. Hear the story of “Guinea village”, the slang term for the Black neighborhood nearby and learn more about efforts to commemorate and celebrate Black lives and experiences. Learn about the remarkable life of Captain Offin Boardman, chasing liberty in a different way.

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-07-17 10:00 - 17:00 | Old State House, 206 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02109, United States
Explore major Massachusetts events in the first year of the American Revolution at the Old State House, where protest turned into action and the momentum for independence accelerated. Created through a partnership between Revolutionary Spaces and the Massachusetts Historical Society, The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement invites visitors to step into 1775 and 1776—a moment defined by uncertainty, debate, and decisions that would reshape the world.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-07-17 10:00 - 18:00 | Family Heritage Experience, Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, labored, and led in the struggle for American independence across all thirteen colonies. Through documents, personal narratives, and digital interactives, the exhibition uncovers the courage and resilience of those whose contributions helped shape a new nation, even as they continued to confront inequality and enslavement.
Bridging past and present, Patriots of Color highlights the voices of descendants who are reclaiming these stories today—connecting revolutionary ideals of freedom and justice to the ongoing pursuit of equality in America.
Entrance to the exhibit is included in admission to the Family Heritage Experience and can be purchased either in person or online.

1776 at The Mission House
2026-07-17 11:00 - 12:00 | The Mission House, Main Street 19, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 01263, United States
Join Mark Wilson, Director of Historic Collections, for a special curator’s tour focused on life in Revolutionary Stockbridge and uncover a powerful chapter in the history of The Mission House.
Explore historic spaces, artifacts, and stories drawn from the site’s rich history, and discover how global events reverberated through this Berkshire community. Learn about Dr. Erastus Sergeant, a captain in the Burgoyne Campaign and surgeon at Fort Ticonderoga; his wife Elizabeth Partridge Sergeant, left to manage The Mission House and six young children amidst the war; Wappinger Sachem Daniel Ninham, who led a company of Native American soldiers in Washington’s Army; Agrippa Hull, a free Black man who served as trusted orderly to Tadeusz Kościuszko for five years; and other local residents whose lives were forever changed by the conflict.
Space is limited and preregistration is required. This tour requires walking and standing for one hour.

Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State
2026-07-17 11:30 - 16:30 | Indian House Memorial, Old Main Street 107, Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
We are proud to introduce our most ambitious exhibit ever, titled “Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State,” made possible by a grant from Massachusetts 250 and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). Through rare artifacts, photographs, and documents, this exhibit will tell the story of Massachusetts brewers from the Pilgrims to the present. This exhibit will be held in a rebuilt Revolutionary era tavern and tickets will be $5. Come see it starting May 30th at 107 Old Main Street in Deerfield at the Indian House Memorial.
No state has been more impacted by brewing than Massachusetts. But this story hasn’t been told in one place, until now. “Brewing Massachusetts” will be open during the 250th anniversary of 1776, a landmark nationwide event that will shine a spotlight on American history. We want to incorporate the entire state in our celebration of the History of Brewing, and what better way than to include all of Massachusetts.

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-07-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Nobility Hill Historic District, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, United States
In Stoneham, the shadows of colonial fires and twentieth-century neon flicker side by side. Few realize how many secrets linger behind these iconic facades.
This self-guided audio tour leads straight through the city’s untold stories. Encounter corners and chapters that even locals walk past, and let carefully crafted tales reveal what hides beneath the ordinary.
Why did a quiet night at the Bernard Cogan House erupt into controversy that changed a neighborhood? Who vanished beneath the glowing beacon of Stoneham’s eerily beautiful gas station? What explains the perfectly preserved pencil marks under the Warren Sweetser House staircase?
Move between centuries as you cross storied main streets and hidden lanes. Each step peels back another layer of rebellion, ambition, and intrigue, letting Stoneham rise up around you as never before.
Tap play and see how deep Stoneham’s shadows can stretch. The secrets are waiting.

Boston: Harbor History Waterfront Walking Tour
2026-07-17 15:30 - 17:00 | Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, Atlantic Avenue 191 W, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
Boston Harbor has undergone significant transformation over four centuries. Experience Boston’s rich maritime heritage and contemporary vibrancy on a 1.5-hour stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, led by an expert local guide. The tour begins at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway—site of the “Big Dig”—and concludes at Fan Pier in the dynamic Seaport district, offering exceptional views throughout.
This small group walking tour explores the evolution of Boston’s waterfront, from its origins as a colonial port in the British Empire; through its development as a major center for shipping, fishing, and global trade; to its rebirth as a hub for modern commerce, tourism, and recreation. As you venture through the heart of the Boston Harborwalk, gain insight into the city’s significant efforts to expand and revitalize its waterfront infrastructure, greenspace, and public access.
Hub Town Tours delivers a compelling introduction to Boston’s identity as America’s “city by the sea.” Hear engaging stories as you pass historic landmarks and architectural highlights, illustrating the remarkable shoreline transformation from an industrial area and “dirty water” dumping ground to a vibrant public space beside one of the cleanest harbors in the United States.

A Stake in the Ground: 1774
2026-07-17 18:30 - 20:30 | historic deerfield, 84B Old Main Street, Deerfield, Massachusetts, 01342, United States
Staged at Historic Deerfield, A Stake in the Ground: 1774 is a series of three site-specific plays, set in Deerfield, MA, on the eve of the American Revolution. Each performance includes all three plays and will end with a post-show conversation.
In the summer of 1774, seeds of revolution begin to germinate in Deerfield when a Liberty Pole is brought to town. The characters in three new one-act plays explore the political divisions, tangled family relations, and the complexities of enslavement from all sides. Join this vibrant, immersive examination of the historical split that will define America.
Produced by Plays in Place, written by Talya Kingston, Valyn Lyric Turner, and Patrick Gabridge, and directed by Brianna Sloane, “A Stake In The Ground: 1774” will be performed outdoors at the locations* near where the characters lived in the past, including outside the Ashley House, the Allen House, and the Stebbins House.
Location & Logistics: The production is performed outdoors at the locations near where the characters lived in 1774, including the Ashley House, the Allen House, and the Stebbins House. *
Weather Policy: Shows take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the production will move indoors to the Deerfield Community Center.
Accessibility: Most performances (except for the weekend of July 31–August 2) are held outside. The audience will walk to each location along paved, municipally-owned sidewalks and will be seated on folding chairs on grassy surfaces.
Join us for this vibrant and immersive exploration of the seeds of revolution!

HOLD THESE TRUTHS: Lara Downes and Friends at MASS MoCA July 18
2026-07-18 | 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247, Mass MoCA Way 1040, North Adams, Massachusetts, 01247, United States
Pianist Lara Downes presents a poignant and probing concert that marks America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating the power of music to express the core essence of our founding promise featuring Theo Bleckmann, 9 Horses (Joseph Brent, Sara Caswell, and Andrew Ryan), and Vuyo Sotashe.
With this nuanced exploration through the American musical landscape, Downes captures the soundtrack of our history — the music that has brought light in our darkness and comfort in our times of sorrow, our anthems of revolution and resistance, and the songs that bring persistent hope, in every era, for the promise of brighter days to come. From traditional songs that pre-date the nation’s founding to new works that define the sound of the American future, this music traces our roots and our journeys, connects us at our crossroads, and centers us on common ground, offering a clear and open-hearted reminder that we the people are the holders of our truth, the stewards of our past, builders of our present, and designers of our future.
This concert features work generated via Lara Downes’ The Declaration Project, which has been in residence at MASS MoCA as part of a national year-long journey engaging with people of all ages in urban and rural communities to reflect on our collective vision and intention for the American future. Learn more.
This program is supported in part by the Endeavor Foundation.

Mapping the Past: Lincoln Witness House Project
2026-07-18 - 2027-07-18 | Lincoln, MA, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773, United States
Visitors to Lincoln, Massachusetts enjoy many gems off the beaten path. Among them are the town’s nineteen Witness Houses.
These homes stood on April 19, 1775—the first day of the American Revolution—and remain today through generations of stewardship.
Explore an interactive map to discover the people, events, and history associated with each property. Click any marker to:
• View contemporary and historic photographs.
• Read a brief history of the property.
• Learn about documented connections to military service and the history of slavery, where applicable.
• Dive into the Details: downloadable additional histories, images, and related resources.
This resource is available to both armchair travelers and also visitors to Lincoln from near and far who seek a self-guided tour of local history. It is available on the Lincoln Historical Society’s website.
The Lincoln Witness House Project was made possible in part by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Newburyport’s Revolution: From High Street to the Waterfront
2026-07-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street, Newburyport, 01950, United States
Follow Newburyport’s road to revolution through merchant mansions, taverns, privateering, shipmasters, and Market Square.
Join noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth for a walk from the 1808 Cushing House down State Street into the commercial and maritime heart of Newburyport. Hear how taverns, merchant mansions, privateering fortunes, shipmasters, and public spaces helped shape the city during the American Revolution. Along the way, discover women’s roles in supporting the Revolution, and explore Tristram and Ruth Dalton, Patrick and Nathaniel Tracy, the Wolfe Tavern, the Marine Society, and Market Square, while tracing how later fires, urban renewal, and preservation reshaped the streets where Revolutionary Newburyport unfolded.

Newburyport's Revolution: From High Street to the Waterfront
2026-07-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street, Newburyport, 01950, United States

America Through Animals: Exploring 250 Years of History at Franklin Park Zoo
2026-07-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA, 02121, United States
Led by historian Rory Browne (D.Phil), this tour will uncover connections between the Zoo’s animals, landscapes and America’s past, from the colonial era and the founding of the nation to westward expansion, scientific discovery and the dawn of the modern age.
