MA250

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-05-30 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-05-29 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-05-28 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-05-27 09:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | 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

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-05-30 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-29 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-28 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.

Special Exhibit: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
2026-05-30, 2026-05-29, 2026-05-28 | 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

From Plymouth Rock to the Battle of Bunker Hill, an Evening with Nathaniel Philbrick
2026-05-29 17:00 - 19:30 | Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Warren Avenue 137, Plymouth, MA, 02360, United States
Join us for a special evening with acclaimed historian and National Book Award winner Nathaniel Philbrick as we explore Massachusetts’ pivotal role in the origins of American democracy—From Plymouth Rock to the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This fundraising event is part of our Revolutionary Ideas Started Here America 250 commemorations and highlights the enduring ideas of liberty, self-governance, and community that took root here in the 17th and 18th centuries. Through Philbrick’s storytelling, these early chapters of history will come vividly to life.
The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by Philbrick’s keynote address. Proceeds from this event directly support the Museum’s educational mission, helping to preserve and share these important stories for future generations.
Celebrate the past, support the future, and be part of this meaningful commemorative event.

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-05-29 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-28 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-27 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.

Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution
2026-05-29 11:00 - 2026-11-30 17:00 | Historic New England – Eustis Estate, 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton, 02186, United States
𝘔𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺: 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 brings together material from Historic New England’s vast permanent collection of objects and archival materials to explore the multifaceted history of the American Revolution as it played out in New England. These objects tell the stories of everyday people whose lives were linked by the shared experience of revolution. This exhibition engages with the memories and mythologies embedded in this collection, calling attention to how we remember the American Revolution and reckon with its legacy. 𝘔𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 spotlights the deeply personal experiences of individuals, families, and communities caught up in extraordinary circumstances, organized around the themes of Resistance, Loyalty, Liberty, and Memory. This intimacy invites audiences to consider what it was like to live through these historic events and to contribute in small and not-so-small ways to the shaping of a new nation.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-05-29 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-28 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-27 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.

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-05-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-28 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-27 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.

American Stories: Celebrating 250 Years of Independence
2026-05-29 09:30 - 2026-06-13 16:30, 2026-05-28 09:30 - 2026-06-12 16:30, 2026-05-27 09:30 - 2026-06-11 16:30 | Bonhams Skinner, Clarendon Street 236, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
In honor of this auspicious moment in American history, Bonhams Skinner will be showcasing highlights from their June 30th auction in their Boston Gallery. The works are available to the public for viewing Monday through Friday between May 26th and June 10th.

Re-examining our Roots: The Declaration of Independence at 250
2026-05-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Arlington High School, Massachusetts Avenue 869, Arlington, Massachusetts, 02476, United States
The Arlington Human Rights Commission invites the community to a talk and a conversation on the Declaration of Independence and its meaning for us today.
At Re-Examining Our Roots: The Declaration of Independence at 250, moderator Michael Kozuch, K-12 Director of Social Studies and History for the Arlington Public Schools, will present historical background on the Declaration and its continuing importance.
Break-out groups will then discuss key concepts in the Declaration and how they are relevant today.
Howard Winkler, former Arlington Historical Society President and past president of the Arlington Civil Rights Commission, will conclude with a tribute to Black Bostonian abolitionist Prince Hall, who argued that the Declaration’s assertion that “all men are created equal” applied to all Black people, and to whom a marker in the Black Masonic burial ground in Arlington is dedicated.
Refreshments will be provided.
Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYyF0ThHET7xZKB5a9AA1uV63iu4VYKL0bxV2td_WUd7OIog/viewform

Meet John Adams – A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President
2026-05-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, 01001, United States
Annual Meeting of the Agawam Historical Association
featured presentation: Meet John Adams: A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President
Following the election of officers & directors and a short business meeting, George Baker will transport audience members to the Revolutionary era with his engaging and entertaining portrayal of President John Adams. Wearing historically accurate clothing and performing songs from the period, Baker captures the Massachusetts native’s sharp wit, principled leadership, and deep commitment to the American experiment.
Baker has performed his one-man show of President Adams throughout the country, at venues such as the New York Historical Society, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, and George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, and was featured on National Public Radio’s weekend program, Studio 360.
A lawyer by profession, Baker brings clarity and credibility to Adams’s ideas through a blend of history, music, and storytelling, making Adams feel immediate and human, rather than distant and monumental. The program concludes with time for thoughtful audience questions and conversation.
This event is free and open to the public.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Captain James Mugford of Marblehead, an Early Revolutionary War Martyr in 1776
2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-27 08:00 - 17:00 | Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945, Pleasant Street 235, Marblehead, Massachusetts, 01945, United States
Illustrated Talk. Hear how, on his 27th birthday in May 1776, Captain James Mugford of Marblehead became an early Revolutionary War hero and martyr, killed in combat by the British in retaliation for audaciously — and fortuitously for Commander-in-Chief Washington and his army — capturing a 300-ton British supply ship a day or two before. It’s a sad but fascinating story ! – as his young wife successfully negotiated with the captain of the British warship for his release after the young ship’s master had been “impressed” (essentially kidnapped from off a Marblehead street) and held prisoner on that British ship. While on board, Mugford heard about the supply ship’s imminent arrival. Soon after, commanding the Franklin out of Marblehead, he and his crew, posing as a harmless fishing vessel, captured the valuable munitions transport. Tragically, he died in a retaliatory battle the following day. But the vital and desperately needed munitions and supplies remained in American hands.

American Art at 250: Masterworks of a Nation
2026-05-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Topsfield, South Common St 1, 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, we are excited to host Jane Oneail! Join us in celebrating America’s extraordinary artistic legacy as we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary with a curated exploration of the masterworks that have defined our cultural identity. From the luminous landscapes of the Hudson River School to the bold innovations of Abstract Expressionism, this program showcases the diverse voices and revolutionary spirits that have shaped American art across two and a half centuries. Discover how American artists have continuously redefined not only our visual culture, but art itself on the world stage.
Register for this event to receive reminder emails; but drop-ins are welcome!
This event is sponsored by the Topsfield Library Art Committee and funded by the Gould Trust.
About Jane: Jane Oneail is the founder of Culturally Curious, a company that curates and presents art appreciation programs. Jane holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information visit iamculturallycurious.com.

Curious & Complex Connections: Environmental History & the War of Independence
2026-05-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
This program was rescheduled from its original date of 20 October 2025.
Many of us give only a moment’s thought about the environment when considering the War of Independence: the slope of Breed’s Hill, the ice-choked Delaware River, and diseases such as smallpox. But what might we gain by connecting biology, ecology, and geology to the thinking and actions of soldiers and civilians? Rebels and British soldiers acquired and used energy in the form of food, fuel, and work animals, which shaped people’s lives, the course of the war, and the direction of environmental change. Join us as David Hsiung, in conversation with Joyce Chaplin, discusses the intricate and often surprising ways in which the natural environment and the war changed each other.
This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM.
Please visit here to register: https://www.masshist.org/events/curious-and-complex-connections
