MA250

American Stories: Celebrating 250 Years of Independence
2026-05-28 09:30 - 2026-06-12 16:30, 2026-05-27 09:30 - 2026-06-11 16:30, 2026-05-26 09:30 - 2026-06-10 16:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-05-28 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-05-27 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-05-26 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

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-05-28 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-27 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-26 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
2026-05-28, 2026-05-27, 2026-05-26 | 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

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

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-05-27 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-26 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-25 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-24 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.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-05-27 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-26 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
2026-05-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-26 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-25 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.

Daily Life in Menotomy: Aftermath of April 19, 1775
2026-05-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Arlington Historical Society, Jason Street 7, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
Often have been told in detail the bloody events that took place in Menotomy (Arlington) on the first day of the American Revolution. But how did Menotomy, then a rural precinct of Cambridge, recover from the shocking episodes and carry on while war was still raging mere miles away in Boston?
Join the Arlington Historical Society as Arlington-based Historian, Richard Duffy, explores the culture and daily life of Menotomy in the wake of the Battle of Menotomy, revealing how this rural community endured, adapted, and moved forward while war continued just beyond its doorstep.

Yankee Ingenuity
2026-05-25 09:30 - 17:00 | Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA, 01566, United States
Yankee Ingenuity begins this May with a series of weekend programs exploring New England’s long-standing role in shaping American innovation. Throughout the month, local makers, small businesses, and community partners will be featured alongside historical interpretation, illustrating how the region’s economy has long been driven by creativity, skill, and practical problem-solving. Organized around four themes—Eat, Move, Play, and Work— this event connects everyday life from the Revolutionary era through the 1830s to the present, highlighting the businesses and industries that continue to sustain the region today.
Yankee Ingenuity: EAT | May 2 & 3
The first weekend of Yankee Ingenuity begins with EAT. Culinary tradition and food production have long been a foundation of New England life. Amelia Simmons’s American Cookery (1796), America’s first cookbook, will be brought to life on hearths similar to those used in her era. Guests will witness the recipes and techniques that defined early American cooking, featuring distinctly regional ingredients like cornmeal, pumpkin, and cranberries that set American cuisine apart from its European roots.
Yankee Ingenuity: MOVE | May 9 & 10
The challenge of transporting people, goods, and equipment has been an area of constant innovation in New England. From the ox to the horse, from the canal boat to the railroad, each advancement shaped how commerce flowed and communities connected. Discover how the region’s geography and economic needs drove creative solutions to the age-old problem of movement, transforming local trade into networks that reached across the nation.
Yankee Ingenuity: PLAY | May 23 – 25
All work and no play was not the case for New Englanders, who brought the same ingenuity to leisure as they did to labor. From hand-crafted games and intricate puzzles to folk crafts and outdoor pastimes, residents found creative ways to fill their free hours. These diversions weren’t just entertainment, they reflected the values, skills, and social bonds that knit communities together during an era of rapid change and growth.
Yankee Ingenuity: WORK | May 30 & 31
Like most of America, during formative years of the country, New England was starved for workers, which led to groundbreaking innovation and mechanization. The Industrial Revolution can claim a large part of its American origins right here in New England, where water-powered mills, interchangeable parts, and factory systems transformed how goods were made. This drive to do more with less labor didn’t just change the economy, it reshaped the landscape, the workforce, and the very nature of American work.

Revolutionary War Memorial Re-Dedication at Bicentennial Park
2026-05-25 08:30 - 09:30 | 40 Central Street Andover, MA 01810, Central Street 40, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810, United States
This Memorial Day, the Town of Andover will host the Revolutionary War Memorial Re-Dedication at Bicentennial Park at 8:30 AM. The memorial lists the names of 22 Andover men who gave their lives in the American Revolution at locales from Bunker Hill to Valley Forge to Ticonderoga. Several of the militiamen commemorated on the memorial are buried across the street in the South Parish Burial Grounds.
Co-sponsored by the Andover Center for History & Culture, the Memorial Day ceremony will include a wreath-laying, unveiling of an historical marker commemorating the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Andover in 1825, fife and drum performance by The Musick of Prescott’s Battalion, and recitation of the Annie Sawyer Downs poem That Day at Bunker Hill!

Ode to a Horse with No Name – Presentation at the Lexington Visitor
2026-05-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Lexington Visitors Center, 1875 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, 02420, United States
Come here the tribute to the small mare of 13 hands that accompanied Paul Revere on that fateful night of April 19, 1775
presented by Mitch Lapin.
Mitch is an amateur historian and is currently concluding a review of the 402 church bells cast by Paul Revere and his son Joseph Warren Revere. This work in progress can be viewed at Walk Boston History.
Experience Mitch’s passion for history firsthand at the Lexington Visitors Center, where he teaches the minute by minute account of the Battle Road of April 19, 1775: the start of the American Revolution.

Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution
2026-05-24 11:00 - 2026-11-25 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.
