MA250

The Civilians Trapped Behind the Boston Siege Lines "I Screamed with All My Might"
2026-04-29 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Reading Public Library, Middlesex Avenue 64, Reading, Massachusetts, 01867, United States
Join us for the compelling story of the aftermath of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the hundreds of civilians trapped inside Boston.
Regardless of their political allegiance, these non-combatants faced a daily struggle to secure supplies to support their families, avoid the abuses of His Majesty’s forces and protect their personal and real property from roving bands of thieves. As the siege progressed, the continuous fear of an American attack on the town, combined with bouts of lawlessness, deprivation of civil rights, and disease, led to the collapse of society. While much attention has been given to the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Evacuation of Boston, we’ll take a closer look at the struggles of those trapped behind enemy lines and their efforts to survive.
Alexander Cain, JD, earned his economics degree from Merrimack College in 1993 and obtained his Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law in 1996. He has authored numerous research articles and presentations on the American Revolution, including the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, and the experiences of New England and New York loyalist refugees during the Burgoyne Campaign. In addition, he has published two books: We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War: The Loyalists of McAlpin’s Corps of American Volunteers. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast Historical Nerdery (historicalnerdery.com). Currently, he is in the process of writing his upcoming book, “For God’s Sake Fire!” – The Massachusetts Militia System on the Eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is anticipated to be released in 2027.
Alex currently leads an educational initiative in Northeastern Massachusetts that aims to introduce high school students to careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, and the skilled trades. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife, Paula, and they have two adult children, John and Abigail. The fact that they are named after John and Abigail Adams is purely a coincidence.

Special Exhibit: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
2026-04-29, 2026-04-28, 2026-04-27, 2026-04-26 | 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

Recapitulating Kurt Russell’s Visit
2026-04-28 19:30 - 20:30 | Arlington Historical Society, Jason Street 7, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
A panel discussion with the organizers behind Kurt Russell’s visit to Arlington, exploring how the Hollywood actor and descendant of Jason Russell came to rediscover his family’s connection to the Jason Russell House, site of the largest skirmish of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Gerard Magliocca on Limitations in Executive Power
2026-04-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Legal scholar Gerard Magliocca explores Justice Robert H. Jackson’s landmark concurring opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, illuminating its enduring framework for presidential power. This forum connects constitutional history to current debates, examining how Jackson’s analysis continues to shape limits on executive authority in times of crisis.
Members Free | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-04-28 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-27 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-26 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-25 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
2026-04-28 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
2026-04-28 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-26 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.

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-04-28 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 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

How We Remember, What We Preserve: Washington's Legacy at Mount Vernon
2026-04-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Cambridge Public Library, Broadway 449, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series.
Explore the 19th century origins of preservation at Mount Vernon, current conservation work, and the estate’s future, featuring:
-Doug Bradburn, President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and co-founder and editor of the book series, Early American Histories
-Andrea Sahin, Vice Regent for Massachusetts to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

Revolution & The Enlightenment Candlelight Concert (Plymouth)
2026-04-26 17:00 | Pilgrim Hall Museum, Court Street 75, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 02360, United States
Hundreds of flickering candles will create a serene ambiance, offering a magical, immersive escape for the evening. America’s rise to independence coincided with Europe’s own awakening in an age of revolution. Mozart was a practicing Freemason and defended the principles of equality and that music should be accessible for all people. Although he depended on aristocratic support, he was a staunch defender of the average citizen. His music took a turn from the Baroque era by featuring beautiful melodies with clean and less adorned lines. Johann Hummel was a student of Mozart and embraced the ideals of clarity, structure, elegant melodies and individual expression. We are pleased to bring these two beautiful works to historic Pilgrim Hall Museum.

𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗨𝗗𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗬, 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗦
2026-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Fairbank Community Center, Fairbank Road 40, Sudbury, MA, 01776, United States
Join Hassanamisco Nipmuc tribal member
𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱
in a talk about the erasure of Native voices in Sudbury.
Expanding on her research on the Indigenous history of the town during its origins, Jasmine will discuss the impact of colonial hero stories and the birth of newfound nationalism even before the period of the Revolutionary War. Explore the birth of the Commonwealth from an Indigenous lens.
Join us for a presentation followed by Q&A.

Daughter of the Regiment
2026-04-26 15:00 - 17:45 | Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boylston Street 106, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy. Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for independence, this production transports us to Revolutionary-era Boston, telling a heartfelt tale of love and loyalty to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. With a new English dialogue by Kirsten Greenidge, it’s a patriotic toast to America at 250—and to the rebels who shaped it.
Voices of Revolution
A Citywide Opera Initiative for America’s 250th
Join Boston Lyric Opera in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through music and storytelling. Voices of Revolution invites Boston to rediscover the stories of our nation’s beginnings—lifting iconic and overlooked voices to celebrate who we were, reflect on who we are, and imagine who we can become.
This initiative is part of BLO’s 50th Anniversary season and features performances, talks, and community programs across Boston as part of the statewide MA250 commemoration.

Ride the Revolutionary Line Trolley Tour
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-04-26 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-25 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-04-25 14:00 - 15:30 | Powder House Park, Liberty Avenue 24, Somerville, Massachusetts, 02144, United States
Jump aboard the 90-minute Revolutionary Line Trolley Tour! Travel back to the night of April 18, 1775, and experience the Redcoats’ march to Lexington and Concord, along with the midnight ride of Paul Revere as he warned residents of Somerville, Medford, and beyond of imminent danger.
Hear vivid, hyper-local stories that connect your surroundings to the famous events that ignited the American Revolution. Visit a 1635 gunpowder storage site—later known as the “spark of the Revolution”—and climb a historic tower with sweeping views of the Boston Basin to discover what placed Somerville at the center of the early war.
Along the way, your guide will highlight lesser-known sites, helping you reimagine today’s landscape and discover the stories behind those marked and unmarked places people walk by everyday.
This program is sponsored by an MA250 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

A Bedford Assortment
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Old Town Hall, Great Room (3rd Floor), South Road 16, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730, United States
Vocabulary.com describes an “assortment” as “a bunch of different things all together, whether they’re the same sort or not.”
“For example,” says Society President and Bedford Town Historian Sharon McDonald, “an assortment of chocolates would be a box of cherry-filled, nut, caramel, coconut, and orange crème candies.
Using her engaging story-telling style, McDonald’s “Bedford Assortment” program will be a bunch of assorted snippets from Bedford’s colonial history that may be funny, sad, surprising, or inspiring. She hopes you will say “Bon, bon!”

Acton 250 Committee presents: South Acton Walking Tour with Amy Cole
2026-04-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Acton, Ma, Concord Road, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Professional tour leader Amy Cole grew up near Acton Center and has a wide ranging-interest in Acton’s unique history. Exploring South Acton’s historic Mill Corner provides insight into the area’s earliest colonial settlement and its transformation into a center of industry and commerce. Topics include: the use of natural resources, the importance of Colonel Francis Faulkner and Acton’s West Militia Company, the impact of the railroad, nearby historic buildings, including those owned by the Iron Work Farm, Native American history and more.
The walk is free, but you must register as the walk is limited to 25 people. Register here: https:// //tinyurl.com/Apr25-Acton250 .
You will receive details on parking, and where to meet closer to April 25th.
Please see https://www.actonma.gov/250 for more programming information and don’t forget our Acton250 store at https://tinyurl.com/ACTON250STORE.

Walking On Native Land: Land use in the 1700s
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Hatfield Historical Museum, Main Street 39, Hatfield, Massachusetts, 01038, United States
The land below our feet holds a ton of history, and we are looking forward to talking about some of those parts of our local story. We will learn a welcoming song in Abenaki, look out over the mighty Connecticut River as people did 13000 years ago, and hear how the different approaches to land use between English colonists and Native people contributed to the conflict that eventually lead up to the American Revolution.
Dress for the weather, plan on being outside for an hour or more.
Feel free to bring a folding chair, or a blanket to sit on, and some water.
There’s parking at the ramp and along the road, with some parking for vehicles with an accessibility placard on a first-come first-served basis.
We’ll be outside, and we might be there before the porta-loo is in place for the summer, so take that into account when planning your trip!

Walking On Native Land
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Hatfield Historical Museum, Main Street 39, Hatfield, Massachusetts, 01038, United States
What were the conditions of the lands that helped shape this valley and the lives of the people who lived here 13,000 years ago? How was it different from the land across the sea? What traces remain in the landscape that can help carry those stories forward to today?
Join us at the boat ramp, near 260 Main St in Hatfield MA, for a wide-ranging conversation on the deep history of the land, and how it played a role in the pressures that led to the American Revolution.
