MA250

Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts
2025-05-31 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-30 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-23 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Congregational Library & Archives, Beacon Street 14, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
The Congregational Library & Archives presents a new in-person exhibition, “Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts.” The exhibition highlights the stories of Massachusetts Congregationalists drawn from the CLA’s important collections.
By the time the war began, many Congregationalists had embraced a theological justification for war and revolution. They believed that God favored them and that their cause was a morally justified, sacred rebellion. Through sermons, books, poems, songs, and letters, Congregationalists shared their stories, reflected on their moral obligations to each other, and debated questions of liberty and loyalty. But consensus was elusive, and implementation proved difficult and unsatisfactory to many, especially those on the margins.
These discussions shaped the legacy of Congregationalism and the way the Revolutionary War is remembered today, 250 years later.

Battle of Fall River Reenactment Weekend
2025-05-31 10:00 - 2025-06-01 16:00 | DCR Fall River Heritage State Park, Water Street 5, Fall River, MA, 02721, United States
On May 31, 1778, the little town of Fall River (then still Freetown) witnessed its only military action of the American Revolution at the mouth of the Quequechan River.
On Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, you are invited to Fall River Heritage State Park to commemorate the 247th anniversary of the Battle of Fall River with a weekend-long living history event on the same riverbanks that witnessed the battle.The Battle of Fall River Reenactment Weekend (May 31 – June 1, 2025) will feature a variety of engaging activities designed to immerse visitors in the Revolutionary War era and the history of Fall River.
Presented by the Lafayette-Durfee Historical Foundation in partnership with The City of Fall River, Viva Fall River, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), the events will be hosted at DCR Fall River Heritage State Park. This event is made possible in part by funding from the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, the Mass Cultural Council, the Fall River Cultural Council, St. Anne’s Credit Union, and BayCoast Bank. the living history event will include several local military reenactment units, including the 54th Regiment of Foote and the 13th Continental Line. Both days will feature infantry drills, open-fire cooking demonstrations, blacksmithing, sailmaking, pottery, and more. The encampment will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m on both days. Please see our online schedule and more information on attending the event at https://www.vivafallriver.com/lafayettedurfee250/

Gallery Tours: “Swept Up in Revolution” and “Protest & Promise: The American Revolution in Lexington”
2025-05-31 09:30 - 12:00 | Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Join curators at Lexington History Museums and the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library to learn more about Lexington’s role in the American Revolution. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. at Buckman Tavern with a tour of “Swept Up in Revolution” with Jesse Hilton, Curator, Lexington History Museums. The event continues at 11:00 AM at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library with a tour of “Protest & Promise: The American Revolution in Lexington” with the museum’s Assistant Curator, Stacey Fraser.
Registration includes admission to both tours. There is no charge for this program, but registration is required.

54th Massachusetts Special Anniversary Walking Tour
2025-05-28 10:00 - 12:30 | MA
Join Hub Town Tours as we commemorate the anniversary of the departure of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in 1863. The first Black regiment from the North departed Boston under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw after a parade through Boston attended by thousands of local residents. This 2.5-hour walking tour will explore sites along the Black Heritage Trail in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, including abolitionist landmarks such as the African Meeting House and the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial. We will delve into the tumultuous years before the U.S. Civil War as 19th-century Bostonians grappled with the institution of slavery and demanded an end to racial injustice across their young nation.

All Aboard for the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Chelsea Creek Boat Tour! Chelsea Creek Boat Tour
2025-05-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129, 3rd Street, Boston, MA, 02129, United States
Uncover the story of the Battle of Chelsea Creek — the second naval engagement of the American Revolution and the first victory for the colonists — by joining us for an informative and scenic boat tour along Chelsea Creek, Mystic River, and Boston Harbor this Memorial Day.
We’ll explore the rich history and cultural significance of this iconic waterway while also enjoying its natural beauty and understanding the environmental challenges it faces.
This tour is brought to you in partnership with the City of Chelsea, Boston Harbor Now, National Park Service, GreenRoots, and Mystic River Watershed Association.
Register to reserve your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/250th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-chelsea-creek-boat-tour-tickets-1291468560229?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

AANHPI Festival
2025-05-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Boston Common, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Festival will take place in Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, on May 25, 2025. This event is a part of the MA250 commemorative events. The annual AANHPI Festival, co-hosted by the New England Chinese American Alliance (NECAA) and tons of other local organizations, celebrates the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the AANHPI diverse communities across Massachusetts.

Happy Accident Broadsides Workshop
2025-05-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Join letterpress artist Mitch Cohen and Museum of Printing Director Operations Mitch Ahern as
they put on a workshop combining experimental letterpress monoprint techniques with printing customized
broadsides. This is a unique printing workshop using everyday items to create unique backgrounds —
including, but not limited to, bathmats, pool covers and other items. You have to do it to believe it. The session
will conclude with a letterpress printed keepsake on the background you created.
We can then take those backgrounds and use them to print broadsides on the Columbian iron hand press.
Visitors can pull their own print, and can even customize a print with their own name.
The Happy Accident Broadsides Workshop is free to the public, thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts
Office of Travel and Tourism.
Mitch Cohen is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of letterpress printing and a long-time practitioner
of the “black arts.” He is the co founder of the Printmaking and Book Arts Center in Rochester, New York, a
division of Flower City Arts Center and has taught letterpress printing since 2005. He has a BS in Printing
Education from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mitchel Ahern is the Director of Operations at the Museum of Printing, where he teaches workshops, manages
printing equipment donations, and serves on the board. He also has his own shop Mitchelka Show Card Press
in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Battle of Chelsea Creek 250th Anniversary Celebrations
2025-05-24 11:00 - 16:00 | Port Park, Marginal Street 99, Chelsea, MA, 02150, United States
The event will include:
– Explore the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey, the 1894 schooner from the permanent fleet of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and learn about the first British vessel captured and destroyed—the HMS Diana
– Artillery Demonstration
– Revolutionary-Era Militia Encampment
– Musket Firing
– Food Vendors and a Beer Garden
Additionally, we’ll have a Governor Bellingham-Cary House Museum Open House, as well as a 90-minute guided Boat Tour with Boston Harbor Now through the Mill Creek and Boston Bay.
The Battle of Chelsea Creek is a significant, yet often forgotten, event in the history of the American Revolution. It was the first naval engagement of the American Revolution in the spring of 1775, as tensions between the colonists and the British were escalating. While the British controlled Boston, they relied on supplies from the Harbor Islands. The Battle of Chelsea Creek was a crucial moment when the colonists struck back, marking the first victory for the Army of the United Colonies. It was also the first time American forces took control of a British warship, the HMS Diana.

Revolution 250 Ashby
2025-05-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Ashby Historical Society, Main Street 846, Ashby, MA, 01431, United States
Open house at the Ashby Historical Society featuring our collection of Revolutionary War artifacts and documents from the Ashby Militia. Included will be the Militia’s orderly books covering May 1775 to July 1775 during the beginning of the siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This program is offered by the Ashby Historical Society as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Learn more at freedomsway.org/hidden-treasures.

Bunker Hill 250th Commemoration & Veteran Flag Placement
2025-05-24 08:00 - 12:00 | Walton Cemtery, Park Street 5, Pepperell, MA, 01463, United States
Help us remember our heroes! Take part in observing Memorial Day and commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill! Did you know Pepperell provided the commander and about 60 men who fought at Bunker Hill? Eight of them were killed and eight wounded. We honor them today, as well as the 230 veterans buried in the Park Street cemeteries, by placing flags and saluting them all by name.
Who? Children, scouts, parents, adults and patriots of all types
Where? Walton Cemetery, 5 Park Street, Pepperell, MA 01463
When? Saturday, May 24, 2025 (Rain or Shine)
Schedule
8:00 a.m Doors open at DAR Prudence Wright Chapter House, the red brick schoolhouse next to the cemetery.
Refreshments: Enjoy hot cocoa, coffee, water, and pastries from The Bakery.
9:00 a.m. Program begins
Master of Ceremonies: Tony Saboliauskas, Vietnam Veteran & Purple Heart recipient
* Patriot Fife and Drum Duo: March with the musicians!
· 6th Middlesex Regiment discusses uniforms and muskets. Kids practice drilling with wooden muskets!
· Bunker Hill “Wolcott” Memorial Bench: Wreath placed, Honor roll of those KIA (Killed In Action), wounded, and musket volley.
* Local voice students: Sing patriotic songs
· Colonel Prescott Tomb: Wreath placed, gold eagle placed, flag, chaplain prayer, musket volley.
· Flags will be provided for everyone to place on veterans’ graves in the adjoining cemeteries.
Post Cemetery Activities: Cartridge making, Quill pen writing, Colonial games, musket drilling, chat with minutemen!
This program is offered by the Prudence Wright Chapter, NSDAR and Pepperell 250th Celebration Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Learn more at freedomsway.org/hidden-treasures.

Drunk Black History
2025-05-23 18:30 - 20:00 | The Rockwell, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, 02144, United States
The critically acclaimed “Drunk Black History” show returns to the Rockwell in Somerville, MA, for another hilarious, educational, and unpredictable event!
At this hilarious and educational show, comedian Brandon Collins (HBO Max) leads a booze-fueled lesson in Black history. It’s not your ordinary retelling—you’ll hear from “comedians, experts, writers, and other professionals who are skunked out of their mind trying to recap the biography of a historical black figure or event that hasn’t gotten the mainstream love they deserved.”
Joining Brandon onstage for this special event will be Reece Cotton (Boston While Black), Porsha Olayiwola (Essence Magazine), Orlando Baxter (BET), and more!

Newburyport's Road to Revolution, Part V - Powder and Shot
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Curious about what Newbury(port) soldiers carried into battle?
Join Joel Bohy, Revolutionary War weapons expert, for an exploration of the muskets, swords, and accouterments carried during the earliest days of the American Revolution, featuring notable items from the Museum of Old Newbury collection. Session concludes with a musket drill outside.
Joel Bohy is the director of Historic Arms & Militaria at Blackstone Valley Auctions and a frequent appraiser of Arms & Militaria on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, an active member of the American Society of Arms Collectors, the Company of Military Historians, The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, an instructor for Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archeologist, and an advisory board member of American Veterans Archaeological Recovery.
Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Screening of ABCL's Black Patriots of Lexington Episode on Stow & Boxborough
2025-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Stow Town Hall, Great Road 375, Stow, MA, 01775, United States
Join us for a screening of an episode of the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL)’s Black Patriots of Lexington (Stow & Boxborough) with a Question-and-Answer session to follow. Commemorate the significant role that Black men and women played in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.
Economic Patriots Prince and Cate Chester – explore the often-overlooked role of Black men and women, like the husband-and-wife team of Cate and Prince Chester, in the production of domestic linen. Domestic linen was favored by the Reverend Jonas Clarke and other colonists who were boycotting British goods in response to the Stamp Act of 1765.
An inspirational story of manumission, entrepreneurship, and community building in Lexington, Stow and Boxborough.
Presenters: Margaret Micholet, public historian, retired from the National Park Service and Sean D. Osborne, public historian and producer of the Black Patriots of Lexington YouTube series.
For more information on the Black Patriots of Lexington video series visit abclex.org.
Reserve your free tickets on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/episode-screening-qa-of-black-patriots-of-lexington-stow-boxborough-tickets-1321599001189?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
This program is offered by the Stow Historical Society, Boxborough Historical Society, Association of Black Citizens of Lexington, Rediscover Mapledale, and Tricons 2 Red Tails as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Learn more at freedomsway.org/hidden-treasures.

Revolutionary Tea on a Gambrel Roof
2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers, MA, 01923, United States
A dramatization of ‘A Gambrel Roof’, a poem by Lucy Larcom. Reservations requested.
A creative multi-disciplinary theatrical presentation of a circa 1875 local poem about the historic Danvers Jeremiah Page House. Period music, and an art installation add to the illustration of the story:
In about 1770, when the British monarchy started taxing tea in the colonies, Jeremiah told Sarah that “no tea shall be drunk in this house”. However, while her husband was away one day, Sarah and two friends secretly had their tea ON the roof of the house. In Sarah’s words, “Upon a house is not within it”, so she was still obeying her husband’s wishes. This story was told to Anne L. Page, Jeremiah’s granddaughter, by a family friend many years later. Anne then told it to her friend Lucy Larcom, the famous Beverly poet. Lucy romanticized the story in the poem “A Gambrel Roof” written as the 100th birthday of our nation approached and published in the Atlantic Monthly.
Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers MA. Wheelchair accessible building and parking available. Additional parking in the Elm Street lot.
Donations appreciated
We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program.
Danvers Historical Society: 978-777-1666 or E-mail to connect@danvershistory.org

French Material Culture in the Revolutionary Atlantic
2025-05-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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 at 6:00.
Lafayette’s tour of the United States in 1824-5 resulted in the production of objects—ceramics, textiles, prints, among others—all emblazoned with his name and visage. But like Lafayette himself, French impact on material culture dates to the American Revolution. Join us as Ashli White examines the influence of various French things on political movements throughout the revolutionary Atlantic world and considers how diverse populations turned to these items as part of their attempts to realize liberty and equality.

Deborah Sampson: A Revolution of Her Own
2025-05-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Martha Mary Chapel, Dutton Road 35, Sudbury, Massachusetts, 01776, United States
A Revolution of Her Own!
Deborah Sampson, the first woman to professionally fight in and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an Immersive Living History Experience chronicling her life. An indentured servant by age five, Deborah grew up in a man’s world, where women were naught but second-class British subjects. As a self-educated, masterless woman, she felt a higher calling, and in the final years of the American War for Independence, Deborah bound her chest, tied back her hair, and enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army, as “Robert Shurtlieff.”
A Revolution of Her Own! takes you back in time!
JUDITH “JUDE” KALAORA
Founder & Artistic Director
History At Play™
Judith is a professional educator & living historian. She graduated from Syracuse University Magna cum Laude and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature, Language, & Culture. Judith completed the Globe Education Program at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. She founded History At Play™, LLC (HAP) in 2010 to chronicle the lives of influential and often forgotten figures. She researches, writes, produces, & performs original productions and has a repertoire of over 16 performances. In 2024, Judith was 1 of just over 100 civilians to attend the National Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Judith created HAP to engage audiences worldwide, surpassing the bar for hi-calibre in-person, virtual, & hybrid Immersive Living History to interpret connections between historical legacies and contemporary values.

Colonial Dance Tunes and Love Songs
2025-05-18 14:00 - 15:30 | Bedford Historical Society, South Road 16, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730, United States
Dressed in the clothes of 18th-century itinerant musicians, Deirdre Sweeney and Al Petty will perform an extensive repertoire of historical dance music, as well as marches and laments, including 18th-century tunes such as “Mr. Isaac’s Maggot” and “Jack’s Health.” Their instruments include the flute, penny whistle, recorder, and fife. The music was gathered from manuscripts printed between the 17th and 19th centuries and arranged in counterpoint.
The two musicians, who sometimes appear with a third musician as the Colonial Minstrels, have long been active in related musical cultures, including American fife and drum and traditional Irish music. They are popular performers at the Paul Revere House Museum in Boston.
Doors open at 2 PM for a social period and refreshments; 2:15 PM Announcements and Annual Meeting, followed by the Guest Speaker.
This program is offered by the Bedford Historical Society as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Learn more at freedomsway.org/hidden-treasures.

Battle of Grape Island
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Hingham Bathing Beach, Otis Street 95, Hingham, Massachusetts, 02043, United States
Witness the only local battle of the American Revolution! On May 21, 1775, a skirmish broke out on Grape Island, then owned by Hingham loyalist Elijah Leavitt. To commemorate the 250th anniversary, the Hingham Militia, Wareham Militia, and the 64th Light Infantry will reenact this pivotal moment. Ceremonial remarks, historic narrative, music, and refreshments will be provided. Free.

Voices from the Grave: Heroes of the American Revolution
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Springfield Cemetery, Maple Street 171, Springfield, Massachusetts, 01105, United States
Honor the legacy of the American Revolution and Springfield’s contribution at war and on the homefront, by joining us at our commemorative “Voices from the Grave: Heroes of the American Revolution” cemetery tour at Springfield Cemetery, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Seven historical residents will be featured on the tour, including John Bryant III (1742-1816), first Armory Superintendent, who lost his arm in battle; Hannah Mason Bryant (1756-1829), who sewed flannel cartridges for the Continental army; Nathaniel Brewer (1711-1809), Deacon of First Church for 53 years, and a joiner by trade; and Susan Freedom (1784-1803), a Black indentured servant whose name poignantly symbolizes the struggle for freedom and identity among African Americans in the post-Revolutionary War era. Join the tour to see who else from Springfield’s revolutionary history will be highlighted! This tour will highlight the oldest gravestones and residents ever featured on the “Voices from the Grave” tours, ongoing for more than a decade. Hosted by the Springfield Preservation Trust and developed by historian Derek Strahan and SPT Secretary Michael Stevens, the “Heroes of the American Revolution” tour is an hour-long experience through Springfield Cemetery. It is led by docents who take visitors on a tour to graves of interesting cemetery residents, where costumed interpreters speak about each person of intrigue. Hour-long walking tours will depart every fifteen minutes starting at 1:00PM at Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street. Tickets are $20 for Springfield Preservation Trust members, and $25 for non-members. (Use promo code “SPTMember” if you are a Trust member, for the $5 discount.) Purchase a ticket through Eventbrite. This event is held rain or shine! This event is supported by a Massachusetts 250 grant, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) within the Executive Office of Economic Development, in celebration of the American Revolution’s 250th Anniversary.

Abigail Adams Birthplace Open Hours
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Abigail Adams Birthplace, Norton Street 180, Weymouth, Massachusetts, 02191, United States
Enjoy a guided tour during open hours at the Abigail Adams Birthplace on Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 1 – 3 p.m.
Built in 1685, the Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818) Birthplace was home to this exceptional woman for the first twenty years of her life. It has survived two relocations and now stands as a monument to her extraordinary life.
Please note: Visits are by guided tour only. Tours begin on the half hour, with the last tour starting at 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 adults/$5 children and members are free!
For more information, please visit our website: https://abigailadamsbirthplace.org/

Hingham250 - Battle of Grape Island 250th Anniversary Reenactment
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Hingham Bathing Beach, Otis Street 95, Hingham, Massachusetts, 02043, United States
The Battle of Grape Island or the Grape Island Alarm commemorates the May 21, 1775 provisions skirmish between militia from the South Shore of Boston – namely Hingham, Hull, Weymouth, Braintree, Scituate, and Abington – and the British who were occupying Boston Harbor and attempted to resupply on Grape Island at the invitation of Hingham Loyalist Elijah Leavitt. Militia chased the British off of Grape Island and then marched as an angry mob to Leavitt’s Hingham home. Leavitt and his wife, Ruth appeased the mob with rum and cake. On commemoration day, we honor this history with ceremony, a reenactment between the Hingham Militia Company and His Majesty’s 64th Regiment of Foot. Remarks, and refreshments for all. Free and open to the public.

Concord 250 Concert: Colonial Era House Music
2025-05-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, 01742, United States
Come and enjoy a light-hearted concert of music that might have been performed in a parlor or for a social gathering in Concord during the colonial period and just afterwards. The program includes: songs composed by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from a collection dedicated to George Washington; a set of keyboard variations to the tune of “Yankee Doodle,” which reportedly was sung as a taunt by the colonists as the British troops retreated from Concord on April 19th and later served as the unofficial hymn of the Continental Army, as well as music by two Boston composers associated with King’s Chapel.
Featuring works by 18th-century American composers: William Selby, William Billings, Francis Hopkinson, and James Hewitt, as well as music by C.P.E. Bach and John Stafford Smith
Robert Barney, portative organ
Ellen Carlson-Dunmire, soprano
Ethel Farny, flute
Sally Sanford, soprano
Anne Hooper Webb, violin
The program will last about an hour.

Concord250 Event: Concord Triptych Film Screening
2025-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | The Umbrella Arts Center, Stow Street 40, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
May 17, 2025, 3 p.m.
The Umbrella Arts Center Main Stage Theater 144
Five Sisters Productions and the Tufts University Half the History Film Project return to The Umbrella Arts Center to present a program of three locally shot short films about impactful women in Concord history.
The featured films will be:
–Margaret Lothrop and the Wayside (Premiere screening with new score)
–Ellen Garrison: Scenes from an Activist Life (Return engagement)
–Women of the Old Manse (Sneak peek)
Related family activities include optional childcare with teacher-led thematically related crafts during the screening, and a table display of Rise Up!, a new children’s book by Barefoot Books on revolutions and protest in U.S. history.
Partners: The Umbrella Arts Center, Tufts University Half the History Film Project, The Robbins House, Barefoot Books, Concord 250
FREE

Revolutionary Plymouth 250: “Revolutionary Voices: Plymouth Debates Liberty and Loyalty”
2025-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | 1749 Court House Museum, Town Square 4, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 02360, United States
Co-produced by Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Mercy Otis Warren Society, this powerful short play brings to life the fierce debates of Plymouth’s Committee of Correspondence as they grappled with how to respond to the escalating tensions leading to the American Revolution. Performed in the very space where these deliberations once unfolded, the play draws from authentic resolutions, letters, and documents of the era. Adding depth and perspective, the play also features commentary from Mercy Otis Warren—Plymouth’s own trailblazing political thinker and one of the most influential women of the Revolutionary era. The performance will be followed by a discussion with the cast and Nancy Rubin Stuart, President of the Mercy Otis Warren Society and author of The Muse of the Revolution: The Secret Pen of Mercy Otis Warren and the Founding of a Nation.

Revolutionary Tea on a Gambrel Roof w/tea & cake
2025-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers, MA, 01923, United States
A dramatization of ‘A Gambrel Roof’, a poem by Lucy Larcom. Reservations required $20pp.
A creative multi-disciplinary theatrical presentation of a circa 1875 local poem about the historic Danvers Jeremiah Page House. Period music, an art installation, historic tea blends and signature cakes add to the illustration of the story:
In about 1770, when the British monarchy started taxing tea in the colonies, Jeremiah told Sarah that “no tea shall be drunk in this house”. However, while her husband was away one day, Sarah and two friends secretly had their tea ON the roof of the house. In Sarah’s words, “Upon a house is not within it”, so she was still obeying her husband’s wishes. This story was told to Anne L. Page, Jeremiah’s granddaughter, by a family friend many years later. Anne then told it to her friend Lucy Larcom, the famous Beverly poet. Lucy romanticized the story in the poem “A Gambrel Roof” written as the 100th birthday of our nation approached and published in the Atlantic Monthly.

Red Lion Tavern Tour
2025-05-17 14:00 - 17:00 | Red Lion Tavern, West Street 621, Carlisle, Massachusetts, 01741, United States
The Carlisle Historical Society is excited to offer a special tour of the historic Red Lion Tavern in Carlisle, Massachusetts. The tavern is still in private hands after nearly 250 years and this tour marks the first time in recent history that it has been open to the public.
Visitors will have a chance to learn about taverns in colonial times and also learn about John Heald (the Tavern’s proprietor) and his father who both served in the Revolutionary War. The tour will include the history of the building as well as some discussion about colonial architectural practices. After touring the tavern, visitors can explore the 65 acre property including the site of the old “powder mill”, rumored to be where Carlisle’s militiamen produced and stored their supply of gun powder in 1775. Militiamen re-enactors will also be drilling and firing muskets on the lawn.
The tour will take place on Saturday, May 17th and visitors are welcome to drop in between 2:00-5:00 pm. The event is free and complimentary food and drinks will be provided. The tour is supported in part with grant funding from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, MA250, and the Carlisle Cultural Council.

Springham
2025-05-17 14:00 - 17:00 | Hingham Heritage Museum, Main Street 34, Hingham, MA, 02043, United States
Live Music, family activities, drinks from Vitamin Sea Brewing, and the opportunity to explore our Visitor Center and Museum Shop. Join us as we celebrate SPRINGHAM 2025!
Join popular local performers Tequila Tim and Thirsty Boots for an afternoon of music and community. FREE. Fun for all ages. In partnership with the Hingham Downtown Association and Hingham Anchor.
