MA250

1776: Declaring Independence
2027-01-04 09:30 - 16:00, 2027-01-02 09:30 - 16:00, 2027-01-01 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-12-31 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-12-30 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-12-29 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

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2027-01-03 12:00 - 14:00, 2027-01-02 12:00 - 14:00, 2027-01-01 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-12-31 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-12-30 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-12-29 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.

Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State
2027-01-03 11:30 - 16:30, 2027-01-02 11:30 - 16:30, 2027-01-01 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.

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2027-01-03 10:00 - 17:00, 2027-01-02 10:00 - 17:00, 2027-01-01 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-12-31 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-12-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-12-29 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
2027-01-03 09:30 - 2027-01-18 16:30, 2027-01-02 09:30 - 2027-01-17 16:30, 2027-01-01 09:30 - 2027-01-16 16:30, 2026-12-31 09:30 - 2027-01-15 16:30, 2026-12-30 09:30 - 2027-01-14 16:30, 2026-12-29 09:30 - 2027-01-13 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.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-12-31 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-12-30 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-12-29 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.
