"Sharing the Spirit of America" in Taunton
2026-07-08 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-08 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Old Colony History Museum, 6 Church Green, Taunton, MA, 02780, United States
The City of Taunton and Old Colony History Museum invite you to “Sharing the Spirit of America” on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Join a statewide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the reading of the Declaration of Independence. At 6pm, we will host our own public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Come early beginning at 5pm and enjoy “revolutionary” activities such as quill writing, patriotic sing-alongs, and a tour of the Museum’s exhibit: Voices of the Revolution.
Old Colony History Museum
66 Church Green
Taunton, Massachusetts
Questions?
Call: 508-822-1622
Email: info@oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org

Collecting Wonders: Tomorrow’s Discoveries
2026-07-08 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-09 09:00 - 17:00 | Harvard Museum of Natural History, Oxford Street 26, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
When you imagine a museum, you might picture cases of artifacts. But the objects on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History are a tiny percentage of the total collections. Behind the scenes, experts care for 26 million specimens. These objects form the basis for studying life on Earth. They are records of the planet from different times and places. Objects span billions of years and come from every continent, ocean, and beyond. They are stone and bone, plant and animal, feather and fossil.
Since the early days of Harvard University, collections have been central to teaching and research. People continue to study these collections and uncover knowledge. Come explore some treasures of the collection!
Explore historic specimens presented to mark the 250th Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence on June 27.

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-07-08 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-07-09 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 Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-07-08 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-09 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.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-07-08 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-07-09 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.

Group Reading of the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-08 11:00 - 11:30 | Leverett Library, Montague Road 75, Leverett, MA, 01054, United States
Come read the Declaration of Independence out loud together in a relay where we each read a piece. Be part of the nation-wide group readings on this day to celebrate the declaration’s 250th anniversary. We’ll have iced tea (fresh from Boston Harbor). All ages!

American Stories: Rebels and Revolutionaries of the Berkshires
2026-07-08 11:00 - 12:30 | Norman Rockwell Museum, Glendale Road 9, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 01262, United States
History & Art Series: This summer when America is celebrating its 250th anniversary, join us for this historical and civic education program to learn how the Berkshires played a pivotal role in the founding of our nation.
“American Stories: Rebels and Revolutionaries of the Berkshires” examines the history of the American Revolution and its reverberating echoes in the region, nation, and world by highlighting the fascinating but complicated biographies of Berkshire County residents who impacted American history and culture from the late 1700s onward.
Sign up for the entire series of five classes held at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Each class will begin in the galleries of Norman Rockwell Museum’s “American Stories: Revolution to Rockwell” with a discussion of a work on view that connects to the theme of that day’s class.
Course Instructor: Justin F. Jackson is a lecturer and visiting scholar at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Classes and lectures include:
1) “Declarations of Independence”: Theodore Sedgwick, the Sheffield Resolves, and the Rise of Protest in the Berkshires
2) “Our America”: Daniel Nimham, the Stockbridge Mohicans, and the Revolution’s “Missing Indians”
3) “I Am, Amen”: Black Freedom Struggles in the Berkshires, from Agrippa Hull and Elizabeth Freeman to Samuel Harrison and W.E.B. Du Bois
4) “Do Unto Others”: Rev. Thomas Allen, Shays’s Rebellion, and a Sovereign People’s Constitutions in Massachusetts and America
5) “The Real Thing”: Herman Melville, the Magic of Memory, and Representing the American Dream
About Justin F. Jackson
Justin F. Jackson is a lecturer and visiting scholar at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he teaches US history, and the history of Boston and Massachusetts. The Berkshire Eagle is publishing his monthly column, “Revolution: Berkshires,” on the American Revolution’s local history in the run-up to the semi-sesquicentennial in July 2026. A scholar of US foreign relations history, he is author of The Work of Empire: War, Occupation, and the Making of American Colonialism in Cuba and the Philippines (University of North Carolina Press, 2025). His next book, “Cherry Cottage: Between Ruin and Restoration, America’s History Retold through a Berkshire Home,” explores how a preserved Stockbridge home produced Americans’ sense of the past, and nation, through place.

Fragments of Freedom: An Archives Pop-up Event at the State Library
2026-07-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Massachusetts State House, Beacon Street 24, Boston, MA, 02133, United States
The State Library of Massachusetts invites you to join us for a first of its kind event this summer! We are hosting a centrally located, tabled pop-up event in the State Library Reading Room (State House, Room 341), bringing together archivists from 16 area institutions under one roof. Come explore the concepts of independence and freedom expressed in our displayed collection items from the Revolutionary period and beyond. This event is organized by Boston Archivists Meetup.
Participating Institutions:
Boston CSJ Archives (Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Boston)
Boston Public Library
City of Boston Archives
Congregational Library and Archive
Dr. Thomas J. Glennon Archives, Woburn Public Library
GBH and AAPB (American Archive of Public Broadcasting)
Harvard University
JFK Presidential Library and Museum
Massachusetts Historical Society
Northeastern University
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Simmons University
State Library of Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court Archive
The Abraham Pollen Archives of Mass Eye and Ear
The West End Museum

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-07-08 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-09 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.

Boston: Harbor History Waterfront Walking Tour
2026-07-08 15:30 - 17:00 | Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, Atlantic Avenue 191 W, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
Boston Harbor has undergone significant transformation over four centuries. Experience Boston’s rich maritime heritage and contemporary vibrancy on a 1.5-hour stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, led by an expert local guide. The tour begins at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway—site of the “Big Dig”—and concludes at Fan Pier in the dynamic Seaport district, offering exceptional views throughout.
This small group walking tour explores the evolution of Boston’s waterfront, from its origins as a colonial port in the British Empire; through its development as a major center for shipping, fishing, and global trade; to its rebirth as a hub for modern commerce, tourism, and recreation. As you venture through the heart of the Boston Harborwalk, gain insight into the city’s significant efforts to expand and revitalize its waterfront infrastructure, greenspace, and public access.
Hub Town Tours delivers a compelling introduction to Boston’s identity as America’s “city by the sea.” Hear engaging stories as you pass historic landmarks and architectural highlights, illustrating the remarkable shoreline transformation from an industrial area and “dirty water” dumping ground to a vibrant public space beside one of the cleanest harbors in the United States.

Ceremonial Reading of the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Goshen Town Hall, Main Street 42, Williamsburg, Massachusetts, 01096, United States
Hear ye, Hear ye! To commemorate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which took place 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Town of Goshen, Massachusetts will join with communities around the nation for a public reading of the Declaration. The celebration will take place on July 8 at 5:30 PM at town hall. All citizens, and especially children, are encouraged to either read a section of the Declaration, or witness this historic event. Ice cream will be served after the reading. For more information, or to sign up to participate, please contact Keith Wright at 413.336.7142.

Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence: Hingham
2026-07-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Hingham Memorial Bell Tower/Old Ship Meetinghouse 90 Main St, Main Street 90, Hingham, MA, 02043, United States
Sharing the Spirit of America! As the bells ring from Hingham’s Memorial Bell Tower, gather at the Old Ship Meetinghouse on July 8 – 250 years after the Declaration of Independence was first publicly read – to join a nationwide synchronized reading of America’s founding document. Readers will include Hingham leaders drawn from across the community to honor this historic moment. Consider walking to historic downtown Hingham with your friends and neighbors – as they would have in 1776! A reception will follow the reading at the Hingham Community Center, at 70 South Street.

Andover's Declaration of Independence Public Reading
2026-07-08 17:45 - 18:30 | 36 Bartlet Street Andover, Bartlet Street 36, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810, United States
On July 8, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly for the first time. Join us in Andover on Wednesday, July 8 at 5:45 PM in The Park for a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a brief community ceremony. The event will be immediately followed by Concerts in The Park, featuring Red Solo Cup, a Toby Keith cover band. We hope to see you there as Andover joins communities across the country in commemorating this important moment in American history.

Reading the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-08 18:00 - 18:15 | 60 Monument Avenue Swampscott MA, Elmwood Road Rotary 22, Swampscott, MA, 01907, United States
Swampscott Historical Commission will read the Declaration of Independence on Town Hall lawn on July 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Nationwide Reading of the Declaration of Independence - Adams NHP
2026-07-08 18:00 - 18:15 | Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill, 141 Franklin St, Quincy, MA, 02169, United States
On July 8 at 6 p.m. ET, Americans across the globe will join for a simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence. From Alaska to Antarctica, we will come together as one to mark the 250th anniversary of the first public reading. Join Adams National Historical Park rangers at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill for a free, outdoor reading of this historic document.
This event will be held at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), 141 Franklin St., Quincy, MA 02169. In-park transportation is not available. Street parking is available at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill. The Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill is accessible by the MBTA Red Line via the Quincy Adams station (0.5 miles) and Quincy Center station (1 mile).

City of Framingham Reads the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-08 18:00 - 18:30 | 150 Concord Street, Framingham, Concord Street 150, Framingham, MA, 01702, United States
City officials will read the Declaration on steps of memorial Building outside at 150 Concord Street on July 8 at 6 p.m.
Reading will be elected City Councilors, School Committee members and Library Trustees

Sharing the Spirit of America in Greenfield
2026-07-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Greenfield City Common, Court Square 14, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
The City of Greenfield is proud to announce its participation in Sharing the Spirit of America, a statewide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Greenfield will host a special public reading of the historic document on the City Common in front of Greenfield City Hall, joining communities across the Commonwealth in marking this defining moment in American history.

Leyden's 250th Anniversary Celebration
2026-07-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Leyden Town Hall, West Leyden Road 16, Leyden, Massachusetts, 01337, United States
Leyden residents, families and friends will gather at the Leyden Town Hall and participate in a multigenerational reading the Declaration of Independence. Paul Kaplan and Annie Patterson will lead the group in folk songs and a community potluck featuring red, white and blue desserts will follow.

Easton's Special Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Kickoff to Summer Concert Series
2026-07-08 18:30 - 21:00 | Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, Barrows Street 3, Easton, MA, 02356, United States
Easton’s Special Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Kickoff to Summer Concert Series
Wednesday, July 8
6:30 PM
Steps of historic Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, 3 Barrows Street, Easton
Join the Town of Easton and the Easton Shovel Town Cultural District for a special community reading of the Declaration of Independence immediately before the kickoff to the Easton Shovel Town Cultural District’s Summer Concert Series on Wednesday, July 8 at 6:30pm on the steps of historic Oakes Ames Memorial Hall!
On July 8, 2026, communities across Massachusetts will take part in Sharing the Spirit of America, a statewide and nationwide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
As the birthplace of the American Revolution, Massachusetts holds a unique place in this history. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place in Boston in 1776.
Easton is proud to join communities across Massachusetts in this special commemoration, honoring our shared history and the enduring legacy of the Declaration of Independence.
The evening’s schedule is as follows:
6:30 pm – Welcome and opening remarks by Dottie Fulginiti, Chair of the Easton Select Board and Chair of the Easton Shovel Town Cultural District Management Partnership Team
6:40 pm – Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence
7:00 pm – Performance by Billy and the Jets, kicking off the Easton Shovel Town Cultural District Summer Concert Series
Join us for an evening of community, music, and celebration as we reflect on our nation’s history. FREE and all are welcome!
For questions or requests for reasonable accommodation, please email Amy Rodrigues, Cultural District Liaison at arodrigues@easton.ma.us or call 774-273-2997.

Arlington250 Reading: Declaration of Independence
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Jason Russell House, 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
Join Arlington’s State Rep. Sean Garballey co-chair of the Special Commission on 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution, and members of Arlington Historical Society and Arlington 250 for a reading of the Declaration of Independence as it arrives in “old Menotomy”.
The faithful replicas of Ezekiel Russell’s 1776 Declaration were faithfully hand-printed by Gary Gregory using 18th cent. techniques in a project coordinated by Rev250 and will be sent to all 351 communities in Massachusetts.
Join us for its arrival and reading on the lawn of the Jason Russell House! (In case of rain, event will move inside the adjacent Arlington Historical Society Smith Museum.)

Special Exhibit: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
2026-07-09 | 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

Sharing the Spirit of America in Boxford
2026-07-09 03:00 | Holyoke-French House, 2 Topsfield Road, Boxford, 01921, United States
On July 8, 2026, Boxford will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence. Please join us for an evening of history, music, and community as we recreate this extraordinary event. We are hosting a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, an exhibition of “Boxford in the Revolutionary War” and the display of the original Town Meeting book from 1776 at the historic Holyoke-French House. Light refreshments will be served at this festive, free, family event.

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-07-09 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.

Salt and Survival: The Untold Story of the Revolution
2026-07-09 13:00 - 2026-08-29 16:00 | Jericho Historical Center, Old Main Street 90, Dennis, Massachusetts, 02670, United States
School lessons about the American Revolution often focus on the Boston Tea Party—but far fewer people learn about the importance of salt.
Cod fishing, Cape Cod’s biggest industry, relied on salt for preserving fish for export. British blockades, designed to cripple coastal communities, were preventing salt being imported.
In response, colonists relied on the sun and their ingenuity. Captain John Sears of Dennis designed the first saltworks, using solar evaporation to produce the salt essential for preserving fish and eliminating the dependance on imported goods.
At the Jericho Historical Center discover the history of the first saltworks, explore a detailed model, see a demonstration of solar evaporation, and view photographs and early artifacts.
In addition, tour an historic full cape house built in 1801, and occupied by the Baker family until 1955, containing 19th century furnishings, textiles, paintings and keepsakes. In the barn, tools and equipment from the 1800s are displayed, as well as a carriage that raced at Riverside Trotting Park. The General Store is a reminder of the important role such gathering places played in the community’s economic and social life. Of special interest is the cranberry exhibit which tells the 200-year-old story of cranberry cultivation; an industry that began in Dennis in 1816!
