MA250

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-04-12 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-11 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-10 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-09 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-08 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-04-12 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-11 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-10 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-09 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-08 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.

Concord 250 Homecoming
2026-04-12 08:00 | Massachusetts
April 12 Concord250 Homecoming; Details to come.

National DAR Plaque Dedication
2026-04-12 00:00 | Massachusetts
The program has been established to honor the memory of the men and women with whom we have sacred compact to ennsure that these United States of America continue as a goverment of the people, by the people, for the people.

Naughty Newton at Night: Hamilton's World
2026-04-11 19:00 - 22:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue, Newton, 02458, United States
Join Historic Newton for the historic cocktail party of the year! This year Naughty Newton at Night will celebrate all things Alexander Hamilton and Hamilton the musical.
Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the more scandalous sides of the 18th century. What was the favorite alcoholic drink of New England in the 1700s? Did Martha Washington really have a pet tomcat named after Alexander Hamilton? Did George Washington prefer boxers or briefs? Just how many children did Ben Franklin have (and what was contraception like?)?
Get the scoop on all the 18th-century gossip! This interactive event is 21+. Wear your favorite cocktail party outfit or historic costumes for a chance to win the “Best Dressed” prize!
Thank you to our corporate sponsor, Garden Remedies.
All proceeds support the work of Historic Newton and our mission to connect our community with its history.
Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/NNatN26

Concord Band Presents Jazz Vocalist Amanda Carr and a New Composition at Spring Pops
2026-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | 51 Walden Performing Arts Center, Walden Street 51, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Jazz singer Amanda Carr, an audience favorite, returns for the Concord Band’s annual Spring Pops concert on Saturday, April 11, 7:00 PM at the 51 Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord. The program features Ms. Carr and her fresh interpretations from the Great American Songbook and New York themed songs. The Band also will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with composer Clare Grundman’s classic work, Spirit of ’76. Another special highlight is Lilly’s Story, the premiere of a unique composition inspired by a 12-year-old from Brockton, named Lilly, and her family.
Ms. Carr will perform Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin, as well as Cole Porter’s Night and Day and Anything Goes. Amanda also performs vocals on Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind, and a song that Amanda wrote called Maybe. With five jazz vocal recordings, Ms. Carr continues to perform as a solo artist and guest host. A true collaborator, Amanda Carr is a coach for vocal students while still writing and composing music.
The Concord Band collaborated with Sing Me A Story, an organization that commissioned Boston Conservatory student composer, Luciano Lopez-Parnetti, to present Lilly’s Story, a new composition that celebrates Lilly’s love of family, food and music. In her story, Lilly imagines a world where differences are not questioned, but embraced. Lilly’s personal narrative is reflected in Lopez-Parnetti’s intriguing composition through a harmonically rich wall of sound, punctuated rhythms and overlapping patterns. A remarkable photo montage, created by Lilly herself, will be on display at the concert. The montage explores what it feels like when others make assumptions about her mixed identity, and the challenges of not always feeling fully seen or understood. Both Lilly’s family and composer Lopez-Parnetti will attend the premiere performance.
Continuing with the New York theme, the Concord Band will evoke the vibrant and frenetic energy of New York City with Warren Barker’s New York: 1927, together with selections from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story.
The Concord Band’s Spring Pops concert, conducted by Music Director James O’Dell, will be open seating at the 51 Walden Performing Arts Center in Concord, 7:00 PM, Saturday, April 11th. The audience is invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments in the lobby at intermission and after the concert. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under, and can be reserved at www.ticketstage.com/concordband

An Intimate Evening with Martha and George Washington
2026-04-11 16:00 - 19:00 | Lafayette-Durfee House, Cherry Street 94, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02722, United States
Step into the warmth and elegance of the 18th century as we host a special gathering inspired by the hospitality of Martha and George Washington.
Enjoy an evening of conversation, refinement, and colonial charm in a cozy, historic setting.
Guests will be treated to a selection of hors d’oeuvres, along with coffee, tea, and fine chocolates—all served in the spirit of early American graciousness.
🎟 A purchased ticket of $30 is required for admission.
This exclusive event offers limited space to preserve its intimate atmosphere.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-intimate-evening-with-martha-george-washington-tickets-1982625301648?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Join us for a memorable night that blends history, flavor, and fellowship.
This program is supported in part by the Fall River Cultural Council a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council a state agency.

Vivo Performing Arts Presents: I Dream A World Youth Choral Showcase
2026-04-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center, Columbus Avenue 1234, Boston, Massachusetts, 02120, United States
This must-see event for the United States’ 250th anniversary year brings together a stage full of talented young singers, the words of American literary luminaries, two amazing Boston-based cellists, and the world premiere of a new choral work by B.E. Boykin.
Each youth choir presents a unique musical setting of Langston Hughes’ poem “I Dream A World,” in compositions by esteemed composers Rollo Dilworth, Mike Block, Andre Thomas, Dan Welcher, and more.
The program also brings new life to the words of Boston’s Phillis Wheatley—a brilliant poet, trans-Atlantic literary celebrity, and the first published African American author. Cellists Mike Block and Francesca McNeeley collaborate for a stirring arrangement of Wheatley’s “A Farewell to America,” while composer B.E. Boykin and author Brittny Ray Crowell set other Wheatley texts to music for the assembled choirs.
featuring
Boston Children’s Chorus
Boston City Singers
Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses Chamber Choir
Mike Block cello
Francesca McNeeley cello

Acton 250 Committee presents: Acton Center Walking Tour with Amy Cole
2026-04-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Acton Memorial Library, Main Street 486, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Please join the Acton 250 Committee and the Amy Cole for a walking tour of Acton Center. Professional tour leader Amy Cole grew up near Acton Center and has a wide ranging-interest in Acton’s unique history. Walking Acton’s historic civic center, you will learn about the people, places and practices that shaped the town’s history and our nation’s as well. Topics include Native American history, the role of the church, the importance of Captain Isaac Davis and the Acton Minutemen, nearby historic buildings, memorials and more.
The walk is free, but you must register as the walk is limited to 25 people.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/Apr11-Acton250.
Please meet Amy at the Acton Memorial Library parking lot at 12:50 PM.
Please see https://www.actonma.gov/250 for more programming information and don’t forget our Acton250 store at https://tinyurl.com/ACTON250STORE.

Rendezvous with Rachel Revere Featuring Judith Kalaora
2026-04-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Springfield Armory National Historic Site, One Armory Square, Springfield, 01105, United States
It is May 2, 1775, and Rachel Revere has only heard from her beloved husband Paul once since his legendary midnight ride on April 18. Isolated by the Siege of Boston, Rachel desperately tries to form a plan to escape the reach of the British Regular Army in Boston with seven children in tow. In this living history program, you will help Rachel as she carefully considers the dangers and demands of her options. Find out if Rachel is successful in her perilous mission to reunite her family amidst an American Revolution.

Quilts 250 Book Launch Party
2026-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Harvey Wheeler Community Center, Main Street 1276, Concord, Massachusetts, 01742, United States
Join us for the Quilts 250 Book Launch!
Stop by Harvey Wheeler from 11–3 to experience a beautiful celebration of art, history, and community.
✨ View a selection of quilts from the original Concord Academy exhibit
✨ Meet the creators and hear the stories behind their work
✨ Pick up (or purchase!) your copy of the stunning 176-page book
✨ Enjoy light refreshments
A perfect opportunity to take a closer look at these extraordinary quilts—and bring home a piece of the story.

Open House and 50th Anniversary Celebration
2026-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Please join us for an open house marking the end of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library’s 50th anniversary celebration!
Visit exhibitions that examine the museum’s collection over the past 50 years and Lexington’s role in the American Revolution, see a replica of the cannon Henry Knox brought from Ticonderoga to Dorchester on loan from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, welcome ultra runner Patrick Atkinson as he arrives in Lexington at the conclusion of his 333-mile Revolutionary Run from Delaware to Massachusetts, witness the burial of a time capsule for 2075, and more.
Admission is free. Light lunch served. Registration is not required. Help us celebrate the end of our 50th anniversary year and look ahead to the next 50 years!
Program for the Day (join us at any time):
10AM-3PM, Open House
11AM, Time Capsule Ceremony Come see our 50th anniversary time capsule buried—not to be opened until 2075!
12PM, Celebrate the Revolutionary Run Welcome ultramarathoner Patrick Atkinson as he concludes his 333 mile run from Wilmington, DE to Lexington, MA
2PM, Noble Train of Artillery Encampment and Ceremonial Entrustment of the Hamilton 250 Cannon
Plus, “FOR LOVE! FOR LIBERTY!” A musical about Henry Knox. Performances at 4PM and 7PM. Tickets required.

Calling All Kids, Patriots And Sailors: Revolutionary Summer Saturdays
2026-04-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Custom House Maritime Museum, Water Street 25, Newburyport, Massachusetts, 01950, United States
FREE outdoor and indoor activities for kids all summer long
Building on the success of the Road to Revolution partnership programs, each Saturday from now until the end of September, the museum will host children’s outdoor and indoor programming. The hugely successful Discovery Center experience will extend out onto the lawn with 15 new activity stations. Rolling River Printmakers of New England will partner this week with an activity station to make prints. A rideable dolphin and elephant, courtesy of local sculptor Jeff Briggs, along with a bouncy castle, pirate boat with water guns, plus water, sand and craft tables await.
This free program runs from 10 am to 1 pm thanks to generous sponsorship from the Institution for Savings and the Local Cultural Council.
Looking ahead, in September, the museum is pleased to partner with Imagine Studios on a fascinating project to burn and carve out of a pine log and shape into a 20 foot long mishoon (dugout canoe) using traditional methods. Led by Imagine Studios, Darius Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Jonathan Petty of the Aquinnah Wampanoag will carve over successive weekends. Sponsored by the New England Foundation for the Arts, and with in-kind support from New England Development, the goal is to launch on Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 11.
We hope you can join us.–James

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-04-11 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-10 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-09 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-08 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

"Bedford Answers the Call" Open House
2026-04-11 08:00 - 14:00 | Bedford Historical Society, South Road 16, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730, United States
Have you visited the Bedford Historical Society’s exhibit,” Bedford Answers the Call,” yet?
Join us for a special Open House on April 11 from 8:00–10:15 a.m., and again immediately following the Pole Capping Day parade and ceremony.
Our current exhibit, “Bedford Answers the Call,” offers a compelling look at Bedford’s role in the opening chapter of the American Revolution as we commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Through powerful stories, rare artifacts, and thoughtfully curated displays, the exhibit highlights Bedford’s militia and minutemen, the families who supported them, and the sacrifices made on the first day of the Revolution.
A companion display at the Bedford Free Public Library highlights the history of the present-day Bedford Minuteman Company.
If you haven’t stopped by yet, we hope you will. The 250th anniversary is the perfect time to rediscover Bedford’s Revolutionary roots.

For Love! For Liberty! A New Musical
2026-04-11 | Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Step into the winter of 1775–76 and experience the extraordinary true story that helped save the American Revolution. For Love! For Liberty! is a vibrant new musical filled with original songs, dance, and unforgettable historical characters.
Follow the journey of young Boston bookseller Henry (Harry) Knox, who hauled sixty tons of cannon across frozen lakes and mountains to General Washington’s army—an audacious mission that changed the course of history. At the heart of the story is Lucy Knox, who defies her loyalist family, sacrifices her fortune, and sustains Harry’s courage with letters, love, and cake.
Bridging past and present, the story unfolds as middle-school history students work with teachers, grandparents, and the National Park Service to bring this remarkable moment in American history to life.
📍 Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA
Saturday, April 11
4:00 PM & 7:00 PM performances
Bring the whole family for an inspiring theatrical experience celebrating courage, sacrifice, and the power of love and liberty!
✨ History. Music. Revolution. ✨
This production was made possible by MA250 grant from The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
Story and Lyrics by Vana Nespor and Music by Clifton (Jerry) Noble
Tickets available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/for-love-for-liberty-a-musical

Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest
2026-04-10 09:30 - 2026-05-09 16:00 | Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street, South Hamilton, 01982, United States
Diorama Drop-Off: April 10-18
Public Voting: April 21 – May 9
Create a patriotic PEEPS scene in celebration of the Revolutionary Library Crawl and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence!
A diorama is a miniature model with three-dimensional figures. Create a diorama that depicts a scene from the past 250 years of America. You are not limited to the Revolution, so feel free to get creative with exploring highlights from US history.
Guidelines:
– One entry per person or team.
– Entries must be submitted with entry form.
– All characters should be portrayed by PEEPS.
– Dioramas must be made in a standard shoe box, maximum dimensions 14″x10″.
– All entries must be family-friendly, in good taste, and of solid construction.
– Please give your diorama a title that describes the scene portrayed.
– Dioramas must be dropped off at the Circulation Desk April 10-April 18. Late entries will not be accepted.
– Dioramas must be picked up by May 15. Projects left after this date will be disposed.
PEEPS will be on display and open for voting during the Revolutionary Library Crawl, April 21 – May 9. One winner from each entry category will be selected to receive a prize.
Entry form available here:
https://hwlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Patriotic-Peeps-Diaorama-Contest.pdf
Information on the Revolutionary Library Crawl available here:
https://hwlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Revolutionary-Library-Crawl-Passport.pdf

Captain Michael Corbett and the Pitt Packet Incident in 1769
2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, 01945, United States
Early revolutionary resistance!
Hear the dramatic tale of Michael Corbett and his Marblehead shipmates who resisted British tyranny at sea on King Hooper’s merchant ship, the Pitt Packet – named after a British prime minister who was sympathetic to Americans’ grievances – a full year before the 1770 Boston “Massacre” and six years before the Revolutionary War’s first battle in 1775. After the mariners killed a British officer who was trying to impress them into British Navy service, they were brought to trial in Boston but were successfully acquitted by a young unknown lawyer named John Adams. That case launched Adams into professional and political prominence, which grew after Adams successfully defended some British officers a year later, after the so-called “Boston Massacre” on March 5 in 1770. In 1775, Corbett and most of the others would become ship’s masters on privateer vessels –– a role that caused most of the deaths of Marblehead’s men in the Revolution, including Corbett’s.
Donald Doliber was appointed as Marblehead’s Town Historian after 24 years as an award-winning history teacher, who was selected as the “Outstanding American History Teacher in the United States” by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), followed by 17 years as an assistant high school principal. His ancestors arrived in Marblehead in the 1630s, and were fishermen, selectmen, and merchants in the early community and later, and a few served in the Revolutionary War.
This event is presented in collaboration with the Marblehead 250 Committee and Abbot Public Library.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

American Revolutionaries: George Washington, American Icon
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Clark Art Institute, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA, 01267, United States
American Revolutionaries is a series of gallery talks given by members of the curatorial team in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Each talk highlights artworks from the Burrows Gallery of American Decorative Arts, including silver from the Henry Morris and Elizabeth H. Burrows collection, which came to the Clark from an anonymous loan to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976.
The second talk in the series, led by Oliver Hess, curatorial intern and graduate student in the Williams College/Clark Graduate Program in the History of Art (Class of 2027), traces the public’s fascination with George Washington’s likeness, from formal portraits made during his life to the explosion of mourning imagery after his death. In looking at paintings, print culture, and funerary porcelain, among other objects, Hess reveals how a new nation’s unified grief and patriotic fervor created a market for an early American icon.
Image: Gilbert Stuart, George Washington (detail), 1796–1803, oil on canvas. The Clark, 1955.16
