MA250

The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-03-18 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-17 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-16 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-15 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-14 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-13 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | 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
2026-03-18 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-03-17 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-03-16 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-03-14 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-03-13 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

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-03-17 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-16 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-15 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-14 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-13 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-12 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.

Evacuation Day Special Anniversary Walking Tour
2026-03-17 10:00 - 12:30 | Boston Common, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
Join Hub Town Tours for a special commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day, marking the end of the British occupation of the city of Boston in 1776! We’ll travel the Freedom Trail in Downtown Boston and the North End and share the gripping story of a small colonial town careening toward war with the British Empire. This historic walking tour highlights Boston’s principal role at the outset of the American Revolution and will complement commemorative activities taking place at Dorchester Heights and around the city.

Knox Trail 250 - Boston
2026-03-17 09:00 - 13:00 | Dorchester Heights Monument and Grounds, 95R G St, Boston, 02127, United States
On July 4, 2026, our nation will celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Leading up to this historic birthday Revolution 250 was created. In keeping with this celebratory campaign, it is with great enthusiasm that we present the momentous commemoration of this country’s founding, Knox Trail 250. This sequenced program is designed to represent the Henry Knox Noble Train of Artillery of 1776, the catalyst for what we now recognize in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Evacuation Day.
In Massachusetts, starting in Great Barrington, going through over 33 towns, a simulation of the journey would be celebrated in designated hubs.
This sequenced parade of regional recognition will incorporate the invitation and participation of town managers, local historians, celebrating the commemoration and respective connections in the Noble Trail of Artillery.
BOSTON
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Dorchester Heights

Ezekiel How: Sudbury Patriot
2026-03-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Fairbank Community Center, Fairbank Road 40, Sudbury, MA, 01776, United States
Ezekiel How is best remembered for his role as leader of the Sudbury Companies of Militia who fought at Battle Road on April 19, 1775. His other military experience included militia support during the French and Indian War and responsibilities as a Colonel in the Continental Army following the Declaration of Independence. But did you know that How was also a Sudbury native and a successful Innkeeper?
Reenactor Tony Howes will discuss the life and legacy of this remarkable man – before, during, and after the American Revolution.

Deborah Sampson Gannett: Reflections on her Revolutionary War Experiences
2026-03-15 14:15 - 16:00 | Sharon Historical Society, High Street 16, Sharon, MA, 02067, United States
Julia Getz, actor and educator will portray Deborah Sampson the Massachusetts State Heroine as she describes her life as Continental Soldier Robert Shurtlieff. She was a woman, prohibited from fighting for her country, who risked imprisonment and dishonor to do so. She will be joined by a small company of Minutemen in full costume. The material is based on the speech she gave when she toured Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York in 1802, along with her experiences recounted in her own words in the 1866 version of Hermann Mann’s “The Female Review ” originally published in 1797. The 1866 version edited by Adam Vinton contains Deborah Sampson’s rewritten descriptions of her impressive exploits. They describe an unusual woman who is now is the Official Heroine of the Commonwealth. Her story is a powerful example of courage, ingenuity and a fight for recognition in a world that often-denied women their place in history.

A Conversation with Submit Clapp Baker, in commemoration of Evacuation Day
2026-03-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Dorchester Historical Society, Boston Street 195, Boston, Massachusetts, 02125, United States
Through the magic of time travel, the Dorchester Historical Society welcomes Submit Clapp Baker, who lived from 1749 to 1836, and is portrayed by DHS board member Karen McNutt. Middie Baker will share her vivid memories of events, people, and Dorchester life in the second half of the 18th century. Her recollections include the complicated and secretive activities relating to the fortification of Dorchester Heights, which convinced the British to abandon their occupation of Boston, on March 17, 1776, departing without a shot being fired. All ages are welcome to this engaging program, which takes place in the Society’s 1806 William Clapp House in Dorchester..

The Night Everything Changed ... Yarmouth at the Heights
2026-03-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Thacher Hall, Main Street 266, Yarmouth, MA, 02675, United States
One of the most strategic and decisive victories of the Revolutionary War, the bold action of Patriots (including men of Yarmouth) at Dorchester Heights fooled the British navy into ending its siege of Boston, fleeing on March 17, 1776. Come see and hear the stories in an interactive portrayal of “Yarmouth Patriots” who were part of that historic night. This is a free, family friendly event, but seating is limited. Please register.

The Battle of Saratoga: The Glorious Successes of our Arms in the North
2026-03-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Springfield Armory National Historic Site, One Armory Square, Springfield, 01105, United States
On October 17, an entire British army surrendered for the first time in remote upstate New York. Discover how the American Northern Army successfully stopped a British invasion from Canada during the Saratoga Campaign of 1777. Garrett Cloer, Program Manager for Interpretation and Visitor Experience at Saratoga National Historical Park joins us to discuss one of the pivotal moments of the Revolutionary War.

Encampment & Open Monument Climb
2026-03-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Dorchester Heights Monument and Grounds, 95R G St, Boston, 02127, United States
Step back in time at Dorchester Heights and experience an American Revolution era artillery encampment brought to life. See authentic cannons up close and learn about the British evacuation of Boston in 1776. This hands-on, family-friendly program offers a vivid look at the technology and teamwork that helped change the course of American history. Visitors will also have the opportunity to climb the newly restored Dorchester Heights Monument for sweeping views of the harbor and city skyline.
Free and open to the public.

Calling All Kids, Patriots And Sailors: Revolutionary Summer Saturdays
2026-03-14 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

St. Patrick’s Day or Evacuation Day or both?
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | boston marriott long wharf, State Street 296, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
Please join Mike Manning, South Boston native and amateur military historian, in a discussion of “Evacuation Day” and its 250th anniversary
Join South Boston native and amateur military historian Mike Manning for an engaging, in-person discussion exploring the history and meaning of Evacuation Day alongside St. Patrick’s Day. This educational program covers key topics from the Revolutionary War through the British evacuation of Boston, including the “Noble Train of Artillery,” the British fleet, parley negotiations, and the war’s progression beyond Boston.
The discussion offers a unique chance to reflect on how these two March traditions intersect — from Boston’s 1776 British evacuation to the city’s celebrated Irish heritage — making it a compelling prelude to Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day observances.
Topics include:
1.) A brief history of the Revolutionary War to December, 1775.
2.) A Return to Fort Ticonderoga
3.) The “Noble Train of Artillery”
4.) The British fleet in Boston
5.) The Parley
6.) The Evacuation
7.) The War shifts south to New York and New Jersey

Dorchester Heights Remembrance Illumination
2026-03-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Dorchester Heights Monument and Grounds, 95R G St, Boston, 02127, United States
Come together for an evening of remembrance at Dorchester Heights. This luminaria event invites visitors to pause, reflect, and connect with a turning point in the American Revolution. Two thousand luminaria will illuminate the fully restored national landmark to honor the legacy of Evacuation Day, which marks the end of the Siege of Boston.
As you walk through the grounds, consider the thousands of lives affected by the siege; from the Continental Army soldiers who fortified and held this hill for the cause liberty to the Boston residents who persevered under occupation and uncertainty.
Free and open to the public.

Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy
2026-03-12 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.
Retrace George Washington’s post-inaugural journeys and explore how he sought to unite a fragile new nation, featuring:
-Peter Drummey, Chief Historian of the Massachusetts Historical Society (Ret.)
-Nathaniel Philbrick, author of “Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy,” along with many other New York Times bestselling books

Gallery Talk: What Kind of Nation?
2026-03-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Join Chief Historian Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai for “What Kind of Nation?”, a gallery talk on the exhibition 1776: Declaring Independence. Visitors are invited to explore the rest of the exhibition and ask questions. Attendance is free.
Please visit here to register: https://www.masshist.org/events/gallery-talk-march-12-2026
