Massachusetts students invited to participate in statewide history competition
PLYMOUTH, Mass. Calling all K-12 students in Massachusetts. The governor’s administration is encouraging students to submit history projects as part of a statewide contest. As part of “Massachusetts Revolutionaries: Bold Stories, Bright Legacies,” the Healey-Driscoll administration wants students to submit a project of their choosing that tells a story about one of Massachusetts’ revolutionaries. Students […]
As 250th anniversary of American Revolution nears, here are some links to Framingham
FRAMINGHAM — Given its proximity to Lexington and Concord, it’s no wonder Framingham has connections to the American Revolution. Next month marks the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first major military campaign of the American Revolution. At the Framingham History Center, historians are gearing up to share the stories of local residents who […]
Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $2 Million in Massachusetts 250 Grants to Support American Revolution Commemoration
Boston — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the application for the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program, an initiative designed to support communities and organizations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This competitive grant program, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), aims to support projects that engage residents and visitors with Massachusetts’s rich […]
MBTA Shares Service Plans for 250th Celebrations April 19-20
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), along with state and local leaders, will celebrate Massachusetts 250. The MBTA will offer special services to and from Arlington, Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln, among other towns, Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025. “We are excited to welcome residents and visitors from across the world to Massachusetts this […]
Captain Paul Cuffe: A Visionary for African Americans in Early America
Whaler, activist, and highly successful entrepreneur Captain Paul Cuffe spent his life committed to crafting his vision of an American society free from reliance on slavery. At age 14, Cuffe went on his first whaling voyage, expanding his world beyond the farm he grew up on. His journeys led to a career in commerce, leaving […]
Massachusetts: The Birthplace of the World’s Greatest Inventions
Massachusetts has been the birthplace of many inventions, from chocolate chip cookies to volcanized rubber, typewriters to marshmallow fluff. In honor of National Inventors’ Day, here are a few invention stories that originated in the Commonwealth. Tupperware: When Earl Tupper invented Tupperware in 1946, it did not immediately become a household essential. Tupperware saw […]
Massachusetts’ Effective End of Slavery and the Leaders Who Made It Happen
In the 1770s, two major struggles for freedom were coming to a head in Massachusetts. As the colonists became increasingly inspired to achieve independence from the British, enslaved people channeled that same determination to seek freedom from the colonists. Throughout the 1770s, many enslaved people petitioned the colony government for freedom to no avail. […]
Connect with Massachusetts 250 This February Vacation Week
Massachusetts offers countless opportunities for the whole family to enjoy immersive and engaging exhibits, landmarks, and museums that bring Revolutionary War history to life. Here are some family-friendly activities and local stops to check out during February School Vacation week: Western Massachusetts: Springfield Armory National Historic Site Step into the birthplace of America’s industrial revolution […]
Revere Copper and the Manufacturing of a Nation
Many know founding father Paul Revere for his Revolutionary War heroism when he warned the minutemen of Massachusetts of the approaching British troops—a journey later memorialized in the Longfellow poem “Paul Revere’s Ride.” After the war, though, Revere continued to leave his mark on the newly independent country in a different manner. Revere, born and […]
Phillis Wheatley: The Revolutionary Poet Laureate
“Long as in Freedom’s Cause the Wise contend, / Dear to your Country shall your Fame extend,” wrote the poetess Phillis Wheatley in “Untitled Lines on the Boston Massacre.” The sentiment was uncommon for female poets of the period – and even more so for Wheatley, a formerly enslaved African American woman. Born around 1753 […]
