The American Revolution by Ken Burns; a Free film screening: Episode Five
2025-11-20 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Cabot, 286 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Experience History on the Big Screen!
In partnership with The Cabot, Historic Beverly is proud to present a special FREE community screening of Ken Burns’ highly anticipated 12-hour, 6-part documentary series The American Revolution; shown in tandem with its national PBS premiere.
For six consecutive nights, November 16–21, audiences can experience this landmark series free of charge. See the details about the film series down below. Reserve FREE tickets for one night or all six!

Reserve your tickets HERE

Series Description
Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. The film is directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and written by Geoffrey Ward.
Episode Five (Thursday, November 20)
The Soul of All America (December 1777 – May 1780)
Washington’s Continental Army emerges from the harsh winter at Valley Forge to fight the British Army in the inconclusive Battle of Monmouth. But the alliance with France changes the war and moves it to other theaters. Navies battle off England’s coast and in the Caribbean, while armies advance into Indian Country and the southern states. Together, the British Army and Navy capture Charleston.
Paintings on Display!
Throughout the week, guests can explore Historic Beverly’s rotating art exhibition at The Cabot, featuring original works that bring America’s revolutionary story to life. Drawn from Historic Beverly’s extraordinary collection of 44 paintings commissioned by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, 28 are featured in Ken Burns’ The American Revolution and can be viewed at Historic Beverly’s Cabot House. The remaining works, on view during the film screening, though not included in the film, powerfully illuminate the depth and drama of our nation’s founding struggle.

The American Revolution by Ken Burns; a Free film screening: Episode Six
2025-11-21 20:00 - 21:00 | The Cabot, 286 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Experience History on the Big Screen!
In partnership with The Cabot, Historic Beverly is proud to present a special FREE community screening of Ken Burns’ highly anticipated 12-hour, 6-part documentary series The American Revolution; shown in tandem with its national PBS premiere.
For six consecutive nights, November 16–21, audiences can experience this landmark series free of charge. See the details about the film series down below. Reserve FREE tickets for one night or all six!

Reserve your tickets HERE

Series Description
Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. The film is directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and written by Geoffrey Ward.
Episode Six (Friday, November 21)
The Most Sacred Thing (May 1780 – Onward)
The British Army under General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states. Meanwhile, one of the most respected American generals betrays the cause and defects to the British. Supported by the French Army and Navy, Washington’s Continental Army wins the decisive victory at Yorktown. Peace is restored, independence is won, and Americans aspire for a more perfect union.
Paintings on Display!
Throughout the week, guests can explore Historic Beverly’s rotating art exhibition at The Cabot, featuring original works that bring America’s revolutionary story to life. Drawn from Historic Beverly’s extraordinary collection of 44 paintings commissioned by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, 28 are featured in Ken Burns’ The American Revolution and can be viewed at Historic Beverly’s Cabot House. The remaining works, on view during the film screening, though not included in the film, powerfully illuminate the depth and drama of our nation’s founding struggle.

Revolution, Up Close: A Slow Looking Experience
2025-12-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-01-26 10:00 - 11:30 | John Cabot House, 117 Cabot Street, Beverly, 01915, United States
If you loved our “Slow Art Day” program in April then you’ll love this new experience!
Unplug, slow down, and see more! In this guided, small-group program, participants spend focused time with select paintings from the exhibit, The American Revolution: the Story of the War in 28 Paintings. Through facilitated slow looking, reflection, and conversation, we’ll uncover layers of story, symbolism, and technique, illuminating the human experiences behind the Revolutionary era.

Coffee and Conversations: Frederick Coffay Yohn
2025-12-12 10:00 - 11:00 | John Cabot House, 117 Cabot Street, Beverly, 01915, United States
Ease into your day with Coffee and Conversations, an informal, one-hour program at Historic Beverly that pairs a coffee break with a guided deep-dive into a single object or notable figure from our collection. From rare artworks to everyday artifacts with extraordinary stories, each session spotlights one topic in depth, encouraging close looking, lively questions, and shared discovery. Perfect for history-curious neighbors and longtime members alike, this is a welcoming hour to learn something new and connect with your community. Coffee and light refreshments provided. Capacity is limited; advance registration is encouraged.
At a remarkably young age, Frederick Coffay Yohn was commissioned to create powerful images for Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s The Story of the Revolution, published by Scribner’s Magazine. These works, rich with color, movement, and emotion, helped define how generations would visualize the American Revolution. Many of Yohn’s original paintings are on view now in our galleries as part of The American Revolution: The Story of the War in 28 Paintings.
Enjoy coffee provided by Beantrust, conversation, and a close look at one of the artists who brought America’s founding story to life.

Women of '76
2026-01-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Industrial History Center, Mill 2, Upper Millyard, Amesbury, MA, 01913, United States
Presented by Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions, experience the untold stories
of courage and conviction from five remarkable women who witnessed and
shaped the American Revolution.
Thursday, January 22, 2025 | 6:30pm
Members: $25 / Non-members: $30
CLICK HERE to register

Newburyport's Road to Independence, Part I: The Long, Dark Winter of 1776
2026-01-30 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Step into the fraught winter of early 1776 with historian Alexander Cain. As Boston freezes under siege and smallpox shadows the lines, tensions ignite from barracks to backrooms.
Then the spotlight shifts to Newburyport: independence is in the air, or is it treason?
Alex has authored numerous research articles and presentations on the American Revolution, including the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, Massachusetts privateers and the experiences of New England and New York loyalist refugees during the Burgoyne Campaign. In addition, he has published two books: We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War: The Loyalists of McAlpin’s Corps of American Volunteers. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast Historical Nerdery. Currently, he is in the process of writing his next book, “For God’s Sake, Fire!” – The Massachusetts Militia System on the Eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is anticipated to be released in 2027.
CLICK HERE to reserve tickets
Please note: for questions on tickets, please contact the Museum of Old Newbury. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Newburyport's Road to Independence, Part II: Québec 1775-1776: The Last Siege
2026-02-06 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
During the first months of the War of Independence, the Continental Army set its sights on the Province of Quebec. This British colony, born from the ashes of New France, is equally a threat and an opportunity for the Thirteen Colonies. How did the Canadian population react to the invasion of their territory? How did this first major campaign unfold? Focusing on the events surrounding Québec City, discover the efforts to capture it, from Benedict Arnold’s fateful expedition in the wilderness, to the siege of the city in 1775, the Battle of Québec on Dec. 31, 1775, and the departure of the Continental Army in May 1776.
Luc Nicole-Labrie has been a historian and historical interpretation coordinator for the National Battlefields Commission since 2007. He has an academic background in history, tourism, and culture. He has contributed to numerous educational activities, exhibitions, lectures, articles, and guided tours on the events surrounding the Battles of the Plains of Abraham and Sainte-Foy, as well as the history of the Plains of Abraham and Québec City.
CLICK HERE to reserve tickets
Please note: for questions on tickets, please contact the Museum of Old Newbury. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

CANCELLED Leslie's Retreat Memorial Dedication
2026-02-26 10:00 - 10:30 | Leslie’s Retreat Memorial, 8 North Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join us as we honor the 251st anniversary of Leslie’s Retreat with the dedication of a new monument. This significant addition to our community will preserve the memory of this important historical event for generations to come.
The dedication ceremony will feature remarks from local historians and community leaders. We hope you’ll be part of this meaningful occasion as we come together to remember and reflect on this chapter of our shared history.
THIS EVENT HAD BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO RECENT SNOWSTORMS

Fashioning for Freedom: Layers of Liberty
2026-02-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join History Alive and Hamilton Hall for a celebratory, historical runway of Black creativity and activism. Discover the stories of abolitionists, artists, and entrepreneurs — from 18th century figures like Jenny Slew and King Pompey Mansfield to trailblazers including members of the Remond family, Anna Douglass, Charlotte Forten, and Edmonia Lewis — who helped shape American history. Along the way, explore surprising connections to John Adams and the liberty rod and cap so popular during the Revolution. Together, these stories illuminate the many ways that creative and talented historical figures “fashioned” their own unique expressions of freedom. All tickets include light refreshments during intermission.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

Newburyport's Road to Independence III: Loyalists, Prisoners, and the Homefront
2026-03-06 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
In 1776, as war raged across the American colonies, the clash of armies echoed far beyond the battlefield into everyday life in Newburyport. Historian and fan favorite Alex Cain invites you to step into a time where loyalists were persecuted, British prisoners were confined, and families struggled with soaring prices, shortages, and the constant shadow of loss from combat. At the same time, privateer prizes poured into the harbor, flooding the port with captured riches and stirring hope of fantastic opportunities. Through hardship and adversity alike, Newburyport pressed on in its determined drive toward independence.
Alex has authored numerous research articles and presentations on the American Revolution, including the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston,Massachusetts privateers and the experiences of New England and New York loyalist refugees during the Burgoyne Campaign. In addition, he has published two books: We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War: The Loyalists of McAlpin’s Corps of American Volunteers. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast Historical Nerdery (historicalnerdery.com). Currently, he is in the process of writing his next book, “For God’s Sake, Fire!” – The Massachusetts Militia System on the Eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is anticipated to be released in 2027.
**NOTE: Please only sign up for the number of tickets you need based on a single membership. If you are a member of multiple organizations, just pick ONE of them to sign up under. For example: You want 2 tickets to the event and you are a current member of both the MOON and CHMM. Chose just ONE organization and sign up for your 2 tickets. Thank you! Any questions, please call us at the Museum of Old Newbury at 978-462-2681.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Revolutionary Cures for Scurvy
2026-03-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Scurvy —a debilitating disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, was a scourge among sailors, with hundreds of thousands perishing during the colonial period, and during the American Revolutionary War it became a critical strategic factor that severely weakened the British Royal Navy and affected the health of the Continental Army.
Before the concept of vitamin deficiency was known to the world, physicians struggled to find what caused the disease. That did not stop them from developing both herbal and chemical treatments with mixed results. The story of finding a true cure spans the centuries, from ancient references to sailors’ superstitions to the birth of “clinical trials” in the 18th century.
Join Dan Marshall as he dives into both European and American colonial sources that shed light on the effects of scurvy on the body and the many colonial cures recorded for posterity. Afterwards, he will demonstrate the tools and techniques of turning simple ingredients into medicine in the 17th & 18th centuries.
Dan Marshall is a museum professional who has shared his love of history with the public for over 25 years. He has created and presented countless hands-on public history events, school tour programs, and lectures on a wide range of historical topics. With experience at Colonial Williamsburg, The House of the Seven Gables, Lexington Historical Society, and the City of Salem, Dan is currently serving as Vice President of the Salem Historical Society.

This program is presented in partnership with the National Park Service and Essex Heritage as part of a series; Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution. As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, this dynamic series brings together diverse voices and experts to examine the Revolution through its many perspectives, lived experiences, and lasting legacies.

Revolutionary Privateers at Sea Symposium: Newburyport and the Wider World
2026-03-23 08:00 - 16:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
From Newburyport wharves, privateers pushed past Plum Island and into the Atlantic to strike British commerce. Operating under letters of marque, these privately owned vessels captured cargoes and ships, disrupted supply lines, and funneled provisions and matériel back to the Revolutionary cause.
Privateering was also a community enterprise. Investors financed voyages; shipyard trades outfitted vessels; mariners signed on for shares; families kept businesses and farms running in their absence. Prizes could bring sudden prosperity, and losses could be devastating.
Marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the symposium connects local stories to a global maritime war through logbooks, prize records, correspondence, and artifacts that bring the era into sharp focus.
Featured speakers and sessions:
The opening keynote will be delivered by Eric Jay Dolin, historian and best-selling author of Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution.
Additional sessions include Emily Murphy, Ph.D., National Park Service, on Essex County’s Revolutionary War at sea; Abby Schreiber, Ph.D., Curator at the National Museum of the United States Navy, on the Continental Navy and Massachusetts privateers as allies and rivals; Michael P. Dyer, former curator at Mystic Seaport Museum and the New Bedford Whaling Museum, on boatbuilding, navigation, and the coastal geography of privateering; Dr. Amanda Bevan, head of The National Archives, United Kingdom, Prize Papers Project, on Prizes for All and the Prize Papers for the American War of Independence, 1776 to 1783; and Reading Betsey’s Log with Graham McKay, Executive Director of Lowell’s Boat Shop, and Bethany Groff Dorau, Executive Director of the Museum of Old Newbury.
Optional add-on experiences:
Optional, limited-capacity add-on experiences begin at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Options include Revolutionary Resting Places, a tour of Old Hill Burying Ground and Highland Cemetery; Streets of the Privateering Port, a downtown walking tour; Merchants, Mansions, and the Privateer Economy at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm; and Crafting the Revolution, a behind-the-scenes visit to Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury.
Evening program: A Revolutionary Night at the Tavern
A Revolutionary Night at the Tavern begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Firehouse Center for the Arts. The evening features toasts, music, art, and theater, including a signature crankie, a moving panorama featuring original art by Alan Bull. No assigned seating and no dress code.
Performers include Edward Speck of Theater in the Open; The Portermen, Newburyport’s shanty and traditional music purveyors; and Adrienne Howard, fiddle and hurdy-gurdy.
Ticket Includes: Lunch and refreshments with vegan and gluten-free options, optional add-on experiences, and an evening Tavern Night program (ticketed separately).
Sign up for the symposium here: Registration
Sign up for Tavern Night here: Evening Ticket

A Revolutionary Tavern Night: Newburyport Toasts, Tunes, and Tales!
2026-03-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
At the end of a landmark privateering symposium, what is there left to do but repair to the tavern? In Revolutionary Newburyport, taverns were more than places to drink. They were the town’s patriot headquarters, where news from other embattled towns was shared, committees met, captains were recruited, merchants and investors negotiated, and neighbors argued politics, prizes, and the price of independance. They were also the original entertainment venues, alive with songs, fiddles, ballads, recitations, sketches, and the kind of convivial spectacle that helped a crowded port blow off steam, build connections, and keep morale up through a bleak winter at war.
Join Edward Speck (Theater in the Open), Bethany Groff Dorau (Museum of Old Newbury), The Portermen (Newburyport’s shanty and traditional music purveyors), and fiddler and hurdy-gurdy player Adrienne Howard for an evening that channels that 18th-century spirit: toasts, music, art, theater, silly human tricks, and a show-stopping crankie (a moving panorama) featuring art by Alan Bull. Throughout the night, historians in silly hats will pop up with quick tales and tidbits about tavern shenanigans, from the rituals of drinking and song to the ways tavern rooms doubled as civic space when the Revolution came to town. Come ready to laugh, sing, and raise a glass to the people who made a rebellious port run.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

Printing Revolution Lecture with Andy Volpe
2026-03-28 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Join us at the Museum of Printing for Andy Volpe’s “Printing Revolution” lecture —press freedom and colonial resistance before Independence.

Andy Volpe’s “Printing Revolution” presentation takes a look not only at the printing press and printing technology being considered “revolutionary”, but also looking at what was printed.
Including the idea of Freedom of the Press, laws and acts passed to control the press, and the rebellious printing done against those laws, with an emphasis on the American Colonies leading up to the Declaration of Independence.
Andy will have several examples and replicas of documents on display after the presentation.
The program is approximately 1 hour, and is free with Museum admission.

Abigail Adams & 18th-Century Clothing Talk
2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water Street, Haverhill, MA, 01830, United States
Join us as we welcome Sarah Walsh back to Buttonwoods on Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30pm to give a talk about Abigail Adams and 18th-century clothing. We will serve punch made from a period recipe and very light snacks.
Tickets will be $30* and all proceeds will go towards funding our upcoming “Stitching History Together” exhibit and dressmaking demonstration scheduled for July.
An original gown worn by Abigail Adams will come out of storage for this event, but it will not be mounted due to its fragile state. This is a great opportunity to check out a special, rarely displayed artifact!

Revolutionary Near Miss – How the Rev. War’s First Battle Could Have Occurred in Marblehead
2026-04-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Abbot Public Library, 3 Brook Road, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
In this first of eleven FREE illustrated talks offered by the Marblehead 250 Committee and Marblehead’s Abbot Public Library in 2026, the United States’ 250th year, see and hear the fascinating story of how the first shots of the American Revolution were almost fired in Marblehead or Salem on a cold Sunday in February 1775, when nearly 250 British soldiers “marched through the town” and on to Salem’s North Bridge, instead of in Lexington and at Concord’s North Bridge less than two months later, on April 19. That infamous ”first battle” could easily have happened here or in Salem, with loss of Marblehead lives and more instead. And that near-miss episode could have made Marblehead and Salem instead of Lexington and Concord “Ground Zero” for the seven long years of war that followed.
Judy Anderson is an independent social, cultural, and architectural historian who worked at the Marblehead Museum for 16 years
as the organization’s first administrative director in 1994 and the only specified curator of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion from 2001-2010.

Newburyport's Road to Independence, Part IV - American Rebels: Hancock, Quincy, Adams
2026-04-03 19:00 - 20:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Newburyport’s Offin Boardman carried secret letters for John Adams, who argued court cases in Newburyport. The USS Hancock was built in Newburyport in 1776, and all three families were linked by ties of blood and friendship to this community. Join Nina Sankovitch, author of American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution to explore the efforts of these leading New England families to foment support for the American Revolution in the decade leading up to the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The fight for independence never would have succeeded if New Englanders, across class lines and from all backgrounds, had not joined the fight. John Hancock, John Adams, Abigail Adams, and Josiah Quincy were instrumental in bringing together disparate groups and igniting a shared ambition for liberty from English oppression. Using words (in speeches and letters) and actions (court cases, acts of civil disobedience, espionage, community outreach), they rallied colonists to betray their King and Parliament as a necessary and God-ordained duty to themselves, their neighbors, and their country. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the shared fight became a covenant, and the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, the promise of independence. On the 250th anniversary of our nation, we celebrate that covenant, that promise, and the men and women who made it all possible.

Nina Sankovitch is an avid historian and voracious reader. She has written five books of non-fiction, including American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, And Quincy Fanned the Flames of Revolution, and most recently, Not Your Founding Father; How a Nonbinary Minster Became America’s Most Radical Revolutionary. Sankovitch attended Tufts University and Harvard Law School and now lives in New York City.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

Captain Michael Corbett and the Pitt Packet Incident in 1769
2026-04-08 20:00 - 20:30 | Abbot Public Library, 3 Brook Road, Marblehead, MA, 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 masters on privateer vessels –a role that accounted for most of Marblehead’s men’s deaths 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, 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.

"(Bitter)sweet Chocolate: Exploring 18th Century Chocolate From Bean to Beverage"
2026-04-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Andover Center for History and Culture, 97 Main Street, Andover, MA, 01970, United States
Join award-winning historian and educator Michele Gabrielson for a delectable journey through taste, tradition, and transformation in the world of 18th-century chocolate. This interactive program explores the fascinating history of chocolate during the 18th century, a pivotal time when this once-exclusive beverage became a beloved delicacy across the world. We will examine the origins of chocolate, tracing its journey from Mesoamerica to its introduction in Spain and subsequent spread across the continent and back to the American colonies. The program concludes by sampling chocolate that would have been enjoyed by colonists!

Michele Gabrielson is an award-winning local history teacher and 18th-century historic interpreter. Ms. Gabrielson serves as the secretary for the nonprofit Mercy Otis Warren Society, is a member of the Authenticity Standards Committee for Minuteman National Historic Park, and is the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. She was awarded a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance for her programming titled “The Revolutionary Classroom” and named a finalist for the 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year. She was the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year for 2025 and the 2025 winner of the Fred Graham Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.
@the_revolutionary_classroom

American Art at 250 with Jane Oneail
2026-04-14 18:30 - 20:30 | North Andover Historical Society, 800 Massachusetts Ave, North Andover, MA, 01845, United States
Join us in celebrating America’s extraordinary artistic legacy as we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary with a curated exploration of the masterworks that
have defined our cultural identity. From the luminous landscapes of the Hudson River School to the bold innovations of Abstract Expressionism, this program
showcases the diverse voices and revolutionary spirits that have shaped American art across two and a half centuries. Discover how American artists have
continuously redefined not only our visual culture, but art itself on the world stage.

About the presenter:
Jane Oneail is the founder of Culturally Curious, a company that curates and presents art appreciation programs. Jane holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information visit iamculturallycurious.com

General Gage Retreats
2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers, MA, 01923, United States
This conversational presentation with General Thomas Gage, the last Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony shares his perspective of the War for Independence after leaving Danvers in 1774 and Boston in 1776, and making his way home to England. Historian and reenactor Paul O’Shaughnessy will reflect on the summer of 1774, when Gage moved the government of Massachusetts from Boston to Salem in an attempt to bypass the Sons of Liberty and patriot influence in Boston. July and August of 1774, General Gage set up office in the Page House and lived at the Danvers Hooper-Collins House (Lindens), now in Washington, DC. Hoping to find a more receptive audience Salem and Danvers. That was not to be.
We will discuss Gage’s move back to Boston, the outbreak of war, and the British evacuation from Boston.
Paul O’Shaughnessy is a longtime reenactor of British soldiers and officers from the opening years of the American Revolution. He recently portrayed General Thomas Gage, newly appointed Governor of Massachusetts, in a re-creation of Gage’s arrival in Salem in June 1774. He is also a Board member of the Lexington Historical Society and the Friends of Minute Man National Park and an officer in His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot, a re-created British infantry regiment of 1775. The Tenth Foot is based in Lexington, MA. See their website at www.redcoat.org

Road To Independence Tour
2026-04-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington Street, Marblehead, 01945, United States
The Marblehead Museum will debut the new the Road to Independence Walking Tour on Friday, April 17th at 7pm and Saturday, April 18th at 10am and 1pm.
The tour will feature the history of Marblehead in the early 1770s, highlighting the town’s pivotal role in such famous events as the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the resistance to British taxes.
The tour will also explore attacks on local Loyalists, and the contradiction of Marbleheaders fighting to end their political “enslavement” by Britain while enslaving Blacks in their own homes.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

Old Put – Danvers Hero of the American Revolution
2026-04-19 13:00 - 14:30 | Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers, MA, 01923, United States
Join the Danvers DAR Chapter at the Holten House to hear about Gen. Israel Putnam, a Danvers native and colorful figure of 18th-century America, who played key roles in both the French & Indian War & the Revolution. He reportedly gave the command “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Robert Hubbard’s talk will include discussion of Putnam’s Massachusetts ancestors, his youth in Danvers, his two marriages, and the last trip of his life – a ride back to his childhood home in Danvers.
The event is free, seating is limited, and reservations are required. CLICK HERE to register

Revolutionary Library Crawl!
2026-04-21 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-22 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-04-23 09:30 - 16:00 | Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street,, South Hamilton, MA, 01982, United States
It’s time for the Revolutionary Library Crawl!
Visit ten libraries throughout Northeastern MA from April 21 through May 9 as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Visit an information desk at any of the participating libraries to pick up a crawl passport, complete an activity, and earn a passport stamp. Enjoy unique activities, history, and swag at each stop on your crawl.
5 stamps or more on your passport qualify you for an entry into a prize raffle. One prize basket is available per age group: children, teens, & adults. Turn your passport in at any participating library by May 9 to be entered into the raffle.
All ages are welcome to participate.
THANK YOU to our collaborating crawl libraries: Boxford Town Library, Peabody Institute Library (Danvers), TOHP Burnham Public Library (Essex), Georgetown Peabody Library (Georgetown), Sawyer Free Library (Gloucester), Langley-Adams Library (Groveland), Ipswich Public Library, Flint Public Library (Middleton), & Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library.
CLICK HERE to learn more!

These Truths Discussion Series: Part 1 — “The Idea”
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Commemorate our 250th anniversary by exploring the founding principles of the United States… and how we live up to them!

This four-part discussion series will revolve around the book These Truths: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore. Each session will be on a different theme (The Idea, The People, The State, The Machine) linked to readings from sections of the book.
Lepore’s expansive study of the nation in one volume allows us to follow a single narrative that touches on all the essential issues and periods of American history. Sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Andrew Darien, Associate Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences at Salem State University. Dr. Darien has taught as a history professor since 2004, specializing in modern U.S. History. When possible, he will invite guest experts to participate in the discussion sessions.

Part I — The Idea (1492–1799)
April 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Chapters 1–4:
1. The Nature of the Past (pp. 3–30)
2. The Rulers and the Ruled (pp. 31–71)
3. Of Wars and Revolutions (pp. 72–108)
4. The Constitution of a Nation (pp. 109–152)
This section traces the origins of American civic identity, showing how political equality, natural rights, and popular sovereignty emerged amid colonization, slavery, and revolution. Readers learn how debates over governance and rights shaped foundational institutions and citizenship itself — critical context for thoughtful citizens today.

Andrew Darien is Associate Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences at Salem State University, where he has taught as a history professor since 2004. He specializes in modern United States history and oral history. He is the author of Becoming New York’s Finest: Race, Gender and the Integration of the NYPD, 1935-1980, and Building the Sacred and the Progressive: A History of Temple Sinai in Brookline. He has been the project director for Student, Citizen, and Soldier, which has recorded and shared dozens of interviews with college veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He most recently completed an oral history project to document the queer history of Lynn through a series of gay and lesbian bars going back to the early 20th century. The American Association of State and Local History awarded Darien and United Lynn Pride the Corey Award for the best grassroots public history project in 2025.
Free to all. Registration recommended.
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