1776: Declaring Independence

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 <a href="https://www.masshist.org/visit/hours-and-admission">here </a>for closures and more admission information.

Massachusetts Historical Society

Gallery Talk: The Declaration in American Memory

Attendance is free. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/gallery-talk-april-17-2026">here </a>to register. Join Library Assistant Brandon McGrath-Neely for "The Declaration in American Memory," a gallery talk on the exhibition 1776: Declaring Independence. Visitors are invited to explore the rest of the exhibition and ask questions.&nbsp;

Gallery Talk: From Yorktown to the Hotel d’York

Attendance is free. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/gallery-talk-may-1-2026">here </a>to register. Join Sara Georgini, Series Editor, Papers of John Adams, for a gallery talk on the exhibition From Yorktown to the Hotel d’York: Winning Peace. Visitors are invited to explore the rest of the exhibition and ask questions.&nbsp;

Gallery Talk: 1776: Declaring Independence

Attendance is free. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/gallery-talk-may-8-2026">here </a>to register. Join a member of the Adams Papers staff for a gallery talk on the exhibition 1776: Declaring Independence. Visitors are invited to explore the rest of the exhibition and ask questions.&nbsp;

Revolutionary Narratives: From Broadsides to Hollywood

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/revolutionary-narratives-fiori">here </a>to register. The American Revolution has been contested since its very beginning. During the Revolution, contemporaries looking to understand what independence meant had to shift through disinformation and journalism rife with as many opinions as today. In the war's aftermath, narratives of the Revolution went through continuous reinterpretations in response to political and social changes. From the Civil War to the Cold War and newsrooms to Hollywood, Americans looked to the Revolutionary era to debate and define what it meant to be an American, with often divisive results. Now, during the 250th anniversary of the Revolution, Jordan Taylor and Michael Hattem will examine commentary in Revolutionary-era newspapers and broadsides, consider how understanding of American independence has changed over time, and reflect on how the public sees the nation’s founding today.

Curious & Complex Connections: Environmental History & the War of Independence

This program was rescheduled from its original date of 20 October 2025. This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/curious-and-complex-connections">here </a>to register. Many of us give only a moment’s thought about the environment when considering the War of Independence: the slope of Breed’s Hill, the ice-choked Delaware River, and diseases such as smallpox. But what might we gain by connecting biology, ecology, and geology to the thinking and actions of soldiers and civilians? Rebels and British soldiers acquired and used energy in the form of food, fuel, and work animals, which shaped people’s lives, the course of the war, and the direction of environmental change. Join us as David Hsiung, in conversation with Joyce Chaplin, discusses the intricate and often surprising ways in which the natural environment and the war changed each other.

Financing the American Revolution: Supplies, Wages & Commerce

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/financing-the-american-revolution">here </a>to register. Join us as Jeffrey M. Griffith and Hannah Farber, in conversation with Ann Marsh Daly, explore the financing of the American Revolution and the creation and implementation of economic systems in the new nation. During the war, economies in Massachusetts and across the Atlantic were impacted by American boycotts, loans, and the cost of war efforts. Individuals like John Hancock were instrumental in supplying troops with materials and weapons that contributed to the Revolution’s success. Changes and connections forged during the Revolution began to lay foundations for the financial structures created afterwards, whose influences still underpin the US economy.

Founding Women: Ideas of Independence

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:00 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/founding-women">here </a>to register. From letters to plays and poetry to history, Mercy Otis Warren, Abigail Adams, and Phillis Wheatley communicated ideas about revolution, independence, and freedom. They engaged leading political figures, family members, and peers in conversations about women’s rights, slavery, and the future of American government. Join us to discover how Warren, Adams, and Wheatley wrote their way through the American Revolution and beyond.

 Remembering Fernald: Uncovering the Hidden History of Disability in Massachusetts

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/remembering-fernald">here </a>to register. The history of disability in America is still under-researched and poorly understood. This is especially true when it comes to the rise of eugenics and the mass atrocities committed against disabled people in its many institutions. At the heart of that story is Walter E. Fernald, the Massachusetts doctor who ran America’s oldest institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Fernald’s influential work has shaped the world’s understanding of disabilities over the last century. During this program, Harvard Kennedy School’s Alex Green will discuss his book, A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America’s Disabled, and the story of his decade-long effort to uncover this previously untold history. He will also discuss his work with students and community members in Waltham, Mass., to memorialize patients at Fernald; change policy in Massachusetts; and rewrite a history that continues to impact millions of disabled people to this day.

Inventing the Boston Game: Football, Soccer & the Origins of a National Myth

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/inventing-the-boston-game">here </a>to register. The MHS collection contains little-known treasures from the beginnings of football, from correspondence to commemorative medals. In an exciting talk, Kevin Tallec Marston and Mike Cronin will reveal Boston's founding role in US sporting culture and share the MHS collections that informed their new book. This program unveils the back story of the Oneida Football Club and its "Boston game"—an early version of soccer and football in the United States. The game developed as Boston was transforming from urban change and immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. In conversation with Louisa Thomas, Marston and Cronin will examine the frontier between memory and history in early Boston sports and offer insight into how and why origin stories are created.

Curious and Complex Connections: Environmental History & the War of Independence

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/curious-and-complex-connections">here </a>to register. Many of us give only a moment’s thought about the environment when considering the War of Independence: the slope of Breed’s Hill, the ice-choked Delaware River, and diseases such as smallpox. But what might we gain by connecting biology, ecology, and geology to the thinking and actions of soldiers and civilians? Rebels and British soldiers acquired and used energy in the form of food, fuel, and work animals, which shaped people’s lives, the course of the war, and the direction of environmental change. Join us as David Hsiung, in conversation with Joyce Chaplin, discusses the intricate and often surprising ways in which the natural environment and the war changed each other.

Opening Our Doors

The MHS is participating in this day of free history, art, music, and cultural happenings in the Fenway neighborhood. Explore 1775: Rebels, Rights &amp; Revolution on exhibit at the MHS and participate in a variety of family activities. Galleries will be open from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Swinging 1770s Disco, Sponsored by the Young Patrons

Get ready for a groovy evening at the Swinging 1770s Disco, sponsored by the Young Patrons of the Massachusetts Historical Society!  Join us at a special evening inspired by the best of two centuries. On October 9th from 6-8 PM, we invite you to come and enjoy disco hits, sip a Benedict Arnold Palmer, and play games and trivia to test your knowledge of the 1770s and 1970s.  Festive attire is encouraged, whether you prefer bell bottoms or a tricorne hat!  Tickets are available here: <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/swinging-1770s-disco">https://www.masshist.org/events/swinging-1770s-disco</a>. Advance registration is required. Massachusetts Historical Society: 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215

Women in Spaces of Conflict: An Archives Pop-Up at the MHS

This is a drop-in event with no registration required. Join MHS library staff for a special archival pop-up spotlighting the experiences of women as they confronted and contended with conflict throughout history. Though often pushed to the margins of the historical record, women have been deeply impacted by—and instrumental in shaping—the events of their time. Discover a curated selection of rare documents, letters, artifacts, photographs, and more that reveal the resilience, influence, and voices of women who made their mark on history. Through these archival treasures, learn their stories and gain a deeper understanding of how women have navigated spaces of conflict. Attendees can look at items at their own pace and ask MHS staff questions.

From Piñatas to Policy: Women, Cultural Diplomacy & Pan-American Dreams of a Latine Boston

This is a hybrid event and free of charge. The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM. Please visit <a href="https://www.masshist.org/events/from-pinatas-to-policy">here </a>to register. Join us for a conversation that uncovers lesser-known histories of Boston’s Latine community. Drawing from archival research done at the MHS as a Kass Fellow, Miriam E. Villanueva shines a light on the overlooked cultural labor of women and vital community institutions in the early 20th century. She traces how women in the Pan American Society shaped inter-American relations through bilingual education, art exhibitions, festivals, and community programming. Villanueva and Celina Miranda, in conversation with Cristela Guerra, will discuss how women have continued to share Latine culture with new generations and the community at large in Boston. They will also reflect on the ongoing legacy of Latin American cultural life in the city.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

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Experiences