Programs and Events
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February
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This tour is now FULL. To join a waitlist, please contact the office at programs@lexingtonhistory.org or 781-862-1703. Children’s Tour of Buckman Tavern Thursday, February 20, 10-11 AM, Buckman Tavern It’s winter in Massachusetts, and kids everywhere spend their days at school or curled up at home with toys and tablets. But what did kids do during the winter in 1775? In an 18th century tavern in February, food was scarce, but chores were plentiful. Join us on a special school vacation tour of Buckman Tavern to explore the space from the perspective of an 18th century child. Learn how to cook on a kitchen hearth, play colonial games, read a story, and make fresh butter to take home! Recommended for ages 4-7. Free! |
The 2020 Cronin Lecture Series is sponsored by Enterprise Bank.
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This event is now FULL. To join a waitlist, please contact the office at programs@lexingtonhistory.org or 781-862-1703. Cronin Lecture: “The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway” with Doug Most Thursday, February 27, 7 PM, Lexington Depot America’s Gilded Age was not all glitz and glamour – the muddy streets of Boston and New York were choked with horse-drawn carriages and streetcars, and the refuse they left behind. Two wealthy brothers – Henry Melville Whitney of Boston and William Collins Whitney of New York – both saw an opportunity to modernize the world in their respective hometowns, and the race to build the first American subway was on. Author Doug Most will tell the story of the birth of the Boston subway system from the millionaires who funded it, the engineers who dreamed it, and the countless workers who gave their strength and determination, and occasionally their lives, to building it. A must see for enthusiasts of local history, the industrial revolution, and trains! Free and open to the public! Reservations are required. Please contact the office at programs@lexingtonhistory.org or 781-862-1703 to reserve your seat. |
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This event is now FULL. To join a waitlist, please contact the office at programs@lexingtonhistory.org or 781-862-1703. Tavern Night Saturday, February 29, 5 - 7 PM, at Buckman Tavern History. Beer. Friends. What else could you ask for? Oh, a photo op with Paul Revere on his horse? No problem! Buckman Tavern's official liquor license expired in 1813, but we still open for business occasionally! We're recreating the 18th century tavern experience - drop in for 18th century music, games, snacks, and beer, served from our historic bar in the Buckman's original taproom. Mingle with the Lexington Militia of 1775, along with some other colonial characters, as they bring the Revolutionary tavern to life. Raise a glass to freedom on a cold winter's night! $15 Members/$20 Nonmembers. Ticket price includes one beer. Cash bar available. This is a 21+ event. |
March
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The 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 PM, at Cary Library Hosted by Cary Library, co-sponsored with Lexington Historical Society The story of the Boston Massacre—when on a late winter evening in 1770, British soldiers shot five local men to death—is familiar to generations. But from the very beginning, many accounts have obscured a fascinating truth: the Massacre arose from conflicts that were as personal as they were political. Professor Serena Zabin's book, The Boston Massacre: A Family History, draws on original sources and lively stories to follow British troops as they are dispatched from Ireland to Boston in 1768 to subdue the increasingly rebellious colonists. And she reveals a forgotten world hidden in plain sight: the many regimental wives and children who accompanied these armies. We see these families jostling with Bostonians for living space, finding common cause in the search for a lost child, trading barbs and sharing baptisms. When soldiers shot unarmed citizens in the street, it was these intensely human, now broken bonds that fueled what quickly became a bitterly fought American Revolution. Serena Zabin is a professor of history and director of the American studies program at Carleton College. Her books include Dangerous Economies: Status and Commerce in Imperial New York and she is also the codesigner of a forthcoming serious video game about the Boston Massacre, Witness to the Revolution. Books will be available for purchase and signing by Haley Booksellers. Free and open to the public! |
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400 Years in 40 Minutes Friday, March 20, 7:00 PM, at the Depot We all know what put Lexington on the map – the famous events of April 19, 1775. But did you know that Lexington had a long and spectacular history both before and after the battle? Inspired by PechaKucha presentations, join us for a whirlwind tour of Lexington’s past, from pre-colonial Native American society, to the creation of Route 128. Along the way, meet some of Lexington’s most intriguing characters throughout the years, and see how the town progressed from a sleepy farming community to the vibrant cultural center it is today. Presented be long-time guide Marsha Baker, this will be a fun and comprehensive introduction to town history for residents old and new! Will your favorite slice of Lexington history be highlighted? Stop by to see! Free and open to the public! Reservations are required. Please call the office at 781-862-1703 or email programs@lexingtonhistory.org to reserve your seat. |
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Book Group Meeting #4: "Leadership in Turbulent Times" by Doris Kearns Goodwin Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 PM, at the Depot The Lexington Historical Society Book Group meets five times each year, and new members are always welcome! Our next book is the latest release from acclaimed local historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin. Exploring how great leaders are created through a history of dealing with conflict, Goodwin follows four American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, throughout their lives, culminating in the national crises they dealt with during their time in the White House. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, these men rose to the challenge of leading a nation with grit, determination, and mediation. The New York Times notes, "We can benefit from reminders that even flawed mortals can, in times of national emergency, achieve great things. We can only hope that a few of Goodwin’s many readers will find in her subjects’ examples a margin of inspiration and a resolve to steer the country to a better place.” Includes catered dinner from Neillio's. Stay tuned for our last book of the spring: “A Woman of No Importance: The untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II” by Sonia Purnell on May 5! $30 members, $35 nonmembers |
The 2020 Cronin Lecture Series is sponsored by Enterprise Bank.
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Cronin Lecture: "I Now Pronounce You Lucy Stone" with Judith Kalaora Co-Sponsored by the Lexington League of Women Voters Saturday, March 28, 7:00 PM, at the Depot Challenging discrimination is not easy; Lucy Stone was never one to take the easy road. The first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree, Lucy was an ardent supporter of human rights. Always fierce, her belief that women and men be equal was evident in both her political and personal endeavors. Her message inspired thousands to join the suffrage movement; even Susan B. Anthony credits Lucy's impassioned speeches for her involvement. See Lucy's story brought to life by living historian and actress Judith Kalaora, and learn more about the role that Massachusetts women played in the fight for women's suffrage. Free and open to the public! Registration is required. Please call the office at 781-862-1703 or email programs@lexingtonhistory.org to reserve your seat. |
April
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A Revolution of Her Own! Saturday, April 18, 5:45 PM, at the Depot Deborah Sampson, the first woman to fight in and be honorably discharged from the American Military, captivates audiences in an immersive living history program chronicling her life. An indentured servant by age five, Deborah grew up in a man’s world, where women were naught but second-class citizens. As a self-educated master-less woman, she felt a higher calling, and in the final years of the American Revolution, Deborah bound her chest, tied back her hair, and enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army, as “Robert Shurtlieff.” The American Heroine, played by living historian and actress Judith Kalaora, takes you back in time! Suggested Donation $5 Registration is required. Please call the office at 781-862-1703 or email programs@lexingtonhistory.org to reserve your seat. |
