On April 19, 1775, the shot heard ’round the world was fired, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord ignited the American Revolution. Two hundred and fifty years later, Massachusetts marks this milestone through MA250, the Commonwealth’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. As the home of both Lexington and Concord, Revolutionary Valley invites visitors to step into the places where ordinary people took extraordinary action — and where the fight for self-governance began.

This anniversary is not about celebrating power or crowns. It is about remembering why the Revolution happened in the first place. The American Revolution was born from resistance to kings, rejection of unchecked authority, and the belief that people should have a voice in how they are governed. These ideals — liberty, representation, and collective responsibility — are the roots of the nation’s founding and remain deeply embedded in Revolutionary Valley.

This is more than a single anniversary. It is a year of remembrance, reflection, and renewed connection, grounded in the principles that sparked the Revolution in the first place. Throughout Revolutionary Valley, the MA250 commemoration continues with new events, exhibitions, performances, and community experiences that bring history into the present. From historic landscapes and cultural institutions to local voices and living traditions, this ongoing celebration honors not only what happened.

As the year continues, there is more to come. Revolutionary Valley will host additional programming, interpretive experiences, and opportunities to engage with the region’s layered history — political, cultural, literary, and industrial. Together, these moments invite visitors to reflect on the unfinished work of democracy and the role communities continue to play in shaping its future.

In Revolutionary Valley, America’s 250th anniversary is not about looking back with blind reverence. It is about understanding the courage it took to challenge authority, the risks taken by everyday people, and the responsibility that comes with freedom. The Revolution did not end in 1775 — and neither does its meaning.

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On April 19, 1775, the shot heard ’round the world was fired, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord set the American Revolution in motion. Two hundred and fifty years later, Massachusetts marks this milestone through MA250, the Commonwealth’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, honoring the people, places, and principles that sparked a movement toward self-governance.

On April 19, 1775, the shot heard ’round the world was fired, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord set the American Revolution in motion. Two hundred and fifty years later, Massachusetts marks this milestone through MA250, the Commonwealth’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, honoring the people, places, and principles that sparked a movement toward self-governance.