Hands-On History: Clay Marbles

18th century life wasn't just about chores - kids had fun too! Drop by the Hancock-Clarke House to make your own clay marbles, just like colonial kids did. Drop in any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to learn! This activity is suitable for ages 6 and up, including […]

Hands-On History: Beeswax Candles

January was dark in the days before electricity! Learn about lighting in the 18th century and roll your own candle. Drop in any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to learn! This activity is suitable for ages 6 and up, including adults! Included with museum admission.

Hands-On History: Quill Pen Writing

Goose feathers were the perfect writing utensil of the past - about writing in the 18th century and try writing with a real quill pen! Drop in any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to learn. This activity is suitable for all ages, including adults! Included with museum admission.

Hands-On History: Preserving Food

How was food preserved before refrigeration? If you wanted fruits and vegetables year round, removing moisture was important. Help us salt and sugar foods to keep all year! Stop by Buckman Tavern any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to participate. Included with museum admission.

Included w/ Admission

Douglass Day Transcription Event

Lexington Historical Society Lexington Historical Society, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA, United States

Join the Lexington Lyceum, ABCL, and Historical Society as we host the Lexington contingent for this national event, organized by the Douglass Day Organization and the Library of Congress. The annual Douglass Day program honors Frederick Douglass with an online crowd-sourcing transcription project intended to make primary Black history resources more widely accessible. In 2024, […]

NA

Hands-On History: Chinese Porcelain

The art of making porcelain was known only by Chinese master potters in the 18th century, and prized by people in America! Drop by Buckman Tavern any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to design your own paper version to take home. Included with museum admission.

Included w/ Admission

Lighting the Way (Grades 3-5)

In the past, labor and daily routines were planned around when the sun rose and set. So how did people see at night before electric light? Explore a historic tavern to find out! We’ll uncover how we learn about the past from the writing and objects people left behind, and learn how to make a […]

$15 – $20

Science and Medicine (Grades 6-8)

People of the past used science just like we do every day, even on an 18th century farm! Learn how simple chores like writing a letter, working in the barn, or caring for a sick person utilize chemistry and physics. As we explore a historic tavern, we’ll become household scientists: making medicine by grinding herbs […]

$15 – $20

Hands-On History: Make a Haversack

When marching off to war, soldiers in the 18th century had to carry a lot of supplies! These were kept in a special bag called a haversack, similar to a backpack or messenger bag today! Drop by Buckman Tavern any time between 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 3:30 PM to make and […]

Included w/ Admission

‘Contradictory Place’: Cotton Mills Alongside Anti-Slavery Efforts in Lowell Massachusetts a Film Screening and Discussion

Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St, Lowell, MA, United States

Join us for a screening of the documentary film ‘Contradictory Place’: Cotton Mills Alongside Anti-Slavery Efforts in Lowell Massachusetts featuring Prof. Robert Forrant of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Public Historian Maritza Grooms. The film describes the extraordinary anti-slavery efforts taking place in the mid-19th century in Lowell. Forrant and Grooms visit the sites […]

Free

Lowell Mill Girls (Walking Tour)

Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St, Lowell, MA, United States

Who were the “Mill Girls”? Join a Ranger for a walk-through downtown Lowell to learn about some of the first workers in the textile factories of Lowell. Discover the choices, hardships, and opportunities that were afforded to the Mill Girls by exploring downtown Lowell. The walk will cover 0.75 miles of walking and will involve […]

Free

Helen Augusta Whittier: Leader, Activist, Mill Owner

Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St, Lowell, MA, United States

When you think of a mill owner, a man’s name or face probably comes to mind initially. While it’s true that most owners of mills in the 18th and 19th century were men, there was one woman who joined them. Join a Ranger on a journey through the life of Helen Whittier, considered to be […]

Free