History Cambridge, the Somerville Museum, Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, Friends of Longfellow House-Washington’s HQ, Boston 1775, Cambridge Historical Commission, and Cambridge Public Library will present free events marking the 250th anniversary of the 1774 Powder Alarm and the start of Massachusetts’s political independence from Britain.
- Spark of the Revolution: Reenactment and Historic Fair – Sunday, September 1st, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, Nathan Tufts Park, Broadway and College Ave., Somerville
9:30 am sharp: Reenactment of the events of September 1, 1774, when British soldiers unlocked the Powder House and carried off stores of gunpowder.
Followed by: A living history fair, including docent tours of the Powder House, activity tables, and even a scavenger hunt of the park!
Presented by the Somerville Museum in partnership with the City of Somerville. For more information visit: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events/powder-alarm
- Rebellion along Tory Row: The 1774 Powder Alarm – Monday, September 2nd , 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm at sites along Brattle Street.
News of the British soldiers emptying the Somerville Powder House of its valuable stores burned through the colonies, fueled by rumors of violence and death. Soon, thousands of Patriot militiamen were marching toward Cambridge, reaching the town on September 2, 1774. The events of the day signaled a new political order in Massachusetts and upended the lives of families along Tory Row. All events are free.
- 1:00–4:00 pm: Family games and activities at Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle Street
- 1:45 pm: J. L. Bell, a respected local historian and writer, leads a walking tour of the colonial estates along Brattle Street, starting at Longfellow House–Washington’s HQ.
- 2:30 pm: Prof. Robert J. Allison, a Professor of History at Suffolk University, explores the political situation in Massachusetts in 1774 at History Cambridge, 159 Brattle Street.
- 3:30 pm: Michele Gabrielson speaks on Revolutionary printers and 18th-century media literacy at History Cambridge, 159 Brattle Street.
Supported by the Cambridge Historical Commission, Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, History Cambridge, and many volunteers.
What was the Powder Alarm all about? Read this article by the Beth Folsom, the programs manager for History Cambridge. Powder Alarm’s 250th anniversary kicks off Cambridge’s Revolutionary commemorations – Cambridge Day
Want to know more about the characters and events in Massachusetts that led to the Revolution? J.L. Bell’s blog, “Boston 1775”, is the place for you. Bell, the site’s sole proprietor, shares History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts. Boston 1775: 2024. Bell talks all about it on WBUR. Listen here: https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2024/08/29/powder-alarm-somerville-american-revolution-revolt
Prof. Allison is a respected history professor, author, and lecturer. He shares some of his work on his personal webpage. Robert J. Allison – Welcome (robertallisonhistory.com)
