Throughout 2026, we’re partnering with Massachusetts 250 to bring you different perspectives on the American Revolution. You’ll hear from artists, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, business people, residents, and more. So far, we’ve gathered stories at Mass Humanities’ headquarters in Holyoke, at Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House, at a Mass Cultural Council celebration in Holyoke, and at the Massachusetts Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism in Danvers.
In case you’ve missed our video series until now, we’ve gathered a few highlights to give you a glimpes at what Massachusetts people are talking about for the Semiquincentennial.
Holyoke
At a gathering hosted by Mass Cultural Council in Holyoke in March, we interviewed Ché Anderson, the new chair of MCC, as well as Representative Carlos González to learn what questions they’re thinking about in this history-filled year.
“The principles of democracy were built here in Massachusetts, 250 years ago, and we are still fighting for the right to belong.” — Rep. Carlos González, 10th Hampden District
Boston
At Creative Sector Advocacy Day, 600+ people registered and flooded the halls of the State House to show their support for arts, culture, and humanities in the commonwealth.
We spoke with a number of changemakers, including Zakiyyah Sutton, an artist, activist, and musician. “The 250th has me thinking about reclamation,” she said. “Reclamation of history, reclamation of voices—particlarly marginalized voices—and really being able to have an intentional time to reflect and plan a future that is inclusive of all of us, that encapsulates the nuance that is required in order to have various sorts of people take up space together without overpowering one another.”
Danvers
The Massachusetts Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism (MOTT) highlighted the 250th and what’s in store for the commonwealth through the end of the year. We connected with the Berkshire Museum, Historic Beverly, New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC), New Bedford Film Festival, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (Mass DCR), Boston Art Review, Boston Hidden Gems, and more. From developing walking tours to commemmorate the American Revolution, to sharing archival images with Ken Burns for his milestone documentary The American Revolution, our colleagues continue to approach 2026 with innovation and heart.
In New Bedford, the NBEDC is partnering with the city’s tourism department, Explore New Bedford, to bring the whaling town’s rich history to life. “They’re running this amazing campaign on visionary voices that highlights Marie Equi, Frederick Douglass, Paul Cuffe, William Carney, who led not just the revolution, but the drive of arts and culture in New Bedford,” said Hedrick Hernandez-Resto, creative specialist at New Bedford Creative at NEBDC.
“In New Bedford we are highlighting those people, making sure their names, their efforts, and their contributions are remembered, and that they reverberate and echo through time, while honoring the revolutionaries and the voices that we have now, that are currently living in the city, and taking the example of those that were set before us.”