History Cambridge

History Cambridge We use history to catalyze the connections that make Cambridge, Massachusetts more vibrant and cohesive.
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Juneteenth Gathering: A Denise Plays Hard EventJoin us as we gather to honor those who endured slavery and seized freedo...
05/29/2026

Juneteenth Gathering: A Denise Plays Hard Event

Join us as we gather to honor those who endured slavery and seized freedom on Brattle Street 250 years ago, celebrating their descendants and the profound history of Black freedom activism in Cambridge and beyond.

Curated by Denise Washington ( -Up Poetry Series)—a descendant of Darby Vassall—this annual all-ages community gathering features moving poetry, live music, historical displays, family activities, and refreshments.

Event Schedule:

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Community partner tables, music, activities, and refreshments

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Featured speakers and Juneteenth Up Poetry

Location and Details:

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Location: Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters, 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge

Admission: Free and open to the public

Come together with neighbors, artists, and history keepers for an evening of reflection, celebration, and community. All are welcome.

https://buff.ly/lTd3vnn

Join us SUNDAY, May 31 for a meeting up and interactive game! Play “Save Dana Park” Can you help Save Dana Park? In this...
05/29/2026

Join us SUNDAY, May 31 for a meeting up and interactive game!

Play “Save Dana Park”

Can you help Save Dana Park? In this live AI-guided puzzle hunt from History Cambridge and Get Up Get Out, your team will text “Marco,” a teen stuck at home across the street, and uncover clues hidden throughout the park to stop a phony deed scam before the villain takes the park away from the public. Playing the game takes about 1 hour.

Curious about the intersection of AI, games, and local history? This is for you! Anyone ages 10+ (and younger kids with their grown-ups) is welcome to join us.

https://historycambridge.org/events/may-30-dana-park/

Land/Mark: A Symposium on Enslavement, Resistance, and the RevolutionAs we mark the 250th anniversary of the American Re...
05/28/2026

Land/Mark: A Symposium on Enslavement, Resistance, and the Revolution

As we mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, how does our national narrative change if we view it through the backdrop of early Black freedom movements?

Join us for a vital conversation centering on the story of Mark, Phillis, and Phebe—three enslaved individuals whose 1755 resistance was so well known that Paul Revere referenced Mark when looking back on his famous 1775 ride. Together with scholars, artists, and activists, we will explore how to reclaim these crucial, often erased stories of Black life and rebellion.

Event Highlights:

Keynote Address: Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, author of We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance.

Panel Discussions: Two panels featuring insights from Aabid Allibhai, Jaimie Crumley, Dan Breen, Ifé Franklin, Dell M. Hamilton, Angela M. Counts, Kendra Field, and Kyera Singleton.

Refreshments: Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

Event Details:
Date & Time: Saturday, June 13th | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Cambridge Public Library Lecture Hall (449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA)
Admission: Free and open to the public (Registration required)

Presented by the Royall House & Slave Quarters and the Somerville Museum, in partnership with the Cambridge Public Library, History Cambridge, Cambridge Black History Project, Old North Church, and the Somerville Department of Racial and Social Justice.

Made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

https://buff.ly/rNFKEDP

We are incredibly grateful to Cambridge Savings Bank/Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation for their generous support ...
05/26/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Cambridge Savings Bank/Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation for their generous support of our Dialogue Dinners initiative! 🍽️

Thanks to their funding, we are expanding our signature program to host several free dinners at community locations all across Cambridge. Our Dialogue Dinners bring neighbors together around a single table to share a meal, weave our personal histories into the city's narrative, and strengthen our community's social fabric.

Planning is officially underway for these upcoming gatherings! Make sure to follow us so you can be the first to learn about future dates, locations, and how you can grab a seat at the table.

Solve a mystery. "Save" the park. Eat free snacks. 🧩🥨This Saturday, May 30, Dana Park turns into a live-action puzzle ga...
05/25/2026

Solve a mystery. "Save" the park. Eat free snacks. 🧩🥨

This Saturday, May 30, Dana Park turns into a live-action puzzle game! We’re teaming up with to bring you "Save Dana Park," an AI-powered immersive experience.

📍 Dana Park, Cambridge
⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
⏳ Play time: Approx. 1 hour
⚡ No Registration Needed!

Bring a charged phone, your walking shoes, and your best sleuthing skills. We’ll be texting “Marco” to hunt for clues and stop a deed scammer from taking over our public space.

Perfect for families, history lovers, and tech folks (Ages 10+). See you there!

Check out this upcoming event by our friends at Black History In Action!Wetland— On Black Poetics and Water, given by Po...
05/20/2026

Check out this upcoming event by our friends at Black History In Action!

Wetland— On Black Poetics and Water, given by Porsha Olayiwola, Poet, Educator, and Curator.

Wetland is a choreolecture that is part poetry performance, part lecture that explores the history of black folks, water, and conversations at the intersection of climate change, racism, and resistance.

Stay after the lecture for a moderated conversation with Porsha Olayiwola and our host, Rev. Irene Monroe, famed for her All Rev'd Up Podcast on WGBH.

Sunday, May 31
4 pm
Western Avenue Baptist Church, 299 Western Avenue

Mark your calendars for Fresh Pond Day! 🗓️💧We are thrilled to join the Cambridge Water Department for their 16th Annual ...
05/19/2026

Mark your calendars for Fresh Pond Day! 🗓️💧

We are thrilled to join the Cambridge Water Department for their 16th Annual celebration of water, community, and sustainability. Fresh Pond isn't just a beautiful park—it’s the source of every drop of drinking water in our city!

History Cambridge will be there to dive into the history of the reservation. We’re bringing along unique objects and stories that show how this area has evolved over the years.

When: Saturday, June 13
Time: 11 AM – 3 PM
Where: 250 Fresh Pond Pkwy
Cost: Free!

We can't wait to see you there!

Can you help us "Save" Dana Park? 🕵️‍♂️🌳We're hosting a live AI puzzle hunt! A phony deed scam is threatening our park, ...
05/18/2026

Can you help us "Save" Dana Park? 🕵️‍♂️🌳

We're hosting a live AI puzzle hunt!
A phony deed scam is threatening our park, and we need your team to stop the villain before it’s too late. Join History Cambridge and Get Up Get Out for an AI-guided interactive puzzle hunt.

The Mission: You’ll text “Marco,” a teen stuck at home across the street, to uncover hidden clues scattered throughout the park. It’s local history meets high-tech escape room—outdoors!

When: Saturday, May 30 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Rain date: Sunday)

Where: Dana Park, Cambridge

Cost: FREE (Donations appreciated!)

Snacks: Yes, and they’re free! 🥨

What to bring:
📱 A fully charged phone (everyone plays on their own device for the best experience!)
👟 Comfortable shoes for paths and grass.

No pre-registration required—just show up and start playing. Recommended for ages 10+, but younger detectives are welcome with a grown-up.

https://buff.ly/YMuUOkx

Questions? Drop a line to [email protected].

Next week! Join us for our next Dialogue Dinner.Tuesday, May 19, 20266-8 pm159 Brattle Street (History Cambridge headqua...
05/16/2026

Next week! Join us for our next Dialogue Dinner.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
6-8 pm
159 Brattle Street (History Cambridge headquarters)
Registration required
Limited space available!

Join us for a unique and memorable evening where we foster deeper connections and build a sense of community around a shared theme.

WHAT TO EXPECT
This is not your typical dinner party. Inspired by the Jeffersonian Dinner format, all conversations are directed to the entire group, not to one-on-one dialogues with those seated next to you. We will gather at a single table, face-to-face, to make new connections and think about your role in the community in a new way.

https://buff.ly/8zD0ouf

On a hot day in 1976, Nobel Prize–winning scientists, passionate citizens, politicians, and the global press all converg...
05/15/2026

On a hot day in 1976, Nobel Prize–winning scientists, passionate citizens, politicians, and the global press all converged at Cambridge City Hall to confront one explosive question: Who gets to decide the boundaries of scientific discovery? Relive the tension, the debate, and the moment that turned local politics into a worldwide reckoning in "No Recombination without Representation."

This production, a collaboration between Central Square Theater, the City of Cambridge, and MIT Museum, will run June 13, 14 and 21 at Cambridge City Hall, for free.

History Cambridge is excited to be a community partner on this production. Grab your free tickets before they sell out, and see you there!

Newspaper clipping from Boston Herald American’s Cambridge Rambler, 24 February 1977. Courtesy Cambridge Public Library.

https://buff.ly/yUk29H0

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159 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA
02138

Telephone

(617) 547-4252

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