"I hope I Shall See you with your head on your Shoulders once more but my Stout heart begins to quiver for fear of blood Shed." So wrote Sally Cobb Paine to her husband, only ten days before the battles at Lexington and Concord ignited the American Revolution. While Robert Treat Paine served the cause [...]
Join us for a fun and free day once a month at the Old Colony History Museum, where everyone is welcome to explore Southeastern Massachusetts’ rich history! A 30-minute complimentary guided highlight tour of the museum is offered at noon, and an interactive family activity takes place at 2pm. No registration required. Admission and activities [...]
Bring your family and step inside the Old Colony History Museum’s wetu replica! Discover how the Wampanoag People lived in the 1600s and learn about the events that led to King Philip’s War. This year marks the 350th anniversary of the deadliest war in New England, fought between the Wampanoag People, and surrounding tribes, and [...]
Now that Taunton’s 1881 atlas has been digitized, let’s explore how to fully access this exciting new resource! Join the staff of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library as they focus on what Atlascope is, how to use their 140+ atlas layers across Massachusetts, and the types of [...]
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact and close to 900 sailors were cast into the sea, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and hallucinations. When they were finally discovered only 317 men were still alive. Using slides, NY [...]
Join us every day at 12:00 PM for captivating Guided Highlight Tour of the Old Colony History Museum! In just 30 minutes, you’ll discover fascinating stories, meet standout objects from our collection, and get a taste of the rich history that shaped Southeastern Massachusetts. Perfect for first-time visitors and locals alike—no reservation needed, just drop [...]
August Adventures returns from the Highland Street Foundation! 31 days, 31 events, 100% FREE! August Adventures 2025 provides access and opportunities to new and old partners highlighting the geographical and cultural diversity of the Massachusetts arts and culture community. All who visit on Saturday, August 2 receive free admission to the OCHM between 10am and [...]
Just in time for the Old Colony History Museum’s new timepiece display “Second Hand Stories,” East Freetown’s own Patrick Mont—factory-trained clockmaker and Chelsea expert— explores the history of a legendary clockmaking brand. Mont’s passion for horology ignited while working on the historic designs of Chelsea Clock Company, and now he’s sharing the fascinating story behind [...]
At the time of the American Revolution, Taunton’s most notorious Loyalist lawyer was a man named Daniel Leonard. What became of him? As the 251st celebration of the Liberty & Union flag (Liberty & Union Day) quickly approaches, you’ll get the chance to meet him in person! Join us as historical reenactor Michael Lepage brings [...]
Celebrate the 251st anniversary of raising Taunton’s Liberty & Union flag! Each fall, Taunton's Liberty and Union Day commemorates the events of October 1774, when our community became one of the first in the American colonies to raise a flag in opposition to British rule. That flag - the "Liberty and Union" flag - flies [...]
