The 250th is finally here. After years of preparation, local communities in every corner of Massachusetts will take up the challenge of marking the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence. Like their predecessors in the Revolutionary era, our fellow residents will meet a historic moment with vigor and creativity. We begin this important year by thanking them.
Now we invite you to join us.
In Massachusetts, we can’t settle for an empty anniversary. Not here. Not now. The paths pass by our doorways, the names remain etched in our landscapes, and the gaps in the record are ours to fill. As the commemorations get underway, we need more people to gather, learn, and, yes, even have some fun with 2026.
Then as now, the Revolution needs us.
So, how do we get started?
Each month, Mass Humanities will publish “A People’s Guide to the Revolution,” a special newsletter created by our staff, our board, and the communities we support. On Masshumanities.org and through our social media platforms, we’ll offer up a selection of upcoming events, original essays, and digital media that give you multiple opportunities to engage with the 250th as seen through the eyes of Massachusetts people.
Why a “People’s Guide”? While we welcome the fireworks and parades, we’re interested in the ways that the anniversary is experienced by Massachusetts people. We also want to emphasize that no single narrator can dictate the ways we understand the roots of American democracy. Nor can we sit back and wait for honest history to prevail on its own.
This year demands more from us. Our tribute to 1776 comes in the questions we ask, the ways we uplift our neighbors, and the courage we display as we reimagine the promises of the Revolution for a new time.
Our ask of you: Please find a way to participate. This is your year.
Whether it’s one of the recipients of our “Promises of the Revolution” grants, our Smithsonian “Voices and Votes” partners, or the organizers of a Reading Frederick Douglass Together event, there are people in your region doing their best to make the 250th accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
This is your year to support your local organizations and thank your local storytellers. A commonwealth full of thriving humanities programs—that would be a fitting legacy for this anniversary.
We hope you enjoy this first edition of “A People’s Guide to the Revolution.” Share it with your friends. Massachusetts has something to say this year. We look forward to spending 2026 with you.
Brian Boyles
Executive Director
