The Commonwealth Museum

11/28/2022

Can't wait to have more amazing school groups this week! These students are participating in our Archeology Program!
-

Can't wait to have more amazing school groups this week! These students are participating in our Archeology Program!
-

11/22/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from the Commonwealth Museum! We will be closed Thursday 11/24 and will reopen Friday 11/25!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Commonwealth Museum! We will be closed Thursday 11/24 and will reopen Friday 11/25!

11/18/2022

Had a great time with this 5th grade field trip earlier this week!!

Had a great time with this 5th grade field trip earlier this week!!

11/16/2022

Did you know that John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed is the folk hero of Massachusetts? Johnny Appleseed was born in 1774 in Leominster, MA and is most known for planting apples into what became states as far west as present day Illinois and into Canada. The apples were often times used to make hard apple cider. He is often pictured wearing a metal pot on top of his head. In addition to planting the apple trees, Johnny Appleseed advocated for the conservation of nature, even becoming a vegetarian later in life.
-

Did you know that John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed is the folk hero of Massachusetts? Johnny Appleseed was born in 1774 in Leominster, MA and is most known for planting apples into what became states as far west as present day Illinois and into Canada. The apples were often times used to make hard apple cider. He is often pictured wearing a metal pot on top of his head. In addition to planting the apple trees, Johnny Appleseed advocated for the conservation of nature, even becoming a vegetarian later in life.
-

11/10/2022

The Commonwealth Museum will be closed tomorrow, November 11th in observance of Veteran's Day. We will reopen at 9:00 AM on Monday November 14th!

The Commonwealth Museum will be closed tomorrow, November 11th in observance of Veteran's Day. We will reopen at 9:00 AM on Monday November 14th!

11/09/2022

Interested in learning about the history of Thanksgiving? Visit our website via the link in our bio to see our online exhibit about the holiday that is up now!
-

Interested in learning about the history of Thanksgiving? Visit our website via the link in our bio to see our online exhibit about the holiday that is up now!
-

11/04/2022

Did you know that the state bug of Massachusetts is the Ladybug? A class of second grade students from Franklin, MA petitioned the Massachusetts legislature to pass a bill to make it the official state bug. They were able to get approval from both the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives and the Governor signed the bill to make it into a law in 1989.
-

Did you know that the state bug of Massachusetts is the Ladybug? A class of second grade students from Franklin, MA petitioned the Massachusetts legislature to pass a bill to make it the official state bug. They were able to get approval from both the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives and the Governor signed the bill to make it into a law in 1989.
-

10/27/2022

Did you know that Bobby “Boris” Pickett, the singer and songwriter most known for the classic Halloween song “Monster Mash”, was born in Somerville, MA? The song was released in 1962 and features impressions of horror icons Boris Karloff known for his role as Frankenstein’s monster and Bela Lugosi known for his role as Dracula. “Monster Mash” reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 1 million copies.
-

Did you know that Bobby “Boris” Pickett, the singer and songwriter most known for the classic Halloween song “Monster Mash”, was born in Somerville, MA? The song was released in 1962 and features impressions of horror icons Boris Karloff known for his role as Frankenstein’s monster and Bela Lugosi known for his role as Dracula. “Monster Mash” reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 1 million copies.
-

10/26/2022

On October 12, 2022 Governor Charlie Baker ceremonially signed a billing naming the Podokesaurus Holyokensis the state dinosaur of Massachusetts. Its name translates to the “swift-footed lizard of Holyoke”. This dinosaur grew to 3-6 feet long and could run 9-12 miles per hour. This species of dinosaur was discovered in 1910 by Mignon Talbot, a professor at Mount Holyoke College. She was the first woman to discover and name a dinosaur. Massachusetts is one of twelve states to officially name a state dinosaur.
-

On October 12, 2022 Governor Charlie Baker ceremonially signed a billing naming the Podokesaurus Holyokensis the state dinosaur of Massachusetts. Its name translates to the “swift-footed lizard of Holyoke”. This dinosaur grew to 3-6 feet long and could run 9-12 miles per hour. This species of dinosaur was discovered in 1910 by Mignon Talbot, a professor at Mount Holyoke College. She was the first woman to discover and name a dinosaur. Massachusetts is one of twelve states to officially name a state dinosaur.
-

10/21/2022

We are so happy to be able to field trip again! 🎊🕊

10/17/2022

Today we celebrate Black Poetry Day by recognizing African American poet Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley was born in West Africa, was forcefully brought to Boston, and sold to John and Susanna Wheatley. Although she was enslaved, the family taught her to read and write. Phillis Wheatley began to write poetry. On September 1, 1773 she published “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” becoming the first African American author to publish a book of poetry. In this book she wrote poetry about the state of the American colonies, slavery, and religion. She was freed from slavery in 1774 after the success of her poems. Wheatley attracted the attention throughout the colonies and the world from many influential figures such as John Hancock and Thomas Paine.
-

Today we celebrate Black Poetry Day by recognizing African American poet Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley was born in West Africa, was forcefully brought to Boston, and sold to John and Susanna Wheatley. Although she was enslaved, the family taught her to read and write. Phillis Wheatley began to write poetry. On September 1, 1773 she published “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” becoming the first African American author to publish a book of poetry. In this book she wrote poetry about the state of the American colonies, slavery, and religion. She was freed from slavery in 1774 after the success of her poems. Wheatley attracted the attention throughout the colonies and the world from many influential figures such as John Hancock and Thomas Paine.
-

10/17/2022

Happy birthday to Dorchester native Childe Hassam, who was born in 1859! 🎈

Hassam employed the radical compositional effects that he admired in French painting to portray the changing aspects of Boston. In this work, which depicts the Charles River, Beacon Hill and Back Bay, the artist captured the city of his youth as it was transforming itself into a sophisticated urban center.

🖼️ : “Charles River and Beacon Hill” (about 1892), oil on canvas, on view in the Art of the Americas Wing

10/14/2022

Happy National Dessert Day! Today we celebrate with the state dessert of Massachusetts, the Boston cream pie. This cake is two layers with custard in the middle and topped with a chocolate glaze. The Boston cream pie was created by M. Sanzian in 1856 at the Parker House Hotel in Boston. It was made the official state dessert on December 12, 1996.
-
****ie ****ie

Happy National Dessert Day! Today we celebrate with the state dessert of Massachusetts, the Boston cream pie. This cake is two layers with custard in the middle and topped with a chocolate glaze. The Boston cream pie was created by M. Sanzian in 1856 at the Parker House Hotel in Boston. It was made the official state dessert on December 12, 1996.
-
****ie ****ie

10/05/2022

Did you know that the state muffin of Massachusetts is the corn muffin? It was officially made the state muffin on May 27, 1986. This came to be after students petitioned to make the muffin an official state symbol due to its popularity in New England cooking. Corn is famously part of the Three Sisters, along with beans and squash that were staples in the diet of the Indigenous people of Massachusetts. They used the height of the corn plant to support the beans which provided the corn protection from the weather. The squash helped to defend against weeds and hold moisture in the soil of the base of the plants.
-

Did you know that the state muffin of Massachusetts is the corn muffin? It was officially made the state muffin on May 27, 1986. This came to be after students petitioned to make the muffin an official state symbol due to its popularity in New England cooking. Corn is famously part of the Three Sisters, along with beans and squash that were staples in the diet of the Indigenous people of Massachusetts. They used the height of the corn plant to support the beans which provided the corn protection from the weather. The squash helped to defend against weeds and hold moisture in the soil of the base of the plants.
-

09/30/2022

This is the 3rd in a 4-post series about our upcoming dig at 558 Mass. Ave., home of the League of Women for Community Service. So why and how will the City Archaeology Program excavate?

Let’s start with our research objectives - the primary goal of this dig is to determine what, if anything, can be recovered archaeologically from the property that will provide new data on the occupants of 558 Massachusetts Avenue over time. Additionally, this excavation will be the first conducted in the South End neighborhood and will provide a baseline of knowledge regarding typical stratigraphy (archaeological deposits/layers) for the area.

We excavate on a gridded system, dividing the site into units with a site datum. We plan on opening 2x2 meter excavation units in the backyard. It includes an upper and lower paved terrace which may contain deposits related to domestic and kitchen activity and was probably used mostly by the hired help in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It may also contain materials related to community activities carried out by the League from the 1920s onward.

Excavation units can expose the tops of archaeological features related to the different uses of the sites and allow us to see how the features interact with one another. We expect to find extensive excavation and filling episodes related to the creation, maintenance, and replacement of cistern, cesspool, drainage, and plumbing features. Since we know there were four water closets in the house and no outbuilding or bump-out was ever drawn on property maps, we do not expect to find a privy.

Our final post from this series comes tomorrow! It will include information on how to get involved, where and when to find us, and what you can expect from us while we are in the field!

This is the 3rd in a 4-post series about our upcoming dig at 558 Mass. Ave., home of the League of Women for Community Service. So why and how will the City Archaeology Program excavate?

Let’s start with our research objectives - the primary goal of this dig is to determine what, if anything, can be recovered archaeologically from the property that will provide new data on the occupants of 558 Massachusetts Avenue over time. Additionally, this excavation will be the first conducted in the South End neighborhood and will provide a baseline of knowledge regarding typical stratigraphy (archaeological deposits/layers) for the area.

We excavate on a gridded system, dividing the site into units with a site datum. We plan on opening 2x2 meter excavation units in the backyard. It includes an upper and lower paved terrace which may contain deposits related to domestic and kitchen activity and was probably used mostly by the hired help in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It may also contain materials related to community activities carried out by the League from the 1920s onward.

Excavation units can expose the tops of archaeological features related to the different uses of the sites and allow us to see how the features interact with one another. We expect to find extensive excavation and filling episodes related to the creation, maintenance, and replacement of cistern, cesspool, drainage, and plumbing features. Since we know there were four water closets in the house and no outbuilding or bump-out was ever drawn on property maps, we do not expect to find a privy.

Our final post from this series comes tomorrow! It will include information on how to get involved, where and when to find us, and what you can expect from us while we are in the field!

09/28/2022

National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15. In order to celebrate, we recognize the incredible work of Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski. Pasterski is a first generation Cuban American who at age 29 has already accomplished much as a talented physicist. At age 14, she became the youngest person to build an airplane and fly said aircraft. She got her undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was the first female scientist to win the MIT Physics Orloff Scholarship award. She earned her Ph. D. at Harvard University. She is known for her discovery of the “spin memory effect” which can be used to detect the effects of gravitational waves, which Stephen Hawking cited in his research. She has been given many awards and honors including being named “One of the 100 greatest innovators, artists, scientists, and visionaries of our time” by the Albert Einstein Foundation Genius 100 Visions Project.
-

National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15. In order to celebrate, we recognize the incredible work of Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski. Pasterski is a first generation Cuban American who at age 29 has already accomplished much as a talented physicist. At age 14, she became the youngest person to build an airplane and fly said aircraft. She got her undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was the first female scientist to win the MIT Physics Orloff Scholarship award. She earned her Ph. D. at Harvard University. She is known for her discovery of the “spin memory effect” which can be used to detect the effects of gravitational waves, which Stephen Hawking cited in his research. She has been given many awards and honors including being named “One of the 100 greatest innovators, artists, scientists, and visionaries of our time” by the Albert Einstein Foundation Genius 100 Visions Project.
-

09/26/2022

On this day, September 26, 1960, John F. Kennedy, a senator of Massachusetts and Richard Nixon, vice president of the United States faced off in the first televised presidential debate in United States history. Those Americans who watched the debate on television believed that Kennedy had won. This was influenced by Kennedy’s poise in front of the camera and telegenic appearance compared to Nixon who was nervous and sweating. Nixon also refused to wear makeup and appeared ill. However, those who listened to the debate on the radio where more likely to say that they believed Nixon had won.
-

On this day, September 26, 1960, John F. Kennedy, a senator of Massachusetts and Richard Nixon, vice president of the United States faced off in the first televised presidential debate in United States history. Those Americans who watched the debate on television believed that Kennedy had won. This was influenced by Kennedy’s poise in front of the camera and telegenic appearance compared to Nixon who was nervous and sweating. Nixon also refused to wear makeup and appeared ill. However, those who listened to the debate on the radio where more likely to say that they believed Nixon had won.
-

09/20/2022

Today September 20th is National Voter Registration Day. All the way back to the time of the first European settlers, voting has been an integral piece of the government of Massachusetts. In 2020 alone, 1.5 million Americans registered to vote on this day and almost 4.7 million since its first observance in 2012. Visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/index.htm to register to vote in Massachusetts! Voting registration ends on October 29th and state elections take place on November 8th.
-

Today September 20th is National Voter Registration Day. All the way back to the time of the first European settlers, voting has been an integral piece of the government of Massachusetts. In 2020 alone, 1.5 million Americans registered to vote on this day and almost 4.7 million since its first observance in 2012. Visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/index.htm to register to vote in Massachusetts! Voting registration ends on October 29th and state elections take place on November 8th.
-

09/19/2022

On this day September 16, 1620, the ship the Mayflower left England to travel to America in order to practice Christianity without the influence of the Church of England. The ship, captained by Christopher Jones, and its 102 passengers, now known as the “Pilgrims” were originally headed for Virginia in order to create their own colony. On their arrival, the Pilgrims drafted the Mayflower Compact that organized the way that their new society in America would function and established a democratic system. On November 21, 1620 they landed in Plymouth, MA instead of Virginia and founded the Plymouth Colony.
-

On this day September 16, 1620, the ship the Mayflower left England to travel to America in order to practice Christianity without the influence of the Church of England. The ship, captained by Christopher Jones, and its 102 passengers, now known as the “Pilgrims” were originally headed for Virginia in order to create their own colony. On their arrival, the Pilgrims drafted the Mayflower Compact that organized the way that their new society in America would function and established a democratic system. On November 21, 1620 they landed in Plymouth, MA instead of Virginia and founded the Plymouth Colony.
-

09/12/2022

The Massachusetts Archives Building will be closed Monday, September 12 due to the President’s visit to Columbia Point. The Archives, Commonwealth Museum, and Massachusetts Historical Commission can be reached by phone and email during the closure.

06/29/2022

ONCE MISSING, ALEXANDER HAMILTON LETTER WILL BE FEATURED IN JULY 4TH COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM EXHIBIT
Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin has announced that a 1780 letter from Alexander Hamilton to the Marquis de Lafayette will be the feature piece of the Commonwealth Museum’s annual 4th of July exhibit this year.
The Hamilton letter, which is believed to have been stolen from the Massachusetts State Archives during World War II, was recently returned to the Commonwealth after a lengthy court battle. This will be the public’s first opportunity to view the letter on exhibit since it was returned to Massachusetts.
In celebration of Independence Day, the Hamilton letter will be featured alongside the Commonwealth’s original copy of the Declaration of Independence, signed by John Hancock.
Visitors to the Commonwealth Museum on July 4th will be able to read the Revolutionary War letter written by Hamilton, in his role as Aide de Camp to General George Washington, in which he warned of imminent danger to French troops in Rhode Island. The letter was forwarded by Massachusetts General William Heath to the President of the Massachusetts Council, along with a request for troops to be sent to support French allies.
Also featured in the July 4th exhibit will be a collection of other documents from 1776, including a letter from John Hancock to the Massachusetts Assembly announcing our independence from Great Britain and a letter from George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, enclosing a copy of the Declaration of Independence and directing troop movements.
The Commonwealth Museum will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 4th. Admission and parking are free for all visitors. Additional information on the museum is available at www.CommonwealthMuseum.org.

06/16/2022

Rare 13-star flag on display in Boston

Flag Day may have passed but that shouldn't deter you from visiting the Commonwealth Museum! On display in our lobby now is an extremely rare American flag that dates back to the American Revolutionary War. Click on the link below to find out more!

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/video/rare-13-star-flag-on-display-in-boston/

A rare American flag is on display in Boston.

06/15/2022

is a perfect reminder to take a pause to observe the natural scenery that surrounds us and capture its beauty. Two Massachusetts natives were quite famous for doing this. Frances and Mary Allen were sisters, born four years apart during the 1850s in Deerfield, Massachusetts. They were both schoolteachers but after becoming deaf in their thirties, left teaching to take up photography. The sisters specialized in capturing idyllic images of life and local scenery in Deerfield and surrounding towns. Frances and Mary Allen earned recognition as two of the best women photographers of the period. More of their collection can be found on the websites of the Digital Commonwealth and UMass Amherst Archives.

06/15/2022

06/10/2022

June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop was the first to be tried and executed in the Salem Witch Trials. She was accused of bewitching pigs, hiding poppets in the walls of her cellar, and dispatching her spirit and a deformed monkey (“satanic minion”) to torment Salem residents. Her one-day trial took place on June 2nd, she was found guilty and sentenced to death on June 8th, and subsequently executed on June 10th.

Bishop was long since a source of gossip. Straying from typical Puritan ideals, her actions, attitude, and manner of dress were bold for the time and exuded independence. Prior to her arrest on April 18, 1692, Bishop had previously faced legal repercussions for fighting with her second husband, Thomas Oliver, in 1670 and 1678, and in 1680, she had been charged but cleared of witchcraft. Scandalized and described as having a “dubious moral character”, Bridget Bishop was an unwelcome woman in Salem. Despite her assertions of innocence and lack of proof save outlandish and rambling testimonies, her reputation ultimately doomed her and marked her as a clear target for a witchcraft conviction. Bridget Bishop’s name wasn’t officially cleared until 2001.

Image: Joseph Baker “The Witch No. 1,” 1892

06/07/2022

Boston’s first official Gay Pride March was held on Saturday, June 26, 1971. The march took place after a weeklong series of workshops aimed to address issues relevant to the le***an and gay community. They both served to provide a sense of community and garner support for political action. Participants followed a route that included several stops. At each stop, speakers called for reform and equal rights while enumerating action items that addressed the needs and concerns of the GLBT community (GLBT was contemporary to the time, and it was not until after the AIDS pandemic of the 90s that it became standard to use “L” first).

The lavender rhinoceros was created in 1974 to increase visibility of Boston’s gay and le***an community and be the feature of posters to be advertised on the MBTA Green Line. It also became the symbol of that year’s Pride march. The lavender rhino was maintained as a notable symbol through the 70s. Artists Daniel Thaxton and Bernie Toale chose the rhino, for “it is a much maligned and misunderstood animal,” while using the color purple, as it came from the mixture of pink and blue.

Picture: pride parade, Back Bay, Boston, 1970 (Smithsonian Magazine)