Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library The Museum tells the story of Freemasonry & fraternalism in the context of American history.

This nautical painting, currently on view at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, features a two-masted schooner....
06/25/2026

This nautical painting, currently on view at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, features a two-masted schooner. The ship flies an American flag, a white swallowtail pennant with a red border bearing the name “O. M. PETTIT,” and a blue and white pennant with Masonic square and compasses. At the bottom of the painting is an inscription: “Sch. Oliver M. Pettit of Boston off North Point J.R. Clark Master J.H. Hall Artist Baltimore.”

The O. M. Pettit was a coasting schooner, a small, fast ship that primarily carried goods between locations along the coast. Built in 1854, the ship was active from 1855 to 1867. During this time, she had a few different captains, most notably the man mentioned in the inscription and his brother.

Read more about the O. M. Pettit and her Masonic captains on our blog at https://bit.ly/4euOfNa, and see the painting in person during the museum's Open Saturday on June 27th!

Happy ! Did you know that the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the World (IBPOEW) has been the l...
06/18/2026

Happy ! Did you know that the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the World (IBPOEW) has been the largest historically Black fraternal organization in the United States for the last century?

A member of the IBPOEW Midway Lodge No. 241 in Reidsville, North Carolina, wore this fez. The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library holds over one hundred fezzes used by members of ten different fraternal groups in its collection. This fez is now on view in the museum's exhibition, "Looking Back, Moving Forward: Fifty Years of Collecting."

See more objects from historically Black Masonic and fraternal groups in our Flickr album: https://bit.ly/3WRxq4Y

Let’s take a look at the museum's 15-star flag in honor of this Sunday!One of the treasures of the collection, this fl...
06/11/2026

Let’s take a look at the museum's 15-star flag in honor of this Sunday!

One of the treasures of the collection, this flag is one of only a handful still in existence made between 1794 and 1818. It dates from the same era as the Star-Spangled Banner, which flew at Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) to write the words of the national anthem.

Flags of this size—the museum's flag is 12.75 feet high and nearly 11 feet wide—were created to mark the property of the government of the United States, such as a military fort or ship. Look for this amazing piece of American history on your next visit to the museum, and learn more about our collections at www.srmml.org/collections.

One month from today marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an audacious announc...
06/04/2026

One month from today marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an audacious announcement that the thirteen British colonies in North America no longer considered themselves under the rule of King George III. The American Revolutionary War, the military conflict that facilitated this political break, began over a year earlier, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

The war would last over eight years, finally concluding with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. "Nothing Short of Independence," currently on view in the Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives’ reading room, is a selection of documents and books created during—and about—the American Revolutionary War.

This 1776 military appointment for Micah Chapman of Yarmouth, Massachusetts is among the objects on view. Learn more about it at https://bit.ly/4dSfcdA.

Historical Society of Old Yarmouth

The museum will be open this Saturday, May 30, from 9AM-4PM. Come see our exhibitions and visit our Library & Archives!T...
05/28/2026

The museum will be open this Saturday, May 30, from 9AM-4PM. Come see our exhibitions and visit our Library & Archives!

This program is offered in partnership with Freedom's Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History.

Visit our website to see what's on view at the museum and discover more Hidden Treasures: https://bit.ly/4nM5EFm

Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day, a holiday to remember American soldiers who have died in the line of duty. The first na...
05/21/2026

Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day, a holiday to remember American soldiers who have died in the line of duty. The first national observance of this holiday in 1868 was promoted by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a fraternal organization formed by Union solders after the Civil War.

This crazy quilt was made in 1890 by members of the Massachusetts Women's Relief Corps, an auxiliary of the GAR. It was presented to their President Mary Eliza Knowles (1846-1926). Each of its 64 blocks bears the number of the Women's Relief Corps' chapter in Massachusetts and, in some cases, the chapter's name and location.

Although most of the blocks were made of dress scraps decorated with painted or embroidered flowers and designs, one maker included a symbol that was especially meaningful to their organization—the United States flag.

Read more about the Grand Army of the Republic on our blog: https://bit.ly/494J5pt. Please note that the museum will be closed on Friday May 22 and Monday May 25 in observance of the holiday.

05/17/2026

TODAY, we wrap up the Revolutionary Run! The Agenda:
5pm - The Party Kicks Off!
Live Music, Food, Fun & Drinks

6pm - Rev-Run Team Meet & Greet w/Live Music

6:30pm - The LIVE Pre-Show:
The Bud & Yvonne Show is going live from Bellefonte Cafe. Hear pre-show interviews with VIP Guests, and watch your hosts, Bud Skinner and Yvonne Fields, as they cover all the pre-show fun live!

The Pre-Show will stream from Bud's page. You can view it by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/bud.skinner.9

7pm- It's GO TIME! Revolutionary Run Radio Delerious 108.1 will Host the Rev-Run Wrap Up Round Table, going live on this Facebook Channel - Revolutionary Run with your hosts Carl "Lloyd - The Voice" Pace & Jamie "Captain Harry" Fields!

This is going to be something you are not going to want to miss!

There is still limited space to join us in person! Make your reservation now at www.TheBellefonteCafe.com

05/16/2026

Take a look at the rhythmic beauty of this mural section from the parlor of the Silas Burbank House in Mt. Vernon, ME.

Painted in 1830 by Jonathan D. Poor—nephew of the legendary Rufus Porter—the work features airy, arching branches that feel more decorative than botanical. Poor created the vibrant green foliage with a sponge. 🌲🧽

While the murals were removed from the home in 1985, this specific section was restored by C.C. Adams and is now preserved at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library (Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives). The remaining mural sections were donated to the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity.

Address

33 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA
02421

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(781) 861-6559

Website

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