Events & Programs
Calendar and Event Listings
Abigail's "Common Sense"
When Thomas Paine’s "Common Sense" was published in January 1776 it became an unprecedented bestseller. Within six weeks of reading it, Abigail Adams penned her most famous letter, urging her husband and the Second Continental Congress to “remember the ladies” during the formation of the new government. In this program QHS Executive Director Alexandra Elliott will break down the inspiration Adams drew from "Common Sense," the subtle references hidden within the “Remember the Ladies” letter, and Adams’ powerful ability to turn her own common sense into compelling advocacy. This event is open to all and free to attend.
Atlas of Independence: John Adams & the American Revolution -- Presentation and Book Signing
John Adams is widely heralded, by historians and by his contemporaries, as the Architect of American Independence. But what did Adams do to earn a moniker of such esteem, while simultaneously cultivating a reputation for being stubborn and combative? "Atlas of Independence" sets the record straight about John Adams’ significant contributions to the Second Continental Congress, where he worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to nudge – and sometimes shove – his colleagues towards the inevitable conclusion that America must declare independence from Britain. This program will explore those efforts, and the great personal sacrifices that Adams made in pursuit of principle. It will lay out an overview of Adams’ seminal role in that tumultuous Founding time. This event is open to all and free to attend. Join us Thursday, April 30th at 7pm at the Adams Academy.
The Architectural Drawings of Henry Hobson Richardson
Quincy Historical Society invites you to its 2025 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 7th, at 7pm at the Adams Academy, where authors Jay Wickersham, Chris Milford, and Hope Mayo will discuss the subject of their new book "Henry Hobson Richardson: Drawings from the Collection of Houghton Library, Harvard University." This program explores Richardson’s work with a focus on one of Quincy’s beloved architectural gems, the Thomas Crane Public Library. This event is open to all and free to attend. As the Historical Society’s Annual Meeting officers and board members will be elected for the coming year.
Quincy Open Heritage Day
Join us Saturday, September 27 for Open Heritage Day in Quincy! More than a dozen historic sites across the city will be hosting 30+ FREE programs and events throughout the day — a perfect way to explore local history with friends and family. Quincy Historical Society & Museum will be open all day and hosting four exciting programs. Mark your calendar, invite your friends, and come experience Quincy's rich heritage — all for free!
A State of Rebellion, Part II: Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Quincy Historical Society will host the second part of a program exploring life in Braintree during the first pivotal months of the American Revolution. The City of Quincy’s Historic Heritage and Resource Manager Bob Damon, and Quincy Historical Society’s Executive Director Emeritus Ed Fitzgerald, will be joined by Emerson College’s Dr. Kerima Lewis to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Drawing from newly compiled archival records, this program will follow local commanders and their men from the April 19th alarm to their deployments as Braintree’s “eight-months” companies at Prospect Hill and Fort No. 2 and their participation in the preparations for the Battle of Bunker Hill. The presentation will also uncover lesser-known events and examine the deep tensions within the town. With vivid eyewitness accounts this program offers a richly detailed portrait of a Massachusetts coastal community at war. This event, part of the Historical Society’s ongoing celebrations of Quincy400, is open to all and free to attend.
Profiles in Courage: Anne Hutchinson
In 1636 the Massachusetts Bay Colony faced its first existential crisis. At its heart stood a woman, Anne Marbury Hutchinson – the daughter of a minister, and an outspoken religious leader in her own right. When two political forces vied for dominance over the young colony, Hutchinson faced a question of moral integrity – denounce her beliefs and remain a respected and wealthy member of her community or hold fast to her truths and lose everything. On Wednesday, May 21st, at 7pm at the Adams Academy, Quincy Historical Society will host a special screening of the 1965 television series "Profiles in Courage" with an episode highlighting the infamous trial of Anne Hutchinson whose ties to Quincy’s early Mount Wollaston settlement run deep.
Past Events
Photos from our past events and lectures