This Week at the MHS

Washington Triumphal Arch

This engraved illustration by Samuel Hill, from the January 1790 issue of The Massachusetts Magazine, or Monthly Museum, depicts architect Charles Bulfinch’s design for a triumphal arch erected at the State House in honor of George Washington’s presidential tour visit of Boston on 24 October 1789.

When Washington arrived, he was met by a procession led by musicians. The marchers represented more than sixty crafts or trades organized alphabetically by trade to prevent disputes over priority (see a broadside announcing the procession). The parade ended at the State House where the president was greeted by three huzzas from the citizenry. An ode written for the occasion was sung by a choir seated beneath the canopy over the central archway.

View the engraved illustration up close here.

MHS News

Making History Gala Tickets

Ticket sales are now open exclusively to MHS Members and Honorary Fellows for the highly anticipated 2024 Making History Gala featuring Doris Kearns Goodwin. The event will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the iconic Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Learn more and get your tickets now at www.masshist.org/gala.

Not yet a Member? Join now for advanced access to gala tickets and to support the vital mission of the MHS. To become a Member, please visit www.masshist.org/support/mhsfund.

Upcoming Events

Monday, 4 December | 6:00 PM

A Constitutional Culture: New England & the Struggle Against Arbitrary Rule in the Restoration Empire

Adrian Chastain Weimer, Providence College.

Wednesday, 6 December | 5:00 PM

“For the Entertainment of Her Friends”: Working Actresses, Society & Performance in Boston, 1790–1830

Emma Futhey, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services University, with comment by Elizabeth Maddock Dillon, Northeastern University.

Wednesday, 13 December | 5:30

MHS Members & Honorary Fellows Holiday Party

See full calendar.

Looking for More?

Registration and Events

Visit www.masshist.org/events for more information and to register.

Interested in Past Programs?

If you missed a program or would like to revisit the material presented, please visit www.masshist.org/video.

Click below to view the video, Wars Civil & Great: The American Experience in the Civil War & World War I, with Dr. Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, MHS; Dr. David Silbey, Cornell University; Dr. Brian Allen Drake, University of Georgia; and Dr. Kathleen Logothetis Thompson. Enjoy more videos by subscribing to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.

Exhibition and Library Hours

Now Open! “The Dye is cast”: Interests & Ideals That Motivated the Boston Tea Party. The exhibition is open through 29 February 2024. Learn more about the exhibition and explore items from our collection related to the Tea Party.

Our galleries and library are open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, from 9:30 AM to 4:45 PM, Tuesday from 9:30 AM to 7:45 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the second Tuesday of the month). Please note that the last admission is 45 minutes prior to closing.

Please check our hours and admissions for hours, building closings, and other events.

An advance appointment is strongly encouraged. Please log in to your Portal1791 account to select your preferred visit dates.

Set up an appointment via Zoom or live chat with a member of our reference staff.

Learn more at www.masshist.org/library.

The MHS Fund and Membership

Our Members make it possible for us to offer an array of complimentary services including admission to our exhibition galleries and library, online access to our collections and digital editions, and onsite and remote reference services for all. Membership begins with a fully tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more to the MHS Fund. All Members enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences, including invitations to our annual Holiday Party, FREE program registration, and Member Week perks. Learn more and join today!

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