“Before we conclude it may not be improper to obser[ve] that the removal of the troops was in the Slowest order, insomuc[h] that eleven days were spent in Carrying the two Regiments to Castle Island, which had before landed in the Town in less than forty eight hours.”
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Located in the main shipping channel of Boston Harbor about two and a half miles from the city waterfront, Castle Island is the oldest fortified military site in British North America. The first fortification on the island was built in 1632. Since that time, the structures have been redesigned, torn down, and rebuilt several times. Originally known as Castle William, the structure was renamed Fort Independence in 1797. The structure that stands on Castle Island today was constructed in 1851 and is the eighth generation of a fort-style structure in that space.
The structures have had many purposes. As well as being a defense post for Boston, they have served as a prison, as housing for soldiers, an enslavement holding station for Indigenous Americans, as England’s main military base during the Revolution, and as a refuge for loyalist families during the Siege of Boston, 1775–1776.
View the photograph from the 1920s up close here and learn more about Fort Independence here.
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The panel will delve into the history of the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston (CACAB) and its significant impact on the city’s cultural landscape and local economy. Panelists will discuss the carnival’s 50th anniversary, the influence of Caribbean politics in Massachusetts, and the evolution of CACAB from its inception by Ken Bonaparte Mitchell to its current activities under the leadership of Shirley Shillingford. This program offers an opportunity to learn about Boston history from its history makers and to celebrate the rich history and contributions of the Boston’s Caribbean American community. Learn more about the CACAB.
The program will be held in hybrid format, allowing attendees to participate either in person or virtually. Please register for how you plan to attend.
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Registration and Events
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, Revolutionary Things: Material Culture & Politics in the Late Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World, with Ashli White, University of Miami. Enjoy more videos by subscribing to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.
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Our galleries and library are open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the third Tuesday of the month). Please note that the last admission is 45 minutes prior to closing.
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An advance appointment is strongly encouraged for all researchers. Please visit our Appointment Request Form to select your preferred visit dates.
Set up an appointment via Zoom or live chat with a member of our reference staff.
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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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