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Revolutionary Spaces

**Revolutionary Spaces ** connects people to the history and continuing practice of democracy through the intertwined stories of two of the nation’s most iconic sites—Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House. We foster a free and open exchange of ideas, explore history, create gathering places, and preserve and steward historic buildings.

https://www.bostonhistory.org

A Potent Force The Liberty Tree Flag & The Spirit of American Protest

Tue, Mar 14, 2023

Join Revolutionary Spaces, Ford Hall Forum, and GBH Forum Network on March 14 as we unearth a treasure from our expansive collection, the iconic Liberty Tree Flag, and explore the great American tradition of protest. Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, which ignited from the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House, we will examine how this artifact relates to protest and the fight for freedom in its time, connecting it to our broader understanding of American history. Revolutionary Spaces’ Collections Manager Lori Erickson will showcase the Liberty Tree Flag and discuss the artifact, which was used to mark the Liberty Tree as a site of memory that symbolized the power of protest. Almost every subsequent protest in Revolutionary Boston genuflected in some way to the Liberty Tree. Later, the flag was brought out at anti-slavery meetings and feminist meetings as a reminder of the power of protest to make change. We’ll then be joined by esteemed professor and award-winning author Robert David “KC” Johnson to explore the history of American protest movements, from colonial to present day. The program will conclude with an audience Q&A. This essential virtual program will provide context for future programs at Revolutionary Spaces and other institutions throughout the anniversary year of the Boston Tea Party, as we grapple with the notion of protest in our midst. ### Resources Two-part blog post about the Liberty Tree Flag from the old Bostonian Society Website, written by intern Kathryn Griffith, who spent a full sunner conducting research on this object under Nat Scheidley’s direction [Part 1 ](https://bostonhistory.squarespace.com/kingstreet/2014/08/not-that-samuel-adams-chasing.html) [Part 2 ](https://bostonhistory.squarespace.com/kingstreet/2014/08/not-that-samuel-adams-chasing_20.html) [Background on the Liberty Tree itself, from the Smithsonian Magazine](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-behind-forgotten-symbol-american-revolution-liberty-tree-180959162/) [The Freedoms We Lost by Barbara Clark Smith](https://thenewpress.com/books/freedoms-we-lost)

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“To Save This Country” The Boston Tea Party in History

Tue, Jan 10, 2023

Revolutionary Spaces cover the event that became known as “The Boston Tea Party.” Kicking off the 250th anniversary year of this iconic moment in history, this virtual panel provides a nuanced basis for which to understand the The Boston Tea Party. Moderated by Revolutionary Spaces President & CEO Nat Sheidley, acclaimed historians explore how the events preceding the Boston Tea Party led to this historic occasion. We then move, moment by moment, through the meeting and the destruction of the tea, providing commentary and insight. We also discuss the aftermath of December 16, 1773 and its legacy. This program is made possible through the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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Revolutionary Spaces
Getting Engaged: Inspiring Civic Bystanders to Action

Thu, Sep 29, 2022

Revolutionary Spaces, GBH News, GBH Forum Network, and Suffolk University are coming together to present an exciting panel discussion on what it takes to motivate young people to vote in contemporary America. Moderated by GBH News correspondent Peter Kadzis, this special afternoon program will feature a subject matter policy expert, a voting rights advocate, a political campaign strategist, and a minority youth activist group representative. With audience participation, the panel will take on issues relating to political persuasion, mobilization, and the power of generational change. Among the enduring questions to be addressed are: how is my voice heard; who speaks for me; and what is my recourse if I am silenced or marginalized. The program will thus aim to explore the who, what, where, when, how, and why of voting among young people in America today.

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A Meditation on Indigenous Life

Tue, Jun 30, 2020

Poetry and visual art by Mashpee Wampanoag poet, artist, and author Robert Peters comes to life in an original, multi-media performance. This premiere performance features Peters’ poetry/art collection “Thirteen Moons,” which evolved through the artist’s personal journey to reclaim traditional culture and to live in a way consistent with his traditional beliefs. A choral reading of the “Thirteen Moons” poetry collection sets the stage for a conversation with Peters and other Indigenous artists. Topics considered include humans’ relationship with the natural world, the meaning of “home” from a Native perspective, and the contributions of Indigenous voices to justice and democracy building today. Image: Artist Image

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Commemoration of the Boston Massacre

Thu, Mar 5, 2020

March 5, 2020 marks 250 years since the events that came to be known as the **Boston Massacre**, a confrontation where British soldiers shot and killed several residents on a Boston street as tensions between soldiers and colonists rose to a breaking point. To commemorate the day, Boston leaders tell us about the Boston Massacre victims, including Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Patrick Carr, and Samuel Maverick.

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Revolutionary Spaces
Jill Lepore: Jane Franklin’s Spectacles

Thu, Jan 16, 2020

Historian Jill Lepore tells the story of Benjamin Franklin’s long-forgotten sister, Jane, and meditates on what it means to write history not from what can be found, but from what has been lost. Presented by the [American Repertory Theater](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/) and [Revolutionary Spaces](https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/) .

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Massachusetts Women at the Forefront of Suffrage

Thu, Nov 7, 2019

Fredie Kay, Founder and President of Suffrage100MA, provides an overview of the suffrage movement in American history, with special attention to Massachusetts activists who paved the way for women’s suffrage, including African Americans and other marginalized groups. Image: [Pexels.com](http://www.pexels.com/photo/person-dropping-paper-on-box-1550337/) and [Suffrage100](http://suffrage100ma.org/) This program is made possible with funding from the Lowell Institute. ‍

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Revolutionary Spaces
Peddocks Island: Rich History, Vital Future

Thu, Oct 10, 2019

Peddocks Island, a series of drowned drumlins, is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. It's currently the largest of the 34 Boston Harbor Islands that is open to the public. Home to historic Fort Andrews, walking tours, geological features, and archaeological sites, the island is in the midst of an exciting redevelopment planning process led by Boston Harbor Now with the National Park Service and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Cheri Ruane of Weston & Sampson Design Studio, lead consultant for the island’s development plan, and Alice Brown of Boston Harbor Now, discuss fascinating highlights of the island’s past, present, and future. This lecture is part of the series The Boston Harbor Islands - Resilience and Change, co-presented by Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands and Old South Meeting House and co-sponsored by Boston Harbor Now. Image: [Pubic Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peddocks_Island#/media/File:Ft_Andrews_Aerial_1932.jpg)

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Submerged: Boston Sites and the Threat of Climate Change

Fri, Oct 25, 2019

The Boston Harbor Islands contain some of the most intact Native American and historical archaeological sites and landscapes in Boston, and the Harbor’s ancient floor hosts historic shipwrecks and submerged Native sites. Climate change and its associated storms and sea level rise are putting this history at risk. City Archaeologist Joe Bagley discusses the threats to these resources as part of Massachusetts’ Archaeology Month. This talk includes discussion of current and proposed efforts to document archaeological sites in Boston before they are lost.

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Revolutionary Spaces
Art and Social Commentary: Boston, Yesterday and Today

Fri, May 10, 2019

Art, in all its forms, has been a powerful medium for social and political commentary for centuries. This program explores the use of art as an agent for change historically, and considers the impacts of contemporary artists on politics and culture.

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Revolutionary Spaces

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