The road to 2026 and the Semisesquintenial of the American Revolution is well under way; this month Massachusetts Grand Lodge is partnering in two separate events for the occasion!
First, Grand Lodge and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company will commemorate the 200 Anniversary of Major General Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Boston! Fifty years after the revolution, Lafayette toured the United States between 1824 and 1825, visiting all of the then 24 states of the Union. One of his first stops on this journey was Boston on August 24, 1824, where he was welcomed by a parade to and received by an artillery salute at the State House. By this point, the state government was already seated at the new State House at the top of Beacon Hill, where it sits to this day. The day will begin with a complimentary breakfast at Faneuil Hall, then travel to the Boston Common, and so much more! Afterwards, there will be a lunch at Grand Lodge. To read more, click here!
Second is the 250 anniversary of the Suffolk Resolves, the predecessor to the Declaration of Independence. Boston and the Massachusetts Bay colony were the hardest targeted by King George III and Parliament in the Intolerable Acts. These included the closing of Boston Harbor until damages were paid for the Boston Tea Party, placing most colonial government positions under the King or his designee’s prerogative, and allowing Royal officers to be tried by a court in England rather than the colonies. The Resolves were a declaration of the leaders of Suffolk County urging civil disobedience through boycotts, refusal to pay taxes, and urging the forming of militias. To celebrate the anniversary, the Milton Historical Society, the Massachusetts Freemasons, and the Dr. Joseph Warren Foundation is opening the doors of the Suffolk Resolves House for guided tours, speakers, and reenactments on August 31 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per adult or $20 for a family of two adults and their children. To read more, click here!
As we progress onward to July 4, 2026, we’ll keep you updated with the latest in Revolution 250 news!
