April 10 – April 11

What challenges did New England society face in 1775, and how did they impact the outbreak of fighting in Concord and Lexington?

The Concord Museum, the David Center for the American Revolution at the American Philosophical Society, and the Massachusetts Historical Society invite you to a conference on April 10-11, 2025 on the theme “1775”. The conference will be convened at the Concord Museum and marks the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. On Thursday evening the keynote address will be held by preeminent scholars Serena Zabin, Carleton College, and Robert A. Gross, University of Connecticut Emeritus. Sessions throughout the day on Friday span topics from faith, community, impending war, material culture, and memory.

The conference schedule is as follows:

Thursday, April 10
6:00 pm Welcome Reception

7:00 pm Keynote Address

Friday, April 11
9:00 am Session 1: Faith and Ideas

10:30 am Session 2: Communities in Crisis

11:45 am Lunch and Open Time to Visit the Concord Museum

1:30 pm Session 3: The Coming of War

3:00 pm Session 4: Myth, Material, and Memory

4:15 pm Session 5: Concluding Remarks

In-person attendance is at capacity. Please register to tune in for the livestream.

Header Image: A View from the Town of Concord, by Timothy Martin Minot. Massachusetts, about 1825. Concord Museum Collection, Bequest of Mrs. Stedman Buttrick, Sr.; Pl414.

This event explores our region’s revolutionary past! Learn about Freedom’s Way 250 and discover the many ways the Heritage Area and its partners are commemorating and celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.