Throughout the month of May, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC) partners with other local organizations to host events honoring Somerville’s history and historic assets. All events are open to the public, ADA accessible, and free.

May – October. Launch of Volunteer Docent Program. Three Historic Sites: Prospect Hill Tower, Milk Row Cemetery, and Old Powder House. Full season schedule on weekends and Thursday evenings is posted on the SHPC and City websites, and on banners outside each site.

• Thursday, May 5, 5:00 p.m.: Special Commemoration of Unknown British Soldier sponsored in collaboration with Members of the British Community. At Milk Row Cemetery.

• Thursday, May 5, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: First Seasonal Public Opening of Old Powder House (OPH), with a special talk about the history of the whole park from 6:30-7:30pm. OPH is within Nathan Tufts Park, off the Powderhouse Rotary. Heavy rain cancels.

• Saturday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. – noon: “Jane’s Walk.” Theme for this year’s annual event celebrating Jane Jacobs, a world-renowned urban activist, is ““Brickbottom: Impressions of the Past and Visions for the Future,” incorporating a diversity of community leaders. Meet at Buddy’s Diner at 115 Washington St. where walkers can grab coffee and breakfast. More about Jane’s Walks at www.janeswalk.org.

• Thursday, May12, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: First Seasonal Public Opening of Prospect Hill Tower. Above Union Square on Munroe St. Heavy rain cancels.

• Sunday, May 15, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Walking Tour: “Connecting Assembly Square with East Somerville: Looking Back, Going Forward.” Ed Gordon, former President of the New England Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, will lead a lively walking tour of former industrial area undergoing significant transformation and its long-standing association with nearby neighborhood. Co-sponsored with Assembly Connect and East Somerville Main Streets. Meet at Middlesex District Court at 175 Fellsway, Somerville and end at Connexion at 149 Broadway with complimentary refreshments.

• Monday, May 16, 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.: A Talk “Researching the History of Your Family and More,” given by a key resource — Kevin O’Kelly, Reference Librarian for the SPL. Ideas, with slides, to help you research the history of your family through a mini tour of genealogy resources at the Somerville Library and beyond, as well as some tips for getting started, and for doing some house research too. Somerville West Branch Library, 40 College Ave., in Davis Square. Nice opportunity to view the newly renovated and enlarged Library that is now fully ADA accessible.

• Thursday, May 19, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Docent Tour of Milk Row Cemetery.

• Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. – noon: Docent Tour of Prospect Hill Tower.

• Saturday, May 28, 10:00 a.m. – noon: Docent Tour of the Old Powder House.

For more information, contact SHPC Executive Director Brandon Wilson remotely at 617-776-3938 or bwilson@somervillema.gov or https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/historic-events-and-education or Somerville Historic Preservation Commission Facebook page for updates, flyers, and photos.