— Photos courtesy of Cynthia Frawley and ConserveART LLC

Throughout the month of May, the Somerville Museum will partner with the City of Somerville and members of the community to host events honoring Somerville’s history. All events are open to the public, ADA accessible, and free to all. We hope you’ll join us for some exciting special events this month! Location details and sign-up links will be posted in advance of each event at somervillemuseum.org/preservation-month.

Rescheduled: Civil War Monuments, Burials, and Restoration at Milk Row (lecture): new date of Thursday, June 20, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Learn about the series of preservation measures that restored much of Milk Row Cemetery, including gravestone and tombstone rehabilitation, landscaping, and conservation of the Civil War monument at the center of the cemetery.

To register, go to Eventbrite.

How to Lose an Empire: The Road to the Powder Alarm (lecture): Thursday, May 23, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Why did General Gage feel compelled to send British regulars up the Mystic River to seize the contents of the Powderhouse? There is no way to answer that question without considering the series of monumental mistakes committed first by the British ministry and then by Gage himself, in the months and weeks leading up to the events of September 1, 1774. This May is an appropriate time to review those mistakes, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of Gage’s fateful arrival in Boston.

Docent Program: May – October, 2024

Over a dozen Somervillians participate in the Docent Program each year, which offers guided tours and information about three of the city’s historic sites:

Milk Row Cemetery on Somerville Ave.- 1st Sundays 2 p.m,- 4 p.m,/3rd Thursdays  6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Prospect Hill Tower-  3rd Saturdays 10 a.m.- 2 p.m./2nd Thursdays 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

The Powder House in Nathan Tufts Park – 4th Sundays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. /1st Thursdays 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Docents are local residents who volunteer their time to teach neighbors and visitors about the city’s rich history. In addition to the Docent Program, many of these volunteers also participate in other celebrations such as the First Flag Ceremony, Patriots’ Day, and more.

Don’t forget: May is the beginning of the 2024 Docent Opening season. Public openings are offered twice a month, for two hours at a time, from May through October. Opening dates for the 2024 season are available at https://www.somervillemuseum.org/docent-program.

Questions? Contact Grace Bryan, Historic Events Manager, at grace@somervillemuseum.org.