Bunker Hill Badge, Owned by Benjamin Webber (1756-1841), c.1775, Silk. Gift of Caroline A. Webber, 1930 [579.02].
GLOUCESTER – As the North Shore region prepares for the 250th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, CAM Green (13 Poplar St., Gloucester) will also host activities focusing on five key events leading up to the American Revolutionary War through the lens of local history.
On June 14 and 15, the public is invited to learn about the Stamp Act of 1765, the Saville Incidents of 1768 and 1770, the Tea Act of 1773, the Boston Port Bill of 1774, and the pivotal year of 1775, all while discovering how these important historic moments affected Cape Ann residents. Activities include creating broadsides – large pieces of paper that act as public announcements – or trying out 18th century calligraphy flourishes, making mini-ships to navigate a map of the harbor, learning a Colonial dice game, and more. These activities and all visits to CAM Green are free.
“As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, these programs are a chance for the community to come together, connect with our local history, and reflect on how Gloucester’s past continues to shape its identity today,” said Oliver Barker, Director of the Cape Ann Museum. “Through local stories, hands-on activities, and important artifacts, we hope to inspire a deeper connection to our shared history, and to the ongoing story of Cape Ann.”
Visitors are also invited to step into the White-Ellery House, a c.1710 landmark whose residents witnessed these events, view the Contemporary Art Wetu, illustrating the ongoing Indigenous presence in the lands and waters that today are known as Cape Ann, or sign up for the Museum’s Patriots & Privateers Walking Tour on Middle Street in Gloucester.
On view June 11 through July 27 within the Janet & William Ellery James Center, CAM Green’s (13 Poplar St., Gloucester) special Collection Highlights case will showcase Gloucester During the Revolution: Historic Documents and Artifacts. Featured in the special case is a pair of commemorative ribbons from 1825, marking the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. They were awarded to Benjamin Webber (1756-1841) of Gloucester who served in the Revolution and fought at Bunker Hill. He was given the ribbons at the 50th anniversary celebration on June 17, 1825 –the day the cornerstone was laid for the Bunker Hill Memorial.
Stage Fort Park in Gloucester will serve as the location for the Battle of Bunker Hill 250th anniversary reenactments on June 21 and 22. A schedule for the free events that are planned for that weekend can be found here.
To learn more about Cape Ann Museum’s 250th anniversary of the American Revolution programs, visit: capeannmuseum.org.
The Cape Ann Museum, founded in 1875, exists to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of the area and to keep it relevant to today’s audiences. Spanning 44,000 square feet, the Museum’s Downtown campus, which is closed for renovations through spring 2026, remains a major cultural institution on Boston’s North Shore that has welcomed thousands of local, national, and international visitors annually to its exhibitions, programs and community led events. In addition to fine art, the Museum’s collections include decorative art, textiles, artifacts from the fisheries and granite industries, four historic structures, a Library & Archives and a sculpture garden in the heart of downtown Gloucester.
The Cape Ann Museum Green (CAM Green), the Museum’s campus off Grant Circle and Route 128 in Gloucester is home to the 12,000 square foot Janet & William Ellery James Center, built in 2020 which includes a flexible exhibition and community programming space designed to reach broader audiences with new exhibits and public programs. CAM Green also features three historic structures: the White Ellery House (1710), the Babson-Alling House (c.1740), an adjacent Barn (c.1740), a Contemporary Art Wetu (2023-2024) and a Mush8n (mi-shoon) (2023), an eastern woodlands boat.
General admission to the Cape Ann Museum Green campus is free. Due to limited parking, timed parking reservations for vehicles are recommended.
More information can be found on www.capeannmuseum.org or please call (978)283-0455 x110.
