Mapping the Neighborhood
Create your own neighborhood map!
Go on a mini walking tour of the Museum’s neighborhood.
Make a communal map of the neighborhood based on what you remember.
Cut out different types of Somerville homes and buildings, and design a map of your neighborhood!
Wear comfy shoes. Perfect for Pre-K - 5
Tickets available via this link.
Tavern Talk : HOW THE REVOLUTION ALMOST BEGAN IN SOMERVILLE: THE POWDER ALARM 1774
By the summer of 1774, Massachusetts was slipping out of British control. Hoping to reverse the trend, General Gage sent a small force up the Mystic River to seize the province’s remaining gunpowder. That mission nearly sparked the American Revolution—eight months before the march to Lexington.
Tickets available via this link.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Common Ground: Photography, Place and Community
Common Ground: Photography, Place and Community Opening Reception
Join us for the opening reception of Common Ground: Photography, Place and Community curated by Ivan Abarca-Torres on Thursday, September 17th, from 6–8pm. This exhibition brings together 15 photographers who call Somerville home, presenting work that ranges from documentary to conceptual and reflects on the city's evolving identity — its landscapes, its communities, and the creative lives within it. Meet the artists, view the work, and celebrate the vibrant photography scene rooted right here in Somerville. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
Participating artists: Hannah Altman, Tynan Byrne, Iaritza Menjivar, Greer Muldowney, Yorgos Efthymiadis, Amber Tourlentes, Charan Deveraux, Brian Truglio, Henry Cataldo, Mary Kocol, Ken Richardson, Sharon Harper, Dana Mueller Robinson, Stephen Tourlentes, and Lucie March.
This event is sponsored by a generous donor. Free and open to the public. RSVP required via this link.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Collage from the Collections
Create a mixed-media collage inspired by Somerville Museum collections. All materials provided; no experience needed.
Take home a piece of the museum by creating a collage inspired by the Somerville Museum’s collections!
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore images, patterns, textures, and stories from the collection, then use them as inspiration to create their own mixed-media collage. Look closely at historic materials, experiment with paper, color, shape, and composition, and make something uniquely your own.
No art experience is needed, and we'll provide all materials. Come ready to cut, layer, arrange, and create in a relaxed museum setting.
Recommended for teens and up. Younger children are welcome to participate with an adult, as scissors will be used.
Tickets available via this link.
Kindness Rocks
A hands-on, heart-centered program for all ages.
Join us for a creative and meaningful gathering where participants will paint small stones with messages of kindness while listening to stories shared by a local Indigenous storyteller.
Together, we’ll enjoy stories, creativity, and conversation while exploring how small acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Painted stones can be taken home or left in public spaces for others to discover, a simple way to share art, encouragement, and community spirit.
Tickets available via this link.
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
PICK UP! Somerville Museum Calling!
Inspired by Somerville’s role as the site of the world’s first residential telephone call, and the Somerville Museum’s “Let Freedom Ring” public art project for America’s 250th, this year’s fundraising event celebrates connection between the past and the future and to one another!
Jimmy Tingle (pun intended) will entertain us with his comedy and emcee the program.
Sambaviva Brazilian dance ensemble will perform to a medley of telephone-themed favorites.
TJ the DJ will keep the music going throughout the evening.
Mix and mingle over passed appetizers while exploring interactive telephone exhibits!
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Somerville Stores at Mount Auburn
Join Mount Auburn docent and Somerville resident Robin Hazard Ray for a walking tour of America’s first “garden” cemetery!
Buy tickets HERE!
Manuscripts and Mausoleums
Join the Somerville Museum for Manuscripts & Mausoleums, a relaxed drop-in writing and reading program at historic Milk Row Cemetery.
As part of History Unlocked Drop-In Chats, visitors are invited to spend time in one of Somerville’s historic burial grounds with space to sit, write, read, reflect, and explore. We’ll provide writing prompts inspired by the cemetery, local history, memory, place, and the stories held in historic landscapes. Tours and informal conversations will also be available throughout the program.
Bring a notebook, a pen, and something comfortable to sit on. Participants are welcome to come for the full program or drop in at any time.
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Arts Community Meeting: Cultural Land Trust 101
Arts Community Meeting: Cultural Land Trust 101
August 12, 6-8pm
Join planning experts from Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), MASSCreative, Somerville Art Council, and #ARTSTAYSHERE for an arts community meeting exploring the benefits of Somerville starting its own municipal Cultural Land Trust.
Reserve your spot on Eventbrite
Be an ARTIVIST! Hands-on arts-advocacy workshop
For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in!
Patterns from the Collection
Create a hand-painted bowl for your tiny treasures, inspired by patterns from the Somerville Museum's collection.
Register on Eventbrite
One Night Art School
Did you ever want to go to art school but accidentally went to law school instead? Somerville is a city full of artists–become one of them for a night!
High above Union Square, a different kind of school is in session. For one night only, a collective of Somerville’s arts organizations and businesses that call themselves Somerville Arts Engine is transforming 10 Prospect Street into a One Night Art School!
A Matter of Light
A Matter of Light
A Documentary Film by Anne Continelli on the Founding of Vernon Street Studios
Can a small group of artists transform a former industrial city into a culturally rich, vibrant community? In Somerville, MA, 1974, a handful of artists rolled up their sleeves and converted one floor of a run-down warehouse into artist studios. Composed mostly of women, this group had to learn construction and renovation. The subsequent studio space, known as Vernon Street Studios, started an artist migration into the formerly industrial city that recast it into a multicultural, desirable greater Boston community. Today, artists are facing displacement due to skyrocketing costs. Interviews with some of the original artists and current artists tell the story, combined with verité footage of Open Studios today, stock footage, and Creative Commons archival educational videos used to recreate past events. Anne Continelli is a freelance video producer and editor whose documentaries include the rescue of Brookline’s beloved Coolidge Corner Theater. Learn more here: annemcontinelli.com
For tickets: https://AMatterofLight.eventbrite.com
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Collage from the Collection
Create a mixed-media collage inspired by Somerville Museum collections. All materials provided; no experience needed.
Take home a piece of the museum when you create a collage inspired by the Somerville Museum’s collections!
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore images, patterns, textures, and stories from the collection, then use them as inspiration to create their own mixed-media collage. Look closely at historic materials, experiment with paper, color, shape, and composition, and make something uniquely your own.
No art experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Come ready to cut, layer, arrange, and create in a relaxed museum setting.
Limited seats are available, so bring a friend or come meet someone new!
Recommended for teens and up. Younger children are welcome to participate with an adult, as scissors will be used.
Tickets via Eventbrite.
ARTBEAT Revolution!
The Somerville Museum is partnering with the Somerville Arts Council on this year’s Artbeat festival appropriately themed REVolution for the 250th! Come see our outdoor museum consisting of a vintage interactive “phone booth” where you can hear fellow Somervillians reflecting on Revolution and Freedom, see the Davis Square statues dressed up as historical characters and hear live Revolutionary speeches! Visit our booth on the Somerville Theatre block at Dover Street to say hello and pick up some “Spark of the Revolution Som250 merch!”
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
A Narrative History of Somerville’s Brickbottom Neighborhood
Brickbottom resident Randal Thurston shares the history of Somerville’s Brickbottom neighborhood including changes in geography, the ebb and flow of industry, the change in character from a neighborhood to an industrial zone, the impact of railroad, the building of the McGrath/Obrien highway, and the proposed inner belt on the neighborhood and the forming of the Brickbottom Artist Building.
The Indigenous American Revolution
Historian Kristofer Ray explores how Native Nations shaped the American Revolution and how the Revolution reshaped Indigenous futures.
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, join the Somerville Museum for a Tavern Talk with historian Kristofer Ray exploring a part of the Revolutionary story too often left out: the role of Indigenous peoples and Native Nations.
Popular narratives of the American Revolution often center the conflict between British colonists and the Crown, leaving Indigenous communities pushed to the margins or erased entirely. This presentation will place the Revolution within a broader Indigenous context, focusing on the critical years between 1763 and 1785. Ray will examine the events leading up to the Revolution and the ways Native Nations shaped, resisted, and responded to the conflict.
The talk will also take a closer look at George Rogers Clark’s expeditions to Vincennes and Kaskaskia in the Ohio River Valley, an often misunderstood military campaign with major implications for Indigenous sovereignty and the future of the continent.
Together, we will consider two essential questions: What impact did the Revolution have on Native Nations? And perhaps more fundamentally, what impact did Native Nations have on the Revolution?
This Tavern Talk invites audiences to reconsider familiar Revolutionary history through a wider and more accurate lens.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Be an ARTivist! Hands-on Art-making Advocacy Workshops
For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in!
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
Join the Somerville Museum, the Somerville Arts Council, and the Departmtent of Racial and Social Justice at Premiere on Broadway "Reading Frederick Douglass Together", an annual community reading of Frederick Douglass' famous address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" led by Christian Walkes. Followed by discussion and Black Out poetry. Then head across to Trum Field to view "Switchboard", an interactive art piece by Sophie Tachibana Miller featuring the Declaration of Independence and Douglass' speech, while waiting for Independence Day fireworks!
The Secret Quarries of Somerville: A Walking Tour of the City's Geological and Industrial Past
Join Somerville resident Robin Hazard Ray on a walk through Somerville’s deep past, beginning and ending at the Somerville Museum. The rocks underlying our city date to a time before the dinosaurs. We will explore the forgotten traces of rock quarries and look at how our handsome bedrock – the Cambridge Argillite – was extracted, shaped, and used in the city’s 19th-century fabric. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring some water!
Robin Hazard Ray, a 30-year resident of Somerville, studied geology at Brown University before pursuing a career in publishing. She gives tours at Mount Auburn Cemetery, which provides the setting for her crime-fiction novels The Strangers’ Tomb and The Soldiers’ Rest.
Meet at the Somerville Museum.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Be an ARTivist! Hands-on Art-making Advocacy Workshops
For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in!
PATTERNS from the f COLLECTION MINI BOWL PAINTING WORKSHOP
PATTERNS from the COLLECTION
Mini Bowl Painting Workshop
Create a hand-painted bowl for your tiny treasures, inspired by patterns from the Somerville Museum's collection.
Get inspired by patterns and motifs from the Somerville Museum's collection and paint a one-of-a-kind 3-inch ceramic bowl.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Preservation Celebration - Central Street Studios
Join Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson, #ARTSTAYSHERE, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, community leaders, artists and musicians for a ribbon cutting celebrating the preservation of Central Street Studios, as affordable artist workspaces long-term. Reception to follow at the Somerville Museum.
Ribbon Cutting is from 3:00pm - 3:30pm follow up a reception at the Somerville Museum from 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Land/Mark: A Symposium on Enslavement, Enrichment & the Revolution
This symposium explores the story of Mark, Phillis and Phebe, three enslaved people punished in 1755 for fatally poisoning their en-slaver, John Codman, in order to break free from slavery. The case was so well known that 40 years later, Paul Revere used the location of one of their bodies as a landmark when describing his famous 1775 ride. How should we remember Mark, Phillis and Phebe today? And how are scholars,artists, activists, and community members working to reclaim the stories of Black life, resistance, and rebellion that have been erased?
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.