Women's History

Make your voice heard by joining the National Parks of Boston for compelling reenactments of three historic town meetings! Inspired by real words spoken in historic town meetings in Faneuil Hall and around Boston, these programs encourage audience members to participate in debates from pivotal moments of Boston's history. Debate with your fellow audience members and vote on the issue. Have your voice heard in town meeting! 2026 Season (June 25- September 6) Join a ranger for a historic town meeting Thursday through Sunday at 2 pm. No registration is required. The following town meeting reenactments will be offered throughout the summer: "Declaring Independence" 1776 Town Meeting 250 years ago, citizens gathered at local town meetings throughout Massachusetts. Each town had to determine if they supported their delegates decision to declare independence from Great Britain. How will Boston vote? "Rocking the Cradle" 1854 Town Meeting In May of 1854 Federal Marshals arrested Anthony Burns under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law . Immediately following Burns’ arrest, Bostonians gathered at Faneuil Hall to discuss whether they would abide by this federal law or appeal to a higher law of freedom and liberty for all. The eyes of the nation were firmly fixed upon Boston. How will Boston respond? "Woman's Tea Party" 1873 Town Meeting On December 15, 1873 Boston’s suffragists held the New England Women's Tea Party , a massive suffrage rally in the Great Hall of Faneuil Hall. Leading suffragists, including Lucy Stone, Frederick Douglass, and Mary Livermore, delivered rousing speeches to a crowd of more than three thousand, furthering the suffrage movement in Boston. Will Boston support women's suffrage? Special Events Celebrate the 253rd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party at Faneuil Hall In May of 1774 Bostonians gathered in the Great Hall in Faneuil Hall to vote on their response to the punishment from Parliament for the Boston Tea Party. Should Bostonians vote to pay for the destroyed private property and reopen the port? Or should they endorse a boycott of British goods and continue protesting Parliament? Nearly 100 years later, on December 15, 1873, the New England Women’s Suffrage Association organized the “Woman’s Tea Party,” a massive rally in the Great Hall of Faneuil Hall. At the conclusion of the meeting, those in attendance voted on a resolution. Should they continue to fight for women to gain the right to vote? Join us at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm on December 12 in the Great Hall in Faneuil Hall and help the National Parks of Boston recreate these historic meetings! Both programs are free, open to the public for all ages, and last 30-45 minutes.

Visit Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago’s South Side, where the funeral for 14 year-old Emmett Till was held in 1955. There are currently no visitor services and only the exterior of the Church of God in Christ is open for visitors. Please respect the private property of the church. Find directions to Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. Visitor information is located at Pullman National Historical Park 11 miles to the south. A Passport to Your National Parks® cancellation stamp for the Illinois unit is available at the Pullman National Historical Park Administration Clock Tower Building Visitor Center .

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home located along the Battle Road in Minute Man National Historical Park. The tavern sits on a beautifully restored section of the battlefield and is the heart of our Living History operations at Minute Man. The grounds around Hartwell remain open sunrise to sunset. Living History at Hartwell Tavern: If you visit during the operational season, you will have an opportunity to explore the interior of Hartwell Tavern and talk with interpreters dressed in eighteenth century attire. Learn about the experiences of the Hartwell Family on April 19, 1775 or talk about popular drinks consumed in the 18th tavern room! During the summer and fall National Park Service staff will also conduct musket firing demonstrations outside the tavern. Park at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, walk dirt path 1/4 mile north to Tavern.

Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested. Please Note: There will be no Walkabout on July 2. June 4: From Forge to Fortune in Northbridge Location: 50 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, MA How did the Revolutionary generation in Northridge set the stage for the future of American industry? Learn how a small forge along the Mumford River gave rise to a textile giant and a blueprint for American innovation. Tour will begin near the historic forge building, located within the Open Sky complex. June 11: Seeds of Success in Slatersville Location: 101 Green St, North Smithfield, RI Why was this location, along the Branch River, chosen for a mill village? How did financiers, workers, ministers, and farmers make this a thriving industrial community? This walk will take us through the well-preserved core of the country’s first planned mill village. Tour begins at Heritage Hall—parking is available in a small adjacent lot and by the Town Hall. June 18: "Owning Our History" with Peter Laarman Location: One Benevolent Street, Providence, RI Gather at the First Unitarian Church to explore the historic church and neighborhood and learn how slavery built dynastic wealth in Rhode Island. This tour will begin at the First Unitarian Church (corner of Benevolent and Benefit streets). June 25: Stepping Out to Skull Rock Lock Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Meet the rangers at Uxbridge High School. July 9: The Transportation Revolution in the Valley Location: Plummer's Landing Parking Area, Northbridge, MA Explore Plummer’s Landing and learn about the enterprising people of the Blackstone Valley who built the infrastructure for a transportation revolution. Meet at the Plummer’s Landing parking area (bit.ly/plummerslanding). Expect to walk about two miles on rugged terrain with moderate inclines. Led with a ranger from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Look for a small lot located off Church Street Extension in Northbridge. July 16: Heritage and Landscape in Hopedale Location: 2 Peace St, Hopedale, MA What defines a commune or a company town? How have the residents of Hopedale built lives in each of these types of communities? Take an evening stroll through Hopedale, a town with centuries of history. Look for a ranger by the statue of Adin Ballou - on-street parking is available. July 23: Prosperity in Providence - A Tour of Lippitt House Location: 199 Hope St, Providence, RI Step into Providence’s Golden Age during a guided tour of Lippitt House Museum. A National Historic Landmark, Lippitt House has one of the best-preserved Victorian-era interiors in America. Following the Lippitt family’s example of public service, today the Museum is a place where art, history, and community converge. Presented with Preserve Rhode Island. Seek on-street parking and meet in front of Lippitt House. July 30: The Rockdale Mill - A Historic Tribute to Centuries of Manufacturing Location: 10 Sutton St, Northbridge, MA In the 19th century, the Whitins of Northbridge, Massachusetts built a formidable family enterprise. In the 1860s, matriarch Betsey Whitin divided the then multi-faceted business between her sons. Paul Whitin Jr. took control of the Rockdale and Riverdale Mills. Join us as we take a closer look at the legacy that is the Rockdale Mill. Special note: this tour will meet at the corner of Rte. 122 and Central Turnpike (Curtain Factory Outlet is on lower level). Gather at the entrance to Mill at 5 Points – parking is available. August 6: Navigating the Blackstone Canal, Past and Present Location: Collyer Street Gate, North Burial Ground, Providence, RI Enjoy a guided walk through North Burial Ground with Annalisa Heppner. Learn about the flow of the Blackstone Canal through a trench running through North Burial Ground. Visit the gravesites of industrialists whose fortunes depended on the canal, and other local residents. Look for the gate to enter North Burial Ground on Collyer Street. August 13: Holocaust Education and Memorial Walk Location: 282 N. Main St., Providence, RI Walk to Memorial Park with Dr. Laura Auketayeva, Director of Education and Programs at Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. This tour will include a guided exploration of the Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial in Providence, RI. Meet at Roger Williams National Memorial. Limited, off-street parking is available in the Roger Williams National Memorial lot. August 20: Revolutions in Ashton Location: 51 Front St., Cumberland, RI In 1820, a small mill village was constructed in present-day Lincoln, Rhode Island. Over the next forty years, Ashton expanded into a large community that experienced revolutions in transportation and industry. Join a ranger for a guided walk through this well-preserved Rhode Island system mill village and learn about the many changes experienced by this community and the people who lived and worked there. Please use parking provided for the Blackstone River Bikeway. August 27: Commemorations and Community in Pawtucket Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI In August 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette traveled through Pawtucket. Lafayette’s very popular tour through the United States was an early commemoration of the country’s War for Independence. This walk will explore Revolutionary history in Pawtucket and discuss Lafayette’s extensive tour. Meet at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark in Pawtucket. Parking is available in a lot next to the historic Slater Mill.

Get Your Activity Book Pick up a copy of the Valley Forge Junior Ranger Activity Booklet from a ranger at the visitor center. The Visitor Center at Valley Forge is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days). NOTE: Due to high demand and limited supply, we cannot provide physical Junior Ranger booklets or badges to large groups (larger than 10). If you have a group of 10 or fewer in need of books and badges, we can accommodate your request. Thank you for your understanding. Please consider downloading and printing the Valley Forge Junior Ranger Activity Book at home to bring to the park! Download the Valley Forge Junior Ranger Activity Book The Valley Forge Virtual Junior Ranger Program is also a good option for very large groups or anyone wishing to complete a Valley Forge Junior Ranger program without visiting the park. Earn Your Badge Follow the instructions in the book, complete the required number of activities (many of them can only be done during a visit to the park), then speak to a ranger at the visitor center to receive your official Valley Forge Junior Ranger Badge!

The park store is operated by Western National Parks (WNP), an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. The park store has a wide range of books, maps, travel guides, media, educational games, posters, and other items available for retail sale. These products complement the interpretive themes you experience when visiting the park. The park store is located in the Information center located at the visitor parking area. You may also visit the online park store . Y The Park Store at Bent's Old Fort offers many of the same trade goods that were exchanged for bison robes and other peltries at the fort in 1846. A visit to the store links you to the past when Bent's Fort was part of a thriving commercial trading empire. You can purchase replicas of the same goods offered by the Bent brothers and carried along the Santa Fe Trail. In addition to trade goods, books relating to the Fort, Native Americans, the Sand Creek Massacre, Westward Expansion, historical cooking, and the Santa Fe Trail are available for every age and level of study. Your purchases directly support educational and scientific research programs at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.