| Longfellow House- Washington’s Headquarters National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior April 2025 April 18 marks the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride. Check out the Object of the Month (below) to learn more about the poem’s legacy – including this illustrated sheet music. Commemorating 250 Years: Paul Revere’s Ride & the Battles of Lexington and Concord April 2025 marks a momentous milestone in American history — the 250th anniversaries of Paul Revere’s, William Dawes’, and Samuel Prescott’s legendary midnight rides and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These pivotal battles ignited the Revolutionary War and forever shaped the course of the new nation. Join Minute Man National Historical Park as they mark the 250th anniversary of the historic battles later this month. At Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, we are honored to reflect on the rich legacy of the American Revolution and invite you to join us for a special event on Friday, May 2. We will debut our new site orientation film, which offers deeper context for the American Revolution in Cambridge, its enduring legacy, and its memory — particularly through the lens of poetry. The new film highlights not only the events of 1775-76, but also the progression of liberty in the years that followed American independence (event details below). April is also National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate the power of words and the poets who shape our understanding of history, nature, and the human experience. Here at Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, we honor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s enduring legacy, and the role poetry plays in illuminating our past and inspiring our future. Join us this month for Poets in the Garden on Sunday, April 27 and explore Two Poems on the Charles River, a new teacher lesson plan for grades 3-5. And a reminder that Friday, April 18 is the last day for Massachusetts students in grades 3-12 to submit to the Longfellow Student Poetry Contest (details below). Please stay connected with us throughout this 250th anniversary year as we share programs, stories, and insights that bring history to life. We look forward to welcoming you back to Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site this spring as we continue to honor the 250th anniversaries of the nation’s founding. Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters Reopens for the 2025 Season Beginning May 23 through October 27, 2025, the site will offer free, ranger-led house tours every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, including holidays. Tour Offerings Standard House Tours (55 min): 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm Express House Tours (30 min): 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm Deep Dive: Headquarters of a Revolution (starting July 4, 55 min): 11:30 am and 2:30 pm Day-of reservations can be made by phone starting at 9:30 am on tour days, and walk-in visitors are welcome. Complete tour details are available here. Stay tuned for this year’s Longfellow Summer Arts Festival lineup (Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM), outdoor Family Activities (Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM), and this year’s very special exhibit Washington’s Headquarters and the Memory of the American Revolution (available after all house tours). Join Us for the Longfellow House Speaker Series A Fan and A Shared History: The Longfellow Family and the Ties between China and 19th-Century Boston Lisong Liu Thursday April 10, 6:00-7:00 pm Free and open to all: register here Explore the Longfellow family’s deep connections with China through a fascinating gift, a fan inscribed with Longfellow’s poem A Psalm of Life in Chinese, and its role in shaping U.S.-China relations. Lisong Liu is professor of history at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and specializes in Chinese migration, Asian American history, and U.S.-China relations. Toni Bee presents: Poets in the Garden featuring Ekua Holmes Sunday April 27, 2:00-4:00 pm Free and open to all; no reservation needed. Toni Bee, in partnership with Cambridge Arts, presents Poets in the Garden with author Ekua Holmes. The two writers will read nature poems, share insight into artistic accomplishments, and discuss the ways gardens help expand creativity. Plus an open mic—read your poems about milestones, innovations and firsts. Refreshments will be served. The event will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Ekua Holmes is an American mixed-media artist, children’s book illustrator. She has been awarded the Caldecott Honor & The Boston Globe Horn book Honor. Toni Bee is a poet, educator, workshop facilitator, and Cambridge Poetry Ambassador. New Short Film Premiere and Talk: The Past and Present Here Unite Friday May 2, 6:00-7:30 PM Longfellow Carriage House Register to attend in-person Join us for a first look at the new Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site orientation film, The Past and Present Here Unite, and a discussion with filmmaker Peter Argentine. The first comprehensive orientation film in the national historic site’s history, this 14-minute film beautifully weaves together the site’s diverse interpretive themes in a short yet compelling format that speaks to audiences of all ages and varying levels of familiarity with the site. Every work of art tells a story and has a story – the story in the art and the story of the art. This event offers insight into both, with a premiere screening of the new short film, a talk with the filmmaker, including behind the scenes photos and stories, and time for conversation. Ever wondered about Longfellow’s motivation for writing “Paul Revere’s Ride” or the origin of the country’s name, the United States of America? Now’s your chance to find out! Please join us and be the first to see this exciting new film. Register here for this in-person event. Calling Student Poets + Teachers – Deadline Extended! The Longfellow Student Poetry Contest is open for submissions! In partnership with the New England Poetry Club, this annual competition invites Massachusetts students in grades 3-12 to share their original poetry (via teacher submission) and celebrate their creative voices. Grades 3-8 compete for the Longfellow Poetry Award Grades 9-12 compete for the Ruth Berrien Fox Award Winners receive a certificate, cash prize, and the honor of reading their poem at the June award ceremony. Teachers: Encourage your students to submit their work and inspire the next generation of poets by April 18, 2025! Let’s celebrate the power of words. We can’t wait to read your students’ poems! Join the Longfellow House Volunteer Team How can you support your national park? Become a Volunteer-in-Park (VIP) this summer! Help in one of two ways: Become a Garden Volunteer The community of garden volunteers meets each Thursday morning at 9:00 am to noon, from April 17, 2025, into fall 2025. Are you passionate about gardening, history, or both? We invite you to join us as a garden volunteer at Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, where history and horticulture meet. Behind the house is a beautifully maintained Colonial Revival garden, and we need your help to keep it thriving! As a Volunteer-in-Park, you’ll learn and work alongside the National Park Service’s gardener and landscape management interns to: Care for the historic garden Learn hands-on techniques for managing a historic landscape Contribute to the preservation of American history No experience? No problem! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious beginner, we provide all necessary training, safety instruction, and tools. Join a community of like-minded neighbors, enjoy the serenity of the gardens, and make a lasting impact in your community. Learn more and register to help make history bloom as a garden volunteer! Become an Event Operations Volunteer Event operations volunteers support the Longfellow Summer Arts Festival each Sunday afternoon from June 1, 2025, through September 7, 2025 (volunteering at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm). Are you looking to help build community and support free, high-quality arts programming in your community? We seek enthusiastic event support volunteers to help bring these events to life! As a Volunteer-in-Park, you’ll serve as a key member of the Longfellow House events team by: Assisting National Park Service staff with event setup and breakdown, including moving chairs, stage panels, sound equipment, tables, tents, signage, and more. Providing wayfinding assistance and answering visitor questions — or connecting them with National Park Service staff. Creating a welcoming and engaging atmosphere for our visitors. Preferred Qualifications: An interest in the arts, history, and/or engaging with the public. Physical ability to bend, kneel, stand for extended periods, and lift objects up to 50 lbs. Learn more and register to support arts in our community as an event operations volunteer! Inspire Young Minds with a New Classroom Resource Bring the power of place-based poetry into your classroom with a brand-new resource: Poetry on the Charles River. This engaging, two-part lesson for grades 3-5 invites students to explore how poets use the five senses to capture the essence of special places, just as Henry Longfellow once did from his study overlooking the Charles River and as Boston youth poet Yolanda Oliveira does today. How It Works Through classic and contemporary poetry, including Longfellow’s “To the River Charles” and Oliveira’s “Clockwork Stream,” students will: Analyze sensory language and brainstorm vivid adjectives Watch a 4-minute video showcasing both poets’ works Write their own place-based poems, celebrating the sights, sounds, and feelings of locations they cherish Students will learn to Identify descriptive language in poetry Use at least three of the five senses to describe a meaningful place Craft a short, sensory-rich poem addressed to an inspiring location The lesson plan includes PowerPoint slides with presenter notes Worksheets for poem analysis and writing Creative enrichment activities like rhyming challenges and “mystery place” poetry games Inspire the next generation of poets! Encourage your students and their teachers to find their poetic voice and connect with the world around them. Find the full lesson plan here. Celebrating the Conservation of Charles Longfellow’s Photo Albums Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is thrilled to announce the completion of a vital conservation project focused on Charles Appleton Longfellow’s extraordinary collection of photo albums. These albums, dating back to the late 1800s, feature rare and historically significant photographs—ranging from carte-de-visite portraits to large-format images—that capture Longfellow’s travels across Japan, India, Kashmir, New Zealand, Australia, and the South Seas Islands. Notable photographers, such as Felice Beato and Baron Raimund von Stillfried, are represented in this remarkable collection. Recognizing the pressing need to stabilize these valuable albums—some of which had detached pages, loose or missing spines, and even fully disbound sections—we embarked on a meticulous conservation effort. This work was expertly carried out with the support of conservation staff at the National Park Service’s Historic Architecture, Conservation, and Engineering Center in Lowell. Beyond physical restoration, the project also included digitization of the photographs. High-resolution images will soon be available online for scholars and the public alike, expanding access while minimizing the need for direct handling of these fragile albums. This digital collection will better support ongoing research and respond to the consistent interest in these photographs, many of which are featured in acclaimed publications, including Charles Appleton Longfellow: Twenty Months in Japan (1998) and Longfellow’s Tattoos (2004). We are proud to preserve these invaluable cultural resources and ensure their accessibility for generations to come! Check Out the Object of the Month Long before Paul Revere became a household name, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1860 poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” transformed him into a national icon—sometimes at the expense of historical accuracy. Decades later, composer E.T. Paull capitalized on that legacy with his Paul Revere March-Twostep, pairing bold patriotic themes with striking lithograph cover art. This piece, possibly collected by Longfellow’s grandson, reflects the ongoing cultural impact of the poet’s work. Read more. Floor Coverings Replacement Update Last month, Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site staff and contractors completed the second of three phases of floor covering replacement scheduled for winter 2024-25. Three more historic spaces in the Longfellow House — the dining room, the guest room, and Alice Longfellow’s bedroom — now feature reproduction floor coverings that enhance the spaces’ historic appearances. During the removal of old floor coverings, the wood subfloor in the dining room and an adjacent antechamber revealed two distinct decorative checkerboard paint patterns. Although their exact dates are unknown, the patterns feature hand-painted marbling, suggesting they were added after 1792, when the Craigies changed the use of the room from a kitchen to a dining room, as we know it today. As with phase one of floor covering replacement, the new specialty flooring system now installed protects and replicates the original floor covering by printing a rectified image onto a low-profile fabric surface. This unique technology perpetuates historic appearance, preserves the historic materials below, reduces maintenance, improves accessibility, and withstands heavy foot traffic. With just one more phase of floor covering replacement to go, we look forward to sharing the full impact of this transformative work with you next month! Historic paint on the dining room subfloor. Alice Longfellow’s bedroom before floor covering replacement. Alice Longfellow’s bedroom during floor covering replacement. Alice Longfellow’s bedroom after floor covering replacement (furniture returning soon!). Free Community Offerings From the Mass Cultural Council: Massachusetts to Appoint Its First-Ever Poet Laureate! Applications accepted through April 10, 2025 This new honorary position will champion poetry and creative expression statewide, serve as an ambassador for the arts on behalf of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and inspire the next generation of writers. The application period is now open, administered by Mass Cultural Council. Poets interested in this prestigious role can apply through April 10, 2025. Learn more and apply. From the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library: Event and Exhibits: 50th Anniversary Celebration April 13, 2025, 2:00-5:00 pm, Lexington This special event includes a rededication ceremony and exclusive access to two exhibitions: “Protest & Promise: The American Revolution in Lexington” and “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Fifty Years of Collecting.” The celebration launches a year of anniversary programming, including gallery talks, lectures, and new exhibitions. Learn more. From Concord 250 and the Robbins House: Screening and Talk: Concord’s Secret History April 14, 2025, 2:30-4:30 pm, Concord Join Concord 250 for a special screening of a new documentary that reveals a long-suppressed secret. While Concord is widely celebrated for its role in the fight for freedom, this film uncovers hidden narratives from Medford, Harvard University, and beyond, offering a more complete picture of the region’s colonial past. Following the screening, filmmakers and historians will lead a talk-back discussion, providing a unique opportunity to engage with the untold stories behind this pivotal moment in history. Learn more. From Bowdoin College Museum of Art: Virtual Talk: Edmonia Lewis and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: New Insights April 14, 2025, 4:00-5:30 pm, Virtual via Zoom Join the Bowdoin College Museum of Art and Howard University for Edmonia Lewis and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: New Insights, a virtual program featuring Longfellow House Curator David Daly and Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow Benjamin Pokross, PhD, and exploring sculptor Edmonia Lewis’s artistic legacy and her connection to Longfellow. Presented in coordination with the museum exhibit Poetic Truths: Hawthorne, Longfellow, and American Visual Culture, 1840-1880 (on view at Bowdoin College through July 20, 2025), this webinar features experts discussing Lewis’s impact, an upcoming exhibition of Lewis’s work at the Peabody Essex Museum, and the reappropriation of The Song of Hiawatha by Black and Indigenous performers. Learn more. From Minute Man National Historical Park: Event: The Patriot Vigil April 17, 2025, 7:45-9:00 pm, Concord Gather as darkness falls over the North Bridge battlefield for a moving evening of reflection on the events of April 19, 1775, and the enduring meaning of liberty. This special ceremony will feature a lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and the solemn recitation of the names of the soldiers who gave their lives on that “ever-memorable” day. A path illuminated by 122 luminaries will guide the way from the North Bridge Visitor Center to the historic site, honoring those who fell in battle. Learn more. From the City of Boston and Old North Illuminated: Events: 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride April 18, 2025 | 6:30-9:20 pm, Boston Get ready for a night filled with Revolutionary reenactments and history events! Learn more. Patriots’ Day Weekend Kickoff | 6:30 PM, Paul Revere Mall Enjoy a free costumed reading of Revolution’s Edge with special remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu and other officials. Revere Departs | 8:00 PM, Paul Revere House See Paul Revere leave his home—plus, explore the museum and learn about his Midnight Ride. “Two If By Sea” Lantern Lighting | 8:15 PM, Old North Church Watch as two lanterns shine from the Old North Church steeple, signaling the historic ride Revere’s Row | 8:30–8:45 PM, Langone Park & Charlestown Navy Yard Pier 1 See Paul Revere row across the harbor, with fife and drum music, family-friendly activities, and lanterns lighting the night. Revere Arrives in Charlestown | 8:30–9:00 PM, City Square Park Watch Revere mount his horse to begin his ride, with historical insights from Boston’s archaeologist Joe Bagley. Revere Rides Out of Charlestown | 9:10–9:20 PM, Main Street, Charlestown Experience the excitement as Paul Revere gallops down Main Street to spread the alarm! From Minute Man National Historical Park: Events: 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Concord April 19, 2025, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Concord Step back in time at Minute Man National Historical Park’s signature living history event. Witness the dramatic events of April 19, 1775, brought to life by hundreds of reenactors. Enjoy a fast-paced tactical demonstration along Battle Road, explore historic homes, and hear firsthand accounts from colonial civilians, Minute Men, British soldiers, and Loyalists. With a full day of engaging programs, musket demonstrations, and living history activities, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Learn more. From the Arlington Historical Society: Exhibit: The “Untold Stories” of the Battle of Menotomy April 19 and April 21, 2025, 11:00 am-4:00 pm, Arlington Step into history at the Jason Russell House as the Arlington Historical Society unveils its latest exhibition: “Untold Stories – The Battle of Menotomy, Voices of the Overlooked, & Centennial Celebrations.” On April 19 and April 21, enjoy free admission from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and explore the fierce fighting that unfolded at this historic site. This new exhibition sheds light on often-overlooked voices of the battle and examines how this pivotal moment in history has been remembered over time. Learn more. From Arlington 250: Event: Battle of Menotomy 250th Reenactment April 20, 2025, 2:00-5:00 pm, Arlington Step back in time as the Town of Arlington, alongside the Menotomy Minutemen and reenactors from across the region, brings the Battle of Menotomy to life. This running battle will span nearly a mile along Mass Ave, from Grove Street to Medford Street, featuring several intense battle engagements. Spectators can witness the action from the northern side of Massachusetts Ave. Learn more. From the Harvard Art Museums: Exhibit: The Art of Looking: 150 Years of Art History at Harvard On view in the University Teaching Gallery through May 11, 2025 Charles Eliot Norton—who eloquently captured the life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his biographical sketch—believed that truly understanding art began with learning to see, a conviction that shaped Harvard’s first art history courses in 1874–75 and laid the foundation for the discipline in America. A new installation at the Harvard Art Museums, organized by Professor Felipe Pereda and his students, explores this pivotal moment and the evolution of art history at Harvard, inviting visitors to engage with the power of looking—just as Norton envisioned. Learn more about the exhibit and read more about the beginning of art history at Harvard. Click here to unsubscribe. Visit us at NPS.gov or any of our social media sites: |