The Museum of Printing is kicking off Haverhill’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
The Museum offers a Benjamin Franklin exhibit and a lecture on press freedom and colonial resistance before Independence. Andy Volpe’s “Printing Revolution” takes a look not only at the printing press and technology then considered “revolutionary,” but also at the idea of freedom of the press, laws and acts passed to control the press and the rebellious printing done against those laws.
Volpe’s talk takes place Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m., at the museum, 15 Thornton Ave. The talk is free with the museum’s standard admission.
General admission to the museum is $15 with a $5 discount for seniors. Students, veterans and holders of a Haverhill Public library card may visit free.
Additional 250th plans this spring include a Patriot’s Day celebration Saturday, April 18, and History Trivia night Thursday, May 14. June and July events include a “Month of Museums,” in which each of the city’s cultural treasures host events throughout the month. Haverhill Downtown Events Coordinator Hailey Pearson said details are forthcoming.
Pearson is asking community groups and those representing a historic property, nonprofit, service club, youth group or school organization to submit ideas for consideration in the official 250th Anniversary calendar.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to share stories and create programming that celebrates Haverhill’s role in American history. Consider organizing a public reading of the Declaration of Independence with your school or club!” she said.
For programming to be considered in the citywide calendar, ideas must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to the event.