DC Message Boards: The National Heritage Museum Launches “The Campaign for Liberty” - DC Message Boards

National Heritage Museum
33 Marrett Road (At the intersection of Route 2A and Massachusetts Avenue)
Lexington, MA 02421
(781) 861-6559

National Heritage Museum is opening "The Campaign for Liberty" to Support New Long-Term Exhibition

"Sowing the Seeds of Liberty: Lexington and the American Revolution" Opening April 2007

The Need for this Project

The American Revolution is a central topic in the education of every American. Not only does every American school teach it, the fight for freedom resonates with people throughout the world.

This story, and the ideals that underlie it, are core to the Museum's mission, and to the foundation of "Sowing the Seeds of Liberty."

"Sowing the Seeds of Liberty" will replace "Lexington Alarm", the Museum's current exhibition on colonial life that has been on view since April 19, 1995. In the past decade, historians have uncovered new perspectives on the parts played by ordinary people in shaping the historical events at Lexington's Battle Green, while new user-friendly technologies can tell the story as a more interactive experience.

Exhibition Overview

"Sowing the Seeds of Liberty," the Museum's new cornerstone exhibition, is designed to stimulate new ways of thinking about the battle at Lexington on April 19, 1775, a conflict that will always fire the American imagination. In addition to describing the battle and events that led up to it, the exhibition will explain why the people in this small farming community were willing to take arms against their own government to protect a way of life. Through a highly engaging mix of objects, documents, images, re-creations of historic environments, and interactive elements, people of all ages will be able learn about the roots of the American Revolution for years to come.

Hours

Open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays from noon to 5 pm.
The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Dec. 24 hours for 2006 are noon to 3 pm.

Handicapped Access
The museum is wheelchair accessible.

Educational Programs and Resources

Through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Museum has already been at work with Boston-area teachers to create an elementary school curriculum drawn from "Seeds of Liberty" that meets both local and national educational standards. The Museum will use its web site to make the resources available to schools across the country. A free Teacher Institute was offered in 2003, and another is planned for summer 2007.
A wide array of on-site programs, a Primary Source Lab, and outreach programs for those who cannot visit the Museum are also being developed. Distinguished national educators and authors will be invited to speak. A colonial encampment will be hosted on the Museum grounds. A colonial tavern sing, craft demonstrations, period-music performers, and book groups are also being planned as public activities.

The Campaign for Liberty

How Can You Help?

"Sowing the Seeds of Liberty" will inspire more than a million visitors during its run, and countless more on-line. We are relying on those who appreciate the Museum and its mission to come forward and pledge to our fundraising campaign. The Museum seeks to raise $440,000 to construct, research, program, promote, and maintain the exhibition. We would like to ask you to add your name to the rolls of those helping the Museum fund
this exhibition.

For more information, please feel free to call John H. Ott, Executive Director, directly at (781) 457-4102.