The mission of MHSM is to collect, preserve, and promote an inclusive understanding of Medford’s history, offering educational lectures and programs to the general public. Join us in building a shared sense of Medford’s history and rich diversity.
May 25, 2026
- We are open 1-4 PM on Sundays, or by appointment. Click here to contact us.
- Come and see our new exhibit “1776 and Beyond” during open hours Sundays 1-4 PM. See more below.
- MHSM volunteers recently helped to sort through paper, photos, yearbooks, and artifacts from the Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) School of Nursing, which closed after 101 years in June 2025. See more information on the project in our most recent Newsletter here.
- MHSM has become a member of NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum Association). Become an MHSM Member here!
- Check out Somerville Museum’s Interactive Map for the 250th celebration of the American Revolution. MHSM helped with the Medford sites.
- Check out our ongoing searchable Medford Street Names Project. If you have information or documents pertaining to Medford Street names, let us know via our contact page.
- Our Medford Municipal Records Collection is now digitized and continues to be updated by our awesome volunteer Will Tenney.
- Learn about our Historical Marker Program here.
- Use our Books and Resources page for your reference questions. You can also see all back issues of our newsletters can be found here.
- Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
UPCOMING:
See all our Spring 2026 programs here.
Paul Revere and Plan B: Planning and Improvisation in the Lexington Alarm
Speaker: John L. Bell, Historian
Thursday, June 11. 7:00—8:30 PM
Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library
After the Battle of Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775, Massachusetts resistance leaders portrayed the uprising as a mostly spontaneous response to the army’s incursion into a peaceful countryside. Decades later, Henry W. Longfellow presented “Paul Revere’s Ride” as nearly a one-man show.
In truth, the Massachusetts Patriots had prepared for months to resist the Crown military. Revere was part of a network of organizers, informants, and alarm riders. At the same time, Revere and his colleagues succeeded by being able to respond to contingencies by changing their plans. Drawing on new research, this talk will shed light on one of independent America’s oldest stories—and how the day could have turned out differently. J.L. Bell maintains the Boston1775.net website, offering daily helpings of history, analysis, and unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England. He is the author of “The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War.”
Register here.
New Exhibit Open:
Thanks to the Medford Arts Council for its continued support
These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local commission that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Medford.
The Power of Truth: Early Diversity in a Medford Neighborhood, February 2024
Murder at the Harvard Medical School, April 2023
Black Heritage Trail Virtual Tour, February 2022
Our Medford,” written by Medford teacher Michael Coates is for kids and anyone interested in an illustrated introduction to Medford History.
The book began to be used in the Medford grade 3 classrooms in fall 2016.
Click here to view the book online. Printed copies are available for $20 at MHSM. All proceeds benefit MHSM’s educational programs.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.