250th Anniversary of the American Revolution

UNCOVER THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WITH THE NAHS

Did you know that North Andover, then part of Andover, was home to many heroes of the American Revolution? In 1775 they met and marched to Concord and Lexington from the old meeting house at North Parish after having trained for the previous few years at the mustering field at Kittredge Farm. These brave souls went on to fight in the Battle of Bunker Hill and beyond. Come discover the amazing stories brought to life at the North Andover Historical Society (NAHS) through REV250, a series of programs and exhibits dedicated to the American Revolution. Located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue, NAHS has an educational celebration packed with inspiring speakers, a captivating exhibit, and exciting activities to honor our town and its heroes. | PRESS RELEASE

Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and the North of Boston CVB, and Essex National Heritage.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH

REVolution history tour

of North Andover & Andover

Tours are offered at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm and will begin and end at NAHS, located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover.

Join us on Saturday, September 6th for the Revolutionary History Tour Shuttle, a special collaboration between the North Andover Historical Society and the Andover Center for History and Culture!

Embark on an adventure through our shared heritage as we bring our two towns, once united during the American Revolution, back together for a day of family-friendly learning and fun.

Explore historical sites in “old” Andover that stood in 1775 and helped to shape our nation’s journey to independence. Our experienced guides will share captivating stories and insights of our local connections to the revolution.

Connect with your neighbors and foster a sense of pride in our intertwined past and the aspirations of ordinary people in our towns in 1775 who fought for liberty, equality and justice as they marched at the Lexington Alarm from the North Parish meeting house, through Andover and on to Concord and Lexington on 19th April, 1775.

Reserve your spot on one of two shuttles – limited seating – tickets now on sale! Tours are offered at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm on September 6th, and will begin and end at NAHS, located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover. Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Get 10am History Tour Tickets

Get 12pm History Tour Tickets

PLEASE NOTE:
Bathroom breaks are encouraged at the NAHS Stevens Center since there are no stops along the route.

Stop by for breakfast or lunch at Diane’s Café on the Common before or after your tour!

The 1.5-hour bus tour will retrace the route taken by militia through North Andover and Andover en route to the battle at Lexington and Concord. View historical homes and sites from 1775, where the 18th-century owners played a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s path to independence. Our experienced guides from NAHS and ACHC will share captivating stories and anecdotes about our local connections to the revolution.

The bus continues stops briefly at the west Andover Blanchard Upton House for an outdoor tour and a glass of apple cider. From there, the bus returns to NAHS.

Arrive early, or stay after the bus tour to enjoy the special Rev250 exhibits at NAHS, including the personal diary of John Stevens that begins as he marched off to battle, and brings to life what it was like to fight for American freedom.

Show your North Andover pride
with a Revolutionary Yard Sign!

The North Andover Historical Society had these beautiful yard signs, designed by NAHS volunteer Tyler Mortenson and produced by Dawn’s Sign Tech, available for purchase as a mini fundraiser to support our programming, exhibit and other initiatives connected to the 250th Anniversary of the Revolution.

There are three signs available for purchase, two celebrating our town’s involvement in the Lexington Alarm of April 19th, 1775, (including a sign for historic houses that were standing in 1775) and a red, white and blue sign celebrating North Andover and the 250th anniversary of the Revolution. Purchase a sign and show your pride for this special celebration of our local heroes for their actions in 1776 and 1776!

The signs are available for purchase at the 1646 bookstore at the Stevens Center on the common, or right here on our website in our virtual bookstore. Each sign costs $30 plus tax.

THE ASPIRATIONS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE EXHIBIT

The Andover revolutionaries understood that creating a truly free society would take many generations. Their records and artifacts, preserved at the North Andover Historical Society, are here to remind us that history matters. They depict stories of battles won, hardships endured, hometown and battleground heroes, and the start of a long fight for liberty, equality and justice. Their ideals and aspirations are the standards by which we measure our progress today.

The exhibit, Aspirations of Ordinary People, opens April 14 and is open every week, Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Medical instruments of Dr. Thomas Kittridge, a resident of (North) Andover, who was a surgeon at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

(Left) NAHS archivist and curator, Robin Siegel, and her intern, Lily, put the final touches on the exhibit, The Aspirations of Ordinary People, a part of the REV250 exhibit.
(Center) A banner used in the 100th celebration of the American Revolution in North Andover.
(Right) This REV250 exhibit displays an arithmetic book from an old school in Andover, educating students on converting English currency to colonial currency. This is a display of a conscious attempt to break from British currency.

They Knew their Place in Time

These are stories of the American Revolution,
from a local perspective.