America 250:
Celebrate on Martha’s Vineyard
As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, Martha’s Vineyard stands ready to share the stories that have shaped our shores for centuries.
America 250: Celebrate on Martha’s Vineyard is your guide to Island attractions, museum exhibits, historic sites, and special events created in honor of this national milestone. From early Indigenous history and maritime heritage to Revolutionary-era connections and modern cultural contributions, the Vineyard’s story is woven deeply into the American narrative.
Join us as we commemorate 250 years of history through immersive experiences, thoughtful programming, and Island-wide celebrations that invite discovery, reflection, and connection.
Independence Now & Forever:
Revolutionary Martha’s Vineyard
Vincent House, 99 Main Street, Edgartown
Memorial Day - Labor Day, Tuesday - Saturday 12-2PM
Independence Now & Forever is an immersive commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, exploring not only the American Revolution itself, but 250 years of how independence has been defined, redefined, remembered, and celebrated—both nationally and within the community of Martha’s Vineyard.
Presented by the Vineyard Preservation Trust at the Island’s oldest home, the Vincent House Museum, the exhibition is curated by historian Norah Van Riper as part of the Commonwealth’s MASS250 commemoration.
With its longstanding independent streak—from Cottage City and Chappaquiddick to periodic conversations about Island secession and the present day—Martha’s Vineyard has long expressed a distinct sense of identity and self-determination. Through historic objects, period furnishings, and interpretive storytelling, the exhibition examines how the Island’s character both parallels and diverges from the nation’s broader story, revealing independence as an evolving ideal shaped by place, people, and lived experience.
Walking Tour: Revolution on Foot
Vincent House, 99 Main Street, Edgartown
July - September, Fridays & Saturdays | 2:00–3:15 PM
A family-friendly, guided walking tour through Edgartown with historian Norah Van Riper connecting the ideas explored inside the Vincent House to the streets, buildings, and sites where the Island’s Revolutionary history unfolded. Includes the Presidents for Kids workbook.
For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org or email thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org.
Voices of Independence
at The Old Whaling Church
Old Whaling Church, 89 Main Street, Edgartown
Monday, July 7 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Voices of Independence, set on the historic stage of the Old Whaling Church, stands as Martha’s Vineyard’s signature commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Produced by the Vineyard Preservation Trust as part of the Commonwealth’s MASS250, the evening revives a powerful American tradition: communities gathering through spoken word and music to reflect on the meaning of independence.
This one-night civic ritual brings together live recitation and musical performance, featuring selections from historic texts alongside original readings, personal reflections, and music. With the participation of Island leaders and the cooperation of the family of David McCullough—the Island’s preeminent historian—the program creates a rare dialogue between national legacy and local voice.
On an Island long defined by independent thought and civic engagement, Voices of Independence invites audiences to reflect on liberty, conscience, and the responsibilities of democracy—honoring the past while engaging the enduring ideals that continue to shape American life today.
For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org, email thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org, or visit presidentsforkids.com.
Presidents for Kids:
Exploring Leadership & History
Carnegie Heritage Center, 58 No. Water Street, Edgartown
Saturday, July 11 | 12:00–4:00 PM
Presidents for Kids is a free, family-friendly, interactive program designed for children ages 5–10, featuring an engaging educational activity book series that introduces young learners to presidential history. Presented in recognition of the Commonwealth’s MASS250 commemoration, the program offers a fun and accessible way for families to explore America’s past together.
Founder Dan Scudder will be at the Carnegie Heritage Center to share lively historical anecdotes, discuss the role of the Founding Fathers and First Ladies in American life, and host an informal Q&A for curious kids and families. Visitors are invited to explore the Presidents for Kids activity books and enjoy an engaging afternoon discovering American history—both local and beyond.
For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org, email thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org, or visit presidentsforkids.com.
A Revolution Worn: Clothing that
Marked Cultural Change in America
Carnegie Heritage Center, 58 No. Water Street, Edgartown
Wednesday, July 15th 4:00-5:30PM
Across the 250 years of American history, clothing and etiquette have served as powerful expressions of revolution, identity, and cultural change. From the patriot’s Liberty (Phrygian) Cap of the American Revolution, to the symbolic bra burnings of the 1960s, to the pink knit hats of the Women’s March and the Adidas sneakers that helped define 1980s style, what Americans wear—and the etiquette governing how, when, and where it is worn—offers a revealing fabric roadmap of the nation’s evolving values.
Sharon-Frances Moore, known professionally as “Shances,” brings this story to life through the lens of dress, protocol, and social custom. She holds credentials in international protocol and is a member of the Protocol and Diplomacy International Association. With decades of experience as a consultant to executives, international boards, professional athletes, and actors, she has also served as a private coach to members of the White House staff during both the Bush and Obama administrations. A lifelong summer Vineyarder, Shances brings her deep expertise and wide-ranging talents to Island nonprofit organizations, offering a perspective that is both globally informed and locally rooted.
For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org, email thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org, or visit shances.com.
MA 250 Programming (2026–2027)
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution (MA 250), the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will present a yearlong slate of public programs and an exhibition exploring how Revolutionary-era events unfolded on Martha’s Vineyard. Programming highlights the Island’s political debates, everyday life, and direct encounters with war—connecting national history to local experience.
Confirmed Public Programs
March 4, 11, 18, 25 at 5pm (Wednesdays)
The Wooley Series (four-part lecture series): Exploring Revolutionary-era context and early resistance on Martha’s Vineyard with Bow and Norah Van Riper
March 16 at 5pm (online)
Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution - An online talk with author Eric Jay Dolin
April 21 at 5pm
The Long Fuse: The buildup to Lexington and Concord and the road to revolution with Bow Van Riper
May 19 at 5pm
Colonial Tavern Talk: Women, work, and the business of taverns in the colonial era with Norah Van Riper
June 10 at 5pm
War for the Dawnland: Brad Lopes
June 16 at 5pm
Founding Foods: Food, scarcity, and survival during the Revolutionary period with Norah Van Riper
June 22 at 5pm
A Patriot and a Loyalist: A debate over independence featuring leading historians Mary Beth Norton and Patrick Spero
July 6 at 4pm
Tales of Edgartown at the Cooke House: Everyday Life Tour with Norah Van Riper
July 21 at 5pm
Liberty Pole Talk: Political symbolism and protest in Revolutionary America with Bow and Norah Van Riper
July 27 at 4pm
Tales of Edgartown at the Cooke House: Colonial Tavern Talk with Norah Van Riper
August 10 at 4pm
Tales of Edgartown at the Cooke House: The Way We Wore: Island textiles and fashion, 1642–1850 with Norah Van Riper
August 20 at 5pm
Grey’s Raid: The British occupation and seizure of livestock on Martha’s Vineyard with Bow and Norah Van Riper
August 25 at 5pm
Sharper Michael: A look at one of the Revolution’s most complex figures with Bow Van Riper
August 28 at 5pm
Authentic Colonial Tavern Night #2 at the Cooke House
September 15 at 5pm
Legends of the Revolutionary War with Bow Van Riper
October 20 at 5pm
Vineyard and Naval War: Exploring the Island’s role in maritime conflict, tied to the founding of the U.S. Navy with Bow Van Riper
Exhibition
Grey’s Raid: The Week the Sheep Went Away
On view October 24, 2026 – May 2027
In September 1778, British troops under Major General Charles Grey arrived on Martha’s Vineyard and forced Islanders to surrender livestock and supplies. Over five days, approximately 10,000 sheep and 300 cattle were taken before the fleet departed.
Designed specifically for children and families, this interactive exhibition explores how communities respond when powerful outsiders make demands—and how choices, communication, and logistics shape outcomes in moments of crisis.
About the Program
Programs are led by Martha’s Vineyard Museum historians and guest scholars and take place at the Museum's main campus in Vineyard Haven and the Cooke House in Edgartown. Additional dates and program details will be announced throughout 2026.