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Above, National Park Service image portrays Dorchester Heights, control of which forced evactuation of British forces on March 17, 1776.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the evacuation of British troops from Boston, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin has opened a new exhibit at the Commonwealth Museum, highlighting the singular role Massachusetts played in the American Revolution.
“First to be Free – The Evacuation of Boston,” displays treasured Revolutionary War artifacts. The special exhibit examines the Siege of Boston, the seizure of Fort Ticonderoga, the journey of Henry Knox as he delivered the cannon George Washington used to drive the British from Boston, and the ultimate evacuation of British forces on March 17, 1776. The exhibit also looks at the aftermath and the steps that Massachusetts took to create a new form of government, once free from British control
Among the treasures on display are several letters sent to and from George Washington, written in March of 1776, regarding the defense of Boston Harbor and the evacuation of troops from Boston. Visitors can also view letters from a more complicated Revolutionary figure, Benedict Arnold, whose letter and order for payment is included in the exhibit.
In a nod to the holiday that coincides with Evacuation Day, written military orders for the week of March 15-20, 1776 included in the exhibit. The orders list daily passwords used by Revolutionary troops, one of which was “St. Patrick.”
The exhibit will run beyond Evacuation Day, with Revolutionary documents and information remaining on display through the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Located on Dorchester’s Columbia Point, the Commonwealth Museum is a division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, operating within the Massachusetts State Archives at 200 Morrissey Blvd, Boston. Admission and parking at the museum are free. Additional information may be found at www.CommonwealthMuseum.org.
