Historical Museum Previews August

Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for August 2026

Regular Hours: Saturdays 10-1, Sundays 1-4

Revolutionaries in White: A Look Across Three Centuries of Bridal Fashion (Continuing from June)

Brides didn't always wear white, but in the 19th century, a number of factors combined to make that the preferred color choice. Today, white remains dominant for American brides as well as for brides in many other lands. Revolutionaries in White will display gowns spanning from the 19th to the 21st century, offering insights into rapid social changes, with groupings that include multi-generational family gowns and the unique 1946 Parachute Dress with its spectacular 13-foot train. The museum is open from 10-1 on Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday. Admission is free but donations are very appreciated.

Sunday, August 9-- Our `Second Sunday Speaker' topic is `Franklin’s Connection to the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki’

Commissioner Scott Mason will share the remarkable story of Charles William Sweeney, an officer in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and the pilot who flew Bockscar (pictured above) , the B-29 aircraft carrying the Fat Man atomic bomb to the Japanese city of Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. Sweeney, a Quincy native, later became an officer in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and, late in life, resided in Franklin. The museum is open from 1-4 on Sunday and the program starts at 1:15. There is no admission charge but donations are encouraged and appreciated.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin.