This Week in Massachusetts History features signficant dates in the history of Massachusetts. Click on the arrows to the left and right of the current month to view other months.

The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities has created Mass Moments, an electronic almanac of 365 stories from Massachusetts history, one for each day of the year. Many of them provide in-depth information on events listed on this site.

<< Previous Month

The Month of August in Massachusetts History 3 August 1964 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) created 4 August 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden murdered (Fall River) 5 August 1937 First Boston Symphony Orchestra concert at Tanglewood (Lenox) 8 August 1763 Charles Bulfinch, architect of the State House, born (Boston) 8 August 1805 African Baptist Church founded in Boston 9 August 1790 Columbia Rediviva returns to Boston?first American ship to circumnavigate the globe 9 August 1841 Frederick Douglass hears William Lloyd Garrison speak for first time, in Bristol, MA 11 August 1834 Ursuline convent in Charlestown destroyed by a mob 12 August 1675 King Philip (Metacom) killed 13 August 1818 Feminist and abolitionist Lucy Stone born (West Brookfield) 14 August 1939 Swift River begins to fill the Quabbin Reservoir 16 August 1841 Frederick Douglass gives first public anti-slavery speech to white audiences (Nantucket) 17 August 1635 Richard Mather, founder of a theological dynasty, arrives in Boston 18 August 1915 Braves Field opens 19 August 1812 Constitution defeats the British frigate Guerri?re, earns nickname "Old Ironsides" 22 August 1781 Brom and Bett v. Ashley ruling states that "free and equal" clause in state constitution applies to blacks. 23 August 1927 Sacco and Vanzetti executed 24 August 1810 Theologian Theodore Parker born (Lexington) 26 August 1765 Lt. Gov. Thomas Hutchinson's home destroyed in protest against the Stamp Act 26 August 1826 Faneuil Hall Market, popularly known as Quincy Market, opens (Boston) 29 August 1809 Author and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes born (Cambridge) 29 August 1947 Metropolitan Transit Authority created (Boston) 30 August 1786 Construction begun on meeting house at Hancock Shaker Village 31 August 1835 Prompted by rising abolitionist activity, defenders of slavery meet in Boston.

Next Month >>