By Elaine Grublin

If you are looking for some midday excitement, plan on joining us for one of our lunchtime programs this week. And do not forget that Saturday, we have a full day of events planned for the MHS open house.

Tuesday, 15 March  at 12:00 PM, the Collection Services Department presents the next installment in our mini-course series. Bring your lunch and learn “What does Massachusetts have to do with … Tahiti, Pirates, and Graham Crackers?” Beverages will be provided.  

Wednesday, 16 March at 12:00 PM Twentieth-Century History Fellowship recipient Brian Gratton, Arizona State University, presents his research “Henry Cabot Lodge and the Politics of Immigration Restriction” at a brown bag lunch program. 

We have another offsite program on Thursday, March 17th.  At 12:15,  J.L. Bell, author of the blog Boston 1775, moderates the panel discussion “Where Did It Begin?” a look at the question of whether the Revolution began in Lexington or Concord.  This programs is part of the A Nation Born: The Battles of Lexington and Concord series co-sponsered by the Old South Meeting House, and will take place at Old South.

And on Saturday, bring the family, the neighbors, and all other history lovers you know to 1154 Boylston Street for the annual MHS Spring Open House: the Coming of the Civil War.  The building will be open to the public from 10:00 AM to 3:00PM, with tours, discussion panels, and lectures planned throughout the day.  See a schedule of the day’s events here.