Laborers, Civil War
House Marker Program
Laborers, Civil War
MHSM Civil War Photo Collection

You can now access all our Civil War photos on Digital Commonwealth.

Kids Sketching the Garden
Sketching in the Garden

From the MHSM photo collection. Kids sketching in the garden ca. 1912.

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Historic House Markers

Display your pride in Medford's History. Order a historical marking showing the date your house was built. Historic House Marker Program.

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Slave Trade Letters

This six-year correspondence between Timothy Fitch, a Medford resident, and a ship captain of Fitch named Peter Gwinn occurred between January, 1759 and October 1765. See the letters with transcriptions.

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Pitch, Tar and Tallow

In the nineteenth century, Medford's two main industries included rum-making and ship-building. Read more here.

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The mission of MHSM is to collect, preserve, and promote an inclusive understanding of Medford’s history, offering educational lectures and programs to the general public. Join us in building a shared sense of Medford’s history and rich diversity.

March 30, 2025

UPCOMING:

Tuesday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m.,
A House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial
Speaker: Lee McColgan, Author and Preservationist
Old houses share their secrets only if they survive. Trading the corporate ladder for a stepladder, Lee McColgan commits to preserving the ramshackle Loring House, built in 1702, using period materials and methods and on a holiday deadline. But his enchantment withers as he discovers the massive repairs it needs. A small kitchen fix reveals that the structure’s rotten frame could collapse at any moment. In a bathroom, mold appears and spreads. He fights deteriorating bricks, frozen pipes, shattered windows, a punctured foundation, and even an airborne chimney cap while learning from a diverse cast of preservationists, including a master mason named Irons, a stone whisperer, and the Window Witch. But can he meet his deadline before family and friends arrive, or will it all come crashing down? McColgan’s journey expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving the past to find purpose for the future.
Sign up here.

See all our Spring 2025 programs here.


Thanks to the Medford Arts Council for its continued support

These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local commission that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Medford.

The Power of Truth: Early Diversity in a Medford Neighborhood, February 2024
Murder at the Harvard Medical School, April 2023
Black Heritage Trail Virtual Tour, February 2022


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Our Medford,” written by Medford teacher Michael Coates is for kids and anyone interested in an illustrated introduction to Medford History.

The book began to be used in the Medford grade 3 classrooms in fall 2016.

Click here to view the book online. Printed copies are available for $20 at MHSM.  All proceeds benefit MHSM’s educational programs.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.