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The Jason Russell House was the site of the bloodiest fighting during the first day of the Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. Today it and the adjoining Smith Museum hold collections of the Arlington Historical Society.

Arlington Historical Society

Established in 1897 in Arlington, Massachusetts

Jason Russell House Open for the Season

The 2008 season hours for the Jason Russell House are Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm. More information.

Events at other historical societies

The Historic Cambridge Collaborative
presents

Cambridge Discovery Days 2008: from Settlement to Revolution

Two Saturdays! August 9 and 16, 2008

Explore Cambridge history and culture with free tours and programs on a variety of topics at sites throughout the city. This year's events focus on Cambridge from the settlement of Newtowne in 1630 through the early colonial period to the years leading up to the American Revolution. Cambridge Discovery Days will also include old favorites, such as talks about architecture and public art, dramatic character portrayals, and a vintage baseball game. Special programs and tours for children and young people will also be offered. Details are on the Cambridge Historical Commission Website.

The Society

Grave rubbing

The Arlington Historical Society, with offices in the Smith Museum, hosts a yearly lecture series as well as offering individual and group tours of the historic Jason Russell House.

Through its education and outreach program, the Arlington Historical Society welcomes school classes and scout groups to explore life in colonial America. Society Programs.

Membership

Membership in the Society includes: Free admission to the Jason Russell House, Smith Museum, and the Historical Lecture Series; a discount on items purchased at The Museum Shop; a subscription to our newsletter "Menotomy Minutes". For information on joining the Arlington Historical Society, see our Membership Page.

George A. Smith Museum

Family Ties Painting

Currently on exhibit in the attached Smith Museum is "Family Ties: 200 Years of Arlington Town Life".

In 1807 West Cambridge (now Arlington) separated from Cambridge, and the new exhibit celebrates the old Puritan-era settlers and the vibrant immigrant families of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

More information.

Jason Russell House

Jason Russell House

The Jason Russell House, built in 1740, still bears bullet holes as the site of bloody fighting on the first day of the American Revolution. British soldiers, in retreat from Lexington and Concord, shot and bayoneted Jason Russell on his own doorstep. Eleven other area Minute Men, who had gathered in Arlington, due to its strategic location, also lost their lives here in the April 19, 1775 skirmish. Take the tour.

Prince Hall Cemetery

Prince Hall Cemetery

Prince Hall Cemetery, located on Gardner Street in Arlington is overseen by The Prince Hall Mystic Arlington Cemetery Association, formed by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge located in Dorchester and the Arlington Historical Society. The cemetery was restored through donations from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge and by the generosity of the town of Arlington. In 1998, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. More information.

The Arlington Historical Society acknowledges the following Sponsors who are helping to underwrite our programs.

Copyright 2002 - 2008, Arlington Historical Society, 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA 02476 | Phone: 781-648-4300
Questions or comments about the web site: webmaster@arlingtonhistorical.org