A Celebration Heard ‘Round the World – An Exhibition presented by the William Munroe Special Collections

The exhibition features selections from the William Munroe Special Collections and the Town Archives, including art, photographs, broadsides, Town records, and ephemera that explore how Concordians have celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of Concord, or the “Concord Fight,” on April 19, 1775. Learn how celebrations have combined public interest and trends with historical commemoration and how these events have evolved. While mainstay traditions like parades, invited speakers, balls, and re-enactments have prevailed and changed, new traditions have also been introduced, reflecting the community’s diverse interests.

In addition, on the First Floor of the Main Library, selections from the Town Archives and the William Munroe Special Collections offer a rich cache of manuscript and printed primary source materials providing insight into events leading up to, on, and following April 19, 1775. Many of these documents offer small glimpses into the Concord Fight’s human impact and the American Revolution’s beginnings. Using these items, we highlight the actions of soldiers, Patriots of Color, and women to tell a more complete story about the Concord Fight and the people who lived it.