History & Heritage

Quincy Sculptor John Horrigan Carved the Famous Titanic Memorial in DC

The Titanic Memorial in Washington, DC, an iconic depiction of one of the major maritime tragedies of the 20th century, was carved in Quincy, Massachusetts by local sculptor John Horrigan, who used…

The Titanic Memorial in Washington, DC, an iconic depiction of one of the major maritime tragedies of the 20th century, was carved in Quincy, Massachusetts by local sculptor John Horrigan, who used a 20-ton slab of granite to complete the masterpiece. The pedestal, designed by Henry Bacon, used granite from the quarries in Waverly, RI. Gertrude Vanderbilt…

Rev. John Moorhead, portrait by Peter Pelham, 1751

Scots-Irish Reverend John Moorhead of County Down, Established the Church of Presbyterian Strangers in Boston in 1729

In 1729, Scots–Irish Presbyterian Reverene John Moorhead, formerly of Newtonards, County Down, established the Church of the Presbyterian Strangers, initially with a congregation of thirty parishioners,. They built an Irish…

In 1729, Scots–Irish Presbyterian Reverene John Moorhead, formerly of Newtonards, County Down, established the Church of the Presbyterian Strangers, initially with a congregation of thirty parishioners,. They built an Irish Meeting House in a converted barn at the corner of Berry Street and Long Lane (now Channing and Federal Street). As church historian Harriett E….

James Brendan Connolly Statue in South Boston

On April 6, 1896, South Boston’s James B. Connolly Wins the First Medal in the Modern Olympic Games in Greece

On Monday, April 6, 1896, James Brendan Connolly of South Boston became the first medalist in the modern Olympic Games when he won the triple jump on the opening day of the…

On Monday, April 6, 1896, James Brendan Connolly of South Boston became the first medalist in the modern Olympic Games when he won the triple jump on the opening day of the Games in Athens, Greece. Connolly won the event – back then it was called the Hop, Skip and Jump – by jumping 44 ‘ 9…

The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Massacre by Henry Pelham Courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society

Henry Pelham, 21-Year Old Artist, Drew the Boston Massacre Illustration of the 1770 Incident, Not Paul Revere

On March 28, 1770, following the now famous Boston Massacre that occurred on March 5, local engraver Paul Revere released a depiction of the event that was quickly printed and distributed…

On March 28, 1770, following the now famous Boston Massacre that occurred on March 5, local engraver Paul Revere released a depiction of the event that was quickly printed and distributed widely in the colonies, helping to fan the flames of rebellion. Revere, famous for the midnight ride to Lexington and Concord in 1775, was a…

Garden of Remembrance, Springfield, MA. Courtesy of Springfield.gov

Unveiled in 2016, the Garden of Remembrance in Springfield, MA Commemorates the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin

The Garden of Remembrance commemorating Ireland’s uprising of 1916 was officially unveiled at Forest Park in Springfield, MA on Sunday, May 15, 2016. It was the first memorial in the…

The Garden of Remembrance commemorating Ireland’s uprising of 1916 was officially unveiled at Forest Park in Springfield, MA on Sunday, May 15, 2016. It was the first memorial in the United States to recognize the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s Easter Rising of April, 1916, where Irish rebels attempted to overthrow British forces occupying Ireland.  Congressman Richard…

Irish WWI Memorial Records 1914-1918

In 1924, Ireland gives Boston Public Library an 8-Volume War Memorial Records of Nearly 50,000 Irish Who Died in World War I

In February, 1924, the Irish National War Memorial Committee in Dublin donated eight beautifully decorated folio volumes, containing information on Irishmen who died in World War I to the Boston…

In February, 1924, the Irish National War Memorial Committee in Dublin donated eight beautifully decorated folio volumes, containing information on Irishmen who died in World War I to the Boston Public Library central branch in Copley Square. Published in 1923 by the Committee of the Irish National War Memorial, the the massive project was undertaken…

Early 18th Century: Irish, Negro + Indian Run Away Together from Boston

Irish + Black in Boston, Caught in the Caste System

Blacks and Irish have often, though not always, faced similar experiences in how they were depicted, considered and treated in New England over the past four centuries.  When the Puritans…

Blacks and Irish have often, though not always, faced similar experiences in how they were depicted, considered and treated in New England over the past four centuries.  When the Puritans settled in Boston in 1630, they believed fervently that they were the chosen ones, destined to build “a city upon a hill, with the eyes…

Irish holidings MA State House

Irish Art, Statues and Rare Artifacts at the Massachusetts State House, along Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail

The Massachusetts State House has a number of beautiful and rare works of art and artifacts relating to the Irish-American experience, and is a featured stop along Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail….

The Massachusetts State House has a number of beautiful and rare works of art and artifacts relating to the Irish-American experience, and is a featured stop along Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail.   The incredible collection of art and artifacts is maintained and curated by the State House Art Commission. Here is just a selection of items worth…

American Revolution Landmarks on Boston's Irish Heritage Trail

Boston Landmarks Depict Irish and Scots-Irish Heroics in the American Revolution

Irish and Scots-Irish immigrants played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War, as evidenced by the number of public landmarks that relate to their heroics and sacrifice. From Commodore John…

Irish and Scots-Irish immigrants played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War, as evidenced by the number of public landmarks that relate to their heroics and sacrifice. From Commodore John Barry and General John Sullivan to Boston Massacre victim Patrick Carr and the Scots-Irish who fought at Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights, the Irish were…

John O'Reilly and Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass and John Boyle O’Reilly, Allies for Freedom and Liberty

John Boyle O’Reilly and Frederick Douglass were natural allies in 19th century New England, where they aligned on pressing issues of liberty and justice for all. In the early part…

John Boyle O’Reilly and Frederick Douglass were natural allies in 19th century New England, where they aligned on pressing issues of liberty and justice for all. In the early part of their lives, both men were fugitives, on the run from their captors as they tried to make their way to freedom. Both became writers…

Robert Burns Statue, Quincy, MA

City of Quincy Unveils Robert Burns Statue in 1925 Honoring the Scottish Poet

Scotland’s famous poet Robert Burns, whose birthday is celebrated around the world on January 25, has a beautiful granite statue and park in his honor in the city of Quincy,…

Scotland’s famous poet Robert Burns, whose birthday is celebrated around the world on January 25, has a beautiful granite statue and park in his honor in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts. The 25-ton statue was designed by noted Quincy sculptor John Horrigan (1863-1939) and carved by his son Gerald Horrigan (1903-1995), and unveiled on November…

looking up at bronze statue of John Glover in a tree filled park

Revolutionary War Hero John Glover is Memorialized on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

Colonel John Glover, a local hero of the American Revolution, is memorialized on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue Mall with an heroic bronze portrayal by Irish-born sculptor Martin Milmore. Described as an…

Colonel John Glover, a local hero of the American Revolution, is memorialized on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue Mall with an heroic bronze portrayal by Irish-born sculptor Martin Milmore. Described as an overlooked hero by the National Park Service, Glover was born in Salem, Massachusetts and became a successful sailor and maritime leader on Boston’s North Shore.  His…

Major General John Sullivan

John Sullivan Commits the First Act of Armed Rebellion against the British Crown at Ft. William & Mary in New Hampshire in December 1774

New Hampshire native John Sullivan committed the first act of armed rebellion against the British Crown on December 14, 1774, when he and his men raided Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth,…

New Hampshire native John Sullivan committed the first act of armed rebellion against the British Crown on December 14, 1774, when he and his men raided Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth, NH and seized an arsenal of gun powder and guns. The quickly planned raid came after Paul Revere rode up from Boston to alert Sullivan…

Logan Airport, Terminal E - Exterior

Logan Airport Modernizes Terminal E for International Traveller

Boston’s Logan International Airport hit a major milestone, thanks to significant improvements and the modernization of Terminal E, the airport’s international gateway, with an iconic red roof. This fall, Massport leaders…

Boston’s Logan International Airport hit a major milestone, thanks to significant improvements and the modernization of Terminal E, the airport’s international gateway, with an iconic red roof. This fall, Massport leaders and public officials gathered to celebrate the completion of these upgrades, which began in 2019, making a more efficient, secure, comfortable and enjoyable experience for international…

Henry Pelham's original illustration, 'The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Massacre

Two British Soldiers Charged with Manslaughter in the Boston Massacre Killings, December 5, 1770

On December 5, 1770, nine months to the day after the Boston Massacre, two of the nine soldiers in the British regiment,  Matthew Kilroy and Hugh Montgomery, were found guilty of…

On December 5, 1770, nine months to the day after the Boston Massacre, two of the nine soldiers in the British regiment,  Matthew Kilroy and Hugh Montgomery, were found guilty of manslaughter for the killing of five local Boston men; the other seven soldiers were exonerated. The incident in March, known as the Boston Massacre, helped…

America 250 Logo

America 250 Unveils New Logo as Part of US Celebrations Leading up to 2026

America250, the national organization that oversees efforts to  commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has unveiled a new logo for to represent the efforts leading up…

America250, the national organization that oversees efforts to  commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has unveiled a new logo for to represent the efforts leading up to July 4, 2026. “Historic milestones demand an iconic brand identity,” said America 250 Chair Rosie Rios. “The design’s ribbons are intended to evoke a sense…

Thanksgiving proclamtion 1773 with God Save the King

Massachusetts Removed ‘God Save the King’ from its annual Thanksgiving Proclamation Starting in 1774

A story in the November 24, 1897 edition of The Boston Globe traces the evolution of the Thanksgiving Day proclamation between the years 1773 and 1785.  It reveals that the…

A story in the November 24, 1897 edition of The Boston Globe traces the evolution of the Thanksgiving Day proclamation between the years 1773 and 1785.  It reveals that the Thanksgiving proclamation issued by Governor Thomas Hutchinson in 1773 was the last year the phrase “God Save the King” was used in Massachusetts. Hutchinson was…

Irish Graves at the Old Granary Burying Ground in Boston

The Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street in downtown Boston, nestled between Boston Common and Boston City Hall, has a number of important colonial era and Irish Revolutionary War figures buried here….

The Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street in downtown Boston, nestled between Boston Common and Boston City Hall, has a number of important colonial era and Irish Revolutionary War figures buried here. Among them is James Sullivan (1744-1808), lawyer, orator and statesman. The son of indentured Irish immigrants who settled in Maine, Sullivan was a delegate to…

Boston Broadside printed in 1768. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress

Boston’s Annual Pope Night Tradition Mired in Anti-Catholic Prejudice in 18th Century

In the 18th century, the annual Pope’s Day holiday in Boston every November 5 was a chilling demonstration of the deep-seeded anti-Catholic sentiments prevalent in New England in the decades…

In the 18th century, the annual Pope’s Day holiday in Boston every November 5 was a chilling demonstration of the deep-seeded anti-Catholic sentiments prevalent in New England in the decades leading up to the Revolutionary War. One of those bizarre and archaic pastimes that measure a lack of progress in the human condition, Pope’s Day…

Battle between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, 19 August 1812, by Michel Felice Corne Courtesy U.S. Navy - Naval History and Heritage Command, 80-G-K-26254

The USS Constitution, Old Ironsides, was first launched on October 21, 1797

America’s oldest commissioned ship, the USS Constitution, was first launched on October 21, 1797, and is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The USS Constitution is operated by the US Navy, a partner of the National…

America’s oldest commissioned ship, the USS Constitution, was first launched on October 21, 1797, and is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The USS Constitution is operated by the US Navy, a partner of the National Historic Parks of Boston. Known as Old Ironsides for its durability during battle, the USS Constitution has some important Irish connections.  During the War of…

Postcard of President Jimmy Carter at JFK Library Dedication

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum is formally dedicated on October 20, 1979

United States President Jimmy Carter joined numerous elected officials, political dignitaries and members of the Kennedy family to formally dedicate the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at Columbia…

United States President Jimmy Carter joined numerous elected officials, political dignitaries and members of the Kennedy family to formally dedicate the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at Columbia Point in Boston on October 20, 1979, before seven thousand people. In addition to President Carter, participants at the ceremony included Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, John…

Playwright Eugene O’Neill Died in Boston on November 27, 1953, is Buried in Boston’s Forest Hills Cemetery

Eugene O’Neill, one of the great American playwrights and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936, died of bronchial pneumonia at the Hotel Shelton on Bay State Road in Boston…

Eugene O’Neill, one of the great American playwrights and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936, died of bronchial pneumonia at the Hotel Shelton on Bay State Road in Boston on November 27, 1953, at age 65. His wife Carlotta Monterey was by his side. O’Neill is buried at the Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plains, a…

Massport Celebrates Terminal E Upgrades at Boston’s Logan International Airport

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today celebrated the upgrade and expansion of Terminal E, the airport’s international terminal at Boston Logan International Airport, and also marked the airport’s 100-year anniversary with…

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today celebrated the upgrade and expansion of Terminal E, the airport’s international terminal at Boston Logan International Airport, and also marked the airport’s 100-year anniversary with a new exhibit.  Read press release. The improvements were made in part thanks to a $62 million grant by the FAA as a part of the new Airport…

Daniel O'Connell and Frederick Douglass

On September 29, 1845 Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell Meet in Dublin, Ireland at Repeal Rally

On September 29, 1845, fugitive slave Frederick Douglass and Irish liberator Daniel O’Connell met in Dublin, when Douglass was on a 4-month speaking tour of Ireland.  Both men were duly…

On September 29, 1845, fugitive slave Frederick Douglass and Irish liberator Daniel O’Connell met in Dublin, when Douglass was on a 4-month speaking tour of Ireland.  Both men were duly impressed by one another, and though it was the only time they met, they formed an alliance based on their utter advocacy for freedom and…

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