Events with tag - Massachusetts

May 14, 1602

Discovery of Cape Cod

English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold discovers Cape Cod during his expedition aboard the Concord, naming the peninsula after the abundant cod fish found in its waters. This historic voyage established one of the earliest English connections to what would later become the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

January 1, 1620

Great Migration to New England

A transformative period in American colonial history when 20,000 English Puritans migrated to New England, establishing settlements and laying the foundation for colonial America. Led by religious persecution and economic hardship, these settlers created thriving communities that shaped American culture.

September 16, 1620

Mayflower's Historic Journey

The Mayflower's voyage from Plymouth, England to North America in 1620 carried 102 passengers seeking religious freedom. After a 66-day journey, they landed at Cape Cod, establishing Plymouth Colony and laying foundations for American democracy.

December 21, 1620

Mayflower Pilgrims Land at Plymouth Rock

After a 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mayflower Pilgrims made their historic landing at Plymouth Rock, establishing the first permanent English settlement in New England. This momentous event marked the beginning of European colonization in the region.

September 1, 1621

First Thanksgiving Celebration

In autumn 1621, 52 English Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered at Plymouth Colony for a three-day harvest festival, marking what would become known as the First Thanksgiving in American history.

September 8, 1636

Harvard College Founded

The Massachusetts Bay Colony establishes Harvard College, America's first institution of higher learning, with an initial grant of £400 to create a school primarily for training Puritan ministers.

February 1, 1692

Salem Witch Trials

A dark period in colonial American history where mass hysteria led to the execution of 20 people and imprisonment of over 150 individuals accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.

December 16, 1773

Boston Tea Party

On December 16, 1773, approximately 116 American colonists dumped 342 chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor as a protest against British taxation policies. This act of rebellion became one of the key events leading to the American Revolution.

April 18, 1775

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

On the night of April 18, 1775, Boston silversmith Paul Revere embarked on a crucial 13-mile journey to warn colonial militia about British troop movements. His midnight ride helped mobilize American forces for the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the American Revolution.

April 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The Battle of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The conflict began when British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons in Concord, leading to armed confrontations with American militia forces.

June 17, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill

A significant early battle of the American Revolutionary War where colonial forces, despite eventual defeat, proved their military capability by inflicting heavy casualties on British forces in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

October 7, 1826

Birth of American Railroads

The establishment of America's first commercial railroad, the Granite Railway, in Massachusetts revolutionized transportation and set the foundation for the nation's industrial development. This 3-mile track connected Bunker Hill Monument quarries to the Neponset River, initially using horse-drawn wagons before transitioning to steam power.

July 18, 1863

Battle of Fort Wagner

A pivotal American Civil War battle where Union forces launched two major assaults against Confederate Fort Wagner near Charleston. The battle is particularly notable for featuring the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first African American regiments, in a heroic charge that helped change perceptions of Black soldiers.