Established for Social & Mutual Improvement: The Concord Lyceum

April 3, 2026

The Lyceum Movement started in New England in 1826, when educator and scientist Josiah Holbrook founded the first lyceum in Millbury, Massachusetts. Inspired by the classical Lykeios (Λύκειος) in Ancient Greece, where Aristotle taught, the movement was created to bring education to ordinary people through lectures, debates, and readings. Lyceums quickly spread across New England, fostering education, self-improvement, and civic engagement, and many towns soon formed lyceums of their own, including Boston in 1829 and Salem in 1830. By the 1830s, there were Lyceums across the country.

The Spring Issue is Here!

Patriots' Day is almost here, and this issue of Discover Concord brings you a list of events, the parade route, and much more to make your celebration special. Also in this issue is an in-depth look at the new PBS documentary "Henry David Thoreau," a fascinating piece on how the Concord Lyceum came to be, and a look at how Massachusetts civilians on the homefront managed the challenging months of January - May 1776. Freedom's Way National Heritage Area is launching an exciting program you won't want to miss called "Declaring Independence: Then & Now" in more than 20 towns across Massachusetts. With two special fold-out inserts, maps, lists of shops, and so much more, you'll want to get your copy early!

Sons of the American Revolution: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

As the nation prepares for the America 250 celebrations in 2026, the meaning of patriotism feels especially resonant. Few organizations embody that spirit more fully than the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), whose members work to preserve the legacy of those who fought for American independence. Members of the SAR are all direct descendants of someone who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Declaring Independence: Then & Now

Then...By the spring of 1776, the question of independence was on the minds of those living in the thirteen American colonies. The Patriots were winning the hearts and minds of many; however, for various reasons, not every colonist was in favor of breaking ties with Great Britain. Now...The spring and summer of 2026, when the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, is a fitting moment to commit to refamiliarizing ourselves as a nation with the complexities surrounding this historical document and the process through which it was created, as well as the ideals it espouses the American people—and its government—to live up to. The Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s award-winning program, Declaring Independence: Then & Now provides the opportunity to do so.