What: Fourth of July Week Programming at the Rhode Island Historical Society
When: June 27 – July 4, 2026
Where: The John Brown House Museum (52 Power Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02906)
The Museum of Work & Culture (42 S. Main St., Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 02985)
Ben & Jerry’s (Garden City, 62 Hillside Rd, Cranston, RI 02920)
Celebrate America’s 250th with Fourth of July Events at the RIHS
(CRANSTON, PROVIDENCE & WOONSOCKET, R.I.) –The Rhode Island Historical Society announces a special week of programming to celebrate America’s 250th Fourth of July. Programs include a celebratory gala, a concert with the American Band, walking tours, screenings of films from the Smithsonian Channel, free days at the John Brown House Museum and Museum of Work & Culture, and an ice cream fundraiser. Guests can register for programs at rihs.simpletix.com.
What: Roots of Revolution Walking Tour with Scott Alexander
When: Saturday, June 27, July 4, 10:30 am – 12 pm
Where: The John Brown House Museum, Providence
Roots of Revolution examines the roots of the American Revolution in Rhode Island with guide Scott Alexander. Beginning with the Gaspee Affair through to the Act of Renunciation, discover how locals reacted to the “shot heard ’round the world” and how rebel actions led to our small state being the first to declare independence. Comfortable shoes are a must during this 90-minute walk through the historic College Hill neighborhood—tricorn hats, though optional, are always encouraged! This tour covers approximately one mile and includes hilly terrain. Tickets are $10 for RIHS members and $15 for non-members and are available at rihs.simpletix.com.
What: The Golden Ball
When: Saturday, June 27, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: The John Brown House Museum, Providence
The Rhode Island Historical Society will host The Golden Ball, a gala celebration of the nation’s 250th and history education, on Saturday, June 27th at the John Brown House Museum and Nightingale-Brown House. Named after Providence’s historic inn that hosted Revolutionary figures such as George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, the Golden Ball will be an immersive evening during which guests can celebrate the nation’s 250th while directly supporting history education in Rhode Island. The evening will feature entertainment inspired by the Revolutionary period, including nearly a dozen costumed interpreters, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by acclaimed actor and director Joe Wilson, Jr., RIHS archival materials including copies of the founding documents, and a curated wine pull in which participants will have the opportunity to win a special edition of George Washington’s Cherry Bounce. Guests will also enjoy a selection of historically inspired bites and drinks. Food stations will include modern takes on historic recipes adapted by students at Johnson and Wales University from cookbooks from their archival collection and then crafted by the team at McGrath Clambakes and Catering. Half Crown Bakehouse will also be on site with their 18th-century style oven, baking fresh goods for visitors to enjoy and Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery will provide a birthday cake for the celebration. Beverages will include wine selected by Bottles Fine Wine, historically-inspired ciders from Sowams Cider Works, and beer from Narragansett Beer. Guests to the VIP Reception will be treated to a signature Old Fashioned cocktail created by White Dog Distilling using Sabin’s Spirit, the whiskey the RIHS distilled in honor of the 250th. Tickets are $175 for RIHS Members, $200 for non-members, and $250 for
VIP Tickets and can be purchased at rihs.simpletix.com.
What: RIHS Ice Cream Fundraiser at Ben & Jerry’s
When: Tuesday, June 30th, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Ben & Jerry’s (Garden City, 62 Hillside Rd, Cranston, RI 02920)
Support the Rhode Island Historical Society on Tuesday, June 30th from 6pm-8pm by purchasing ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s in Garden City. Ben & Jerry’s will donate 20% of sales during that time to the RIHS. No registration is required.
What: A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America Smithsonian Film Screening at the John Brown House Museum
When: Wednesday, July 1, 2pm
Where: The John Brown House Museum, Providence
The John Brown House Museum will be showing a Smithsonian Channel screening of A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written when America faced total military defeat. Discover this and other anthem secrets. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is known by all, treasured for its powerful melody and stirring lyrics. And yet, only about 40% of U.S. citizens know all the words. And even fewer know their meaning. Join us as we travel back to 1814, when Washington D.C. was under British attack during the “Second War of Independence,” and the very bricks and mortar of American democracy were reduced to smoking rubble. We examine the battle that inspired witness Francis Scott Key to immortalize its final moments, then reveal how his poem transformed into an anthem. Admission to the showing is free, with purchase of a museum ticket. Guests can register at rihs.simpletix.com
What: Concerts Under the Elms: The American Band
When: Thursday, July 2, 6:30pm
Where: The John Brown House Museum, Providence
The Rhode Island Historical Society will kick off the 29th season of its beloved Concerts Under the Elms series on Thursday, July 2, at 6:30 p.m. The six-week series, hosted on the Great Lawn of the John Brown House Museum, will feature a lineup of returning favorites and first-time performers. Each evening will also feature a specially selected food truck, along with a Del’s Lemonade truck. The American Band is a symphonic concert band comprised of over 50 adult musicians from Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts. The American Band is one of the oldest continuously active bands in the United States, performing a special setlist that highlights a wide range of American music to commemorate the 250th. Food provided by Saugy’s. RIHS Members attend concerts for free. Non-member admission is $10. Guests can get Flex Passes at rihs.simpletix.com.
What: Smithsonian Screening at the Museum of Work & Culture
When: Friday, July 3, 11am & 1:30pm
Where: The Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket
Gear up for Independence Day at the Museum of Work and Culture with free admission and a special screening from the Smithsonian Channel. America in Color: Coming to America will be shown to guests at both 11am and 1:30pm. This film explores the immigrant experience in America in the early 1900s, told through colorized home movies and archival footage. For many immigrants, their first sight of the U.S. is the Statue of Liberty. The iconic structure promises sanctuary, hope, and a fresh start, but they soon learn that America’s arms are not always open. Colorized rare home movies and archival footage reveal the amazing stories of ordinary people who share the same dream. From Caribbean immigrants who settled in Harlem to Italian “radicals” shipped back home to celebrities such as Albert Einstein, see how America changed as immigrants brought new cultures from the margins to the mainstream. Guests can register at rihs.simpletix.com
What: Fourth of July Celebration at the John Brown House Museum
When: Saturday, July 4th, 10am – 4pm
Where: The John Brown House Museum, Providence
Celebrate America’s 250th Fourth of July with the John Brown House Museum. During the museum’s open hours, from 10am-4pm, visitors can enjoy signing a letterpress copy of the Declaration of Independence at a selfie station complete with a quill pen, and view two copies of the Declaration of Independence dating from July 1776 that will be on display. Families can enjoy colonial-themed kids’ crafts, historic games on the Great Lawn, and an indoor scavenger hunt. Witness a reading of the Declaration of Independence with an actor from Barker’s Playhouse, watch a screening of the Smithsonian Channel documentary, A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America, enjoylawn tours, join a trivia challenge, and enjoy a 250th birthday cake, courtesy of Gingersnaps Bakery, alongside lemonade, courtesy of Munroe Dairy, and light refreshments. Admission to the museum is free for RIHS members; general admission will be Pay As You Wish. Guests can register now at rihs.simpletix.com.
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state’s oldest and only state-wide historical organization, welcomes everyone to engage with Rhode Island’s complex and significant past through its collections, museums, and educational initiatives. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st-century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, and the Aldrich House.
The headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Society are located at 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906. Information: (401) 331-8575. Website: rihs.org. Follow the RIHS on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.