The Hive: Living History Symposium

 

Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026

Massachusetts National Guard Armory, 91 Everett St. Concord MA

The Hive is a two-day history symposium geared towards (but not restricted to) our community of living history volunteers to learn about various aspects of the American Revolution,18th century life and material culture. The Hive is co-sponsored by The Friends of Minute Man National Park, Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, Revolution 250, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

 

 

Schedule

The Hive runs from 8:30am - 4:30pm each day. Doors open at 8am.

NOTE: This schedule may change slightly before January 24th. Check back for updates!

Saturday, January 24

8:30 – 9:30 am. Hands – on Sessions

• Infantry Exercise

• Artillery Exercise

• Informal sewing circle

• Kit and project consultations

9:30am – Welcome and Updates from The Massachusetts Army National Guard, Minute Man and the Friends of Minute Man

10:00am - [keynote presentation] What's the News from 1776?
Bob Allison
1776 was the great year, and we know that on July 4 the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, one of the great moments in world history. What had happened to make this possible, and what were the results for the newly-independent American states? Some stories you know, but history always surprises us.

11:00 am - After April 19th: Lives Forever Changed
Panel
The outbreak of war on April 19, 1775 was a watershed moment in the history of the American colonies, and especially in the lives of those who witnessed it firsthand. For those individuals, how were their lives changed? What came next? This session will feature a series of “mini-bios” of April 19th participants and how the course of their lives was forever changed.

12pm Lunch

12:30pm – Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”
Claire Bickers
Even after months of war, the question of independency was still something that many people were unsure of. Then, in early 1776 Thomas Paine published “Common Sense” and brought the question to a broad audience. Unpack the language Paine used to make his argument and why it had such an impact.

1:30pm – concurrent sessions

• Massachusetts Men’s Civilian Clothing in Portraiture, 1750 – 1775
  Paul Dickfoss

• Women’s caps and basic hairstyling
  Emily Stringham

2:30pm – Arms, Ammunition, and Archaeology: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding 18th-Century Ballistics
Joel Bohy

3:30pm – Privateering and the Revolution at Sea
Emily Murphy
We learn about the land battles that began the American Revolution in Massachusetts but less is known about the merchants and mariners who risked their livelihoods and lives to take the battle to the British on the high seas. Explore the world of the privateersmen and navy sailors who supplied one of Essex County’s major contributions to the revolutionary war effort.

Sunday, January 24

8:30 – 10:30 am. Hands – on Sessions

• Infantry Exercise

• Artillery Exercise

• Informal sewing circle

• Hat steaming and shaping with Matt Brenckle

• Kit and project consultations

• Musket tuning clinic

11am - Researching Historical Impressions
Maggie Parfitt, Alex Cain, Michele Gabrielson
Are you new to the hobby? Are you interested in further researching your particular historical impression? Learn about essential research techniques, sources of good information and where to find them.

12:30 pm Lunch

1:00 pm - Continental Army Uniforms 1776
Henry Cooke
1776 was a year of transition, and one of the challenges was clothing the one-year enlistment army spread between Canada and Georgia and no real system for clothing it, and some of the stopgap measures, especially in Massachusetts, which aimed to remedy it. Learn about Continental Army uniforms of 1776, and the transition from the citizen's army of 1775 with the Bounty Coat and its significance, to the more towards a more European looking army by 1778.

2:00 pm – British Army Adaptations, 1776
Sean Considine
With war now begun in earnest, the British Army needed to adapt to meet the challenges of this new American war. Learn about the changes made in both clothing and tactics that transformed the British Army into a fast and formidable foe!

 

Parking and Accessibility Information:

A small parking lot with accessible parking is available at the Massachusetts National Guard Armory at 91 Everett Street, Concord MA. There is also ample free on-street parking on adjacent streets and additional parking available at the Alcott Elementary School, 93 Laurel Street, Concord, MA. A wheelchair lift is available to enter the building.

 

Thank you to our 2026 event sponsors!

Friends of Minute Man National Park
And also to our venue host, the Massachusetts Army National Guard