09/30/2026
Don't miss out, take advantage of early bird registration!
The Charlton Historical Society (CHS) and the Swan Tavern-Leicester Historical Museum will collaborate on a full day program exploring how the American Revolution shaped Central Massachusetts on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day includes tours of the Swan and Rider Taverns, a tour of the Number 2 Schoolhouse, a walking tour of Leicester Common, presentations on the Marquis de Lafayette and the Declaration of Independence, and breakfast and lunch. The cost is $35 per person before October 3rd and $40 the day of the event. This event is limited to 50 people. Participants will drive in their own vehicles to the two sites. In addition to walking, the day will include climbing one flight of stairs.
Roadside taverns like the Swan built in 1768, played a key role in starting the American Revolution. Come learn how it was in the Swan that the term “minutemen” was first uttered. The Frenchmen like the Marquis de Lafayette were essential in helping us win the Revolution. Fifty years after the Revolution Lafayette returned to the United States for a triumphant tour of the new country. Learn what his stop at the Rider Tavern was like. The ideals of the Revolution would be a central part of American curriculums in one-room schoolhouses like the Number 2 one that is part of this full day of activities.
About CHS
The Charlton Historical Society collects, preserves and shares the history of Charlton, Massachusetts. The Society maintains the Number Two Schoolhouse and the historic Rider Tavern, which serves as home to the Society. The CHS regularly offers tours, talks, and activities for all ages in the Rider Tavern, a twenty-two-room turnpike inn restored to its original 1799 condition. The private, nonprofit CHS also offers programs throughout the community. For more information https://charltonhistoricalsociety.com.
About the Swan Tavern-Leicester Historical Museum:
The Swan Tavern-Leicester Historical Museum is Leicester’s official historical museum, operated by the Town of Leicester Historical Commission, an agency of local government responsible for directing all historical preservation and education efforts under Massachusetts General Law. The Friends of Swan Tavern is a registered non-profit group that assists with fundraising efforts, restoration, and repair work, as well as the operation of the tavern as a historical museum, community, and education center. The museum conducts rotating historical displays and educational programs on local and regional history.
