The Long Fuse: The Vineyard and the Birth of the Revolution
The Long Fuse: The Vineyard and the Birth of the Revolution
The path to the American Revolution began long before the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord — and Vineyarders played meaningful roles in shaping that history. Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, a descendant of one of the Island’s earliest English families, fueled revolutionary thought from the pulpit of his Boston church. Thomas Chase, a Tisbury-born tavern-keeper and distiller, helped organize resistance as a member of the Loyal Nine and the Sons of Liberty. By late 1774, all three Vineyard towns had endorsed the Continental Congress’s articles of protest in response to British policies that threatened maritime trade.
Join MVM Research Librarian Bow Van Riper for an illuminating look at the events that brought the Vineyard to the brink of Revolution and connected Island experience to the broader movement for independence.
NEW: Join us at 4pm at First Light Cafe in our Linnemann Pavilion to purchase drinks, light bites, and mix with Museum staff and fellow attendees before the program!
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | April 21, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |