Hartwell Tavern came to life on June 1st as park staff and living history volunteers took a step back in time with visitors on the 250th anniversary of the closing of Boston Harbor by British warships on June 1, 1774. The port closure, intended as punishment for the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, represented a dramatic escalation in the political crisis, pushing the people of Massachusetts to the brink of rebellion.
The tavern was full of activity as visitors were welcomed to participate in the conversations about the port closure, political violence, and the role of media literacy in our society.
Educator and historical interpreter Michele Gabrielson presented a special program on 18th-century media literacy and bias as part of the park’s 250th-Anniversary Commemoration Speaker Series. Media and information literacy are essential skills to develop in order to be an informed citizen, whether in the 21st or 18th century. In this discussion, Michele helped visitors analyze perspective, language, and bias in 18th-century newspapers with a critical lens to learn how news was consumed in Colonial America, especially surrounding the Boston Port Act of 1774.
Friends of Minute Man National Park sponsors the 250th-Anniversary Commemoration Speaker Series through a generous grant from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.
Support the Friends of Minute Man by becoming a member today!
Image above: Colonists at Hartwell Tavern discuss the recent closure of the Port of Boston. Image below: Michele Gabrielson presents on 18th-century media literacy and bias.
