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Berkshires250

Celebrate our country’s 250th birthday in the state where it all began! Join us in the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts for on-going celebrations of this huge milestone!

Events

Celebrate the big 250 birthday with events all across the Berkshires. From art and culture to outdoor adventure, you can step into history #intheberkshires.

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Massachusetts is a state of firsts. The first public school, park, and library. The first state constitution. Follow along with the revolutionary celebration across the state.

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See all the excitement for the 250 anniversary with #MA250 posts on Instagram! Use the hashtag #Berkshire250 for your adventures in the Berkshires.

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Join in the fun of this big anniversary! Share your photos, events, and more with the #Berkshires250 and #MA250 tags.

The Revolutionary Berkshires

Massachusetts has been a trailblazer for 250 years, with many of the amazing firsts right here in the Berkshires!

The Berkshires Quiet Rebellion

The Berkshires, though seemingly far removed from the more celebrated events in Boston, Lexington, and Concord, are part of the Commonwealth that saw many quieter acts of rebellion in the early days of the resistance. The first county convention in the state was held in Stockbridge on July 6, 1774, and the first open resistance to British judicial rule was the closing of the Great Barrington courts on August 16, 1774.

Subsequent events set the county apart and will be commemorated in the upcoming years – the Knox Trail winds its way through several Berkshire Towns (1776/2026) and Thomas Allen or the “Fighting Parson” from Pittsfield led troops into battle in Bennington (1777/2027).