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Calling All Local WWII Veterans!Every October, as part of our “Battle for the Airfield” WWII reenactment, we host a WWII veterans round table discussion, giving us the unique opportunity to learn about history from those who lived it. This year, we are looking for as many local WWII veterans as possible to attend. The round table will be hosted once a day on both Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th, at the American Heritage Museum, located at 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA. So, if you know a WWII veteran that may be interested in sharing their story, please reach out to our Education Coordinator, Jim Carroll, at Jcarroll@AmericanHeritageMuseum.org for more details. We would be more than happy to host you!#AmericanHeritageMuseum #AmericanVeterans #VisitMA #LivingHistory ... See MoreSee Less
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Get ready for some "Air Time" this weekend at History Takes Flight – Historic Aviation Weekend! Flying demos take place from 12:00pm to 1:30pm and Maj. Heather Penney, one of the F-16 pilots sent to intercept Flight 93 on 9/11, speaks at 2:30pm about her experiences that day, 25 years ago. More info and tickets at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/history-takes-flight-historic-aviation-weekend-september-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Operating the .50 Cal on an M4A3 Sherman Tank in First-Person!#AmericanHeritageMuseum #visitma #MilitaryHistory #historymuseum #WWII ... See MoreSee Less
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Speaker Series – Cold War Massachusetts: Hidden Infrastructure and the Legacy of Preparedness

December 12, 2025 @ 2:30 pm, ending 3:30 pm

Free with standard museum admission

This presentation explores the pivotal but often overlooked role Massachusetts played during the Cold War, when military and civil defense infrastructure—such as bunkers, radars, and missile launchers—were embedded into the state’s landscape. At the center of the story is the Framingham bunker, the nation’s first blast-resistant state emergency operations center, built to ensure continuity of government in the event of a nuclear strike. Drawing on archival research, site visits, and more than 30 years of experience in public safety and emergency management, author and historian Joshua Shanley examines how Cold War-era planning shaped modern emergency preparedness—and why its legacy still matters today.

About the Presenter
Joshua Shanley is a historian, educator, and emergency management professional with over 35 years of experience in public safety, including roles as a firefighter-paramedic and emergency management director. He currently serves with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Shanley is the author of several historical works, including Cold War Massachusetts, which examines the state’s hidden role in Cold War civil defense. His work blends archival research with real-world experience to explore how past infrastructure and policy continue to shape today’s preparedness strategies.

Details

Date:
December 12, 2025
Time:
2:30 pm, ending 3:30 pm
Cost:
Free with standard museum admission
Event Category:
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SATURDAY - DLX EVENTS CAR SHOW 10AM-1PM - Museum Visitors be Aware

If you are planning to visit the American Heritage Museum on Saturday, August 29th, please be aware that the DLX Events Car Show is taking place on the museum grounds and traffic may be heavy between 10:00am to 11:30am. Please note that this event is a separate admission from the museum and tickets to the DLX event may be purchased at the link below. Museum admission is not included with the event ticket.