General Patton re-enactor Gib Buckbee will be at AHM this weekend. He will be presenting in front of the Battle of the Bulge exhibit.
Looking for something to do with the kids on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Join us at the American Heritage Museum, open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday, January 19th! Come celebrate and explore history with us! 🎉📚 #MLK #historymuseum #visitma
Get a glimpse inside the first tank a visitor experiences at the American Heritage Museum - the M1917 from World War I. The American M1917 was the U.S. licensed copy of the French Renault FT, a compact World War I tank that pioneered the classic turreted layout still used today. Small, light, and mechanically straightforward, it represented America’s earliest steps into armored warfare.![]()
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This tour takes you around the outside, touching on its surprisingly complex running gear, and the many differences from its French ancestor. We then go inside its tight crew compartment, showcasing the driver’s station, and the turret’s interesting weapon setup.![]()
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The American M1917 was the U.S. licensed copy of the French Renault FT, a compact World War I tank that pioneered the classic turreted layout still used toda...
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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.
