The country’s 250th birthday has sparked record-breaking visitation at cultural institutions, introduced a flock of new customers to the town’s restaurants and given Arlington’s origin story — often nudged into the shadows — a moment in the sun.
“We’ve shed some light on Arlington’s history,” said Beth Locke, executive director of Arlington Chamber of Commerce. “There’s been some good buzz about it, and Arlington’s businesses have definitely benefited.”
While some municipalities have voiced concerns surrounding a lack of state funding for 250th celebrations, Arlington officials and cultural institutions say government grants have played a significant role in kicking off commemorative events, which have heightened excitement around the town’s tourism sector.
Some are looking to keep that momentum going.
“As a group, as a town, we are beginning to focus on more ways to get dollars being spent in Arlington,” said Locke.
Across Massachusetts, organizations big and small have invested generously in commemorating the milestone, said Jonathan Lane, executive director of Revolution 250, a nonprofit aiding efforts to coordinate 250th events throughout the commonwealth.
“There’s a real collaborative spirit coming out of the 250th, particularly here in Massachusetts,” said Lane. “That’s really what’s going to make us a winner in the end.”
The state’s role
Through two rounds of a competitive grant program, the state has allocated $3.5 million to an array of municipalities and institutions to help fund 250th events.
“The grant programs were specifically designed to bolster the tourism industry,” said Lane. “If you couldn’t pitch the idea that you were going to put heads in beds, chances of you getting the grant were pretty slim.”
Lane said when the first 250th grant program — totaling $1.5 million — was rolled out in 2024, the state received over 130 applications. The combined fiscal amount applicants requested was just over $8 million, he said.
“That says everything you need to know about the desperate need and desire of these communities to do 250th anniversary-related activities,” said Lane. “As far as I remember, nobody got the amount they requested.”
Arlington received $100,000 in grants through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, according to Katie Luczai, Arlington’s economic development coordinator.
The state funneled $60,000 into public art, library programming and “increasing awareness” for the reenactment of the Battle of Menotomy, the longest battle of April 19, 1775. Another $40,000 was secured for the Foot of the Rocks Battlefield Memorial.
“The Town of Arlington has relied significantly on state funding and state level staffing support to make these celebrations possible,” wrote Luczai.
Matt Beres, executive director of the Arlington Historical Society, said state funding for the institution — primarily acquired through grants — is solely project-based. “We couldn’t be doing these projects without their support,” said Beres. “They are vital projects and they really help us in the long term.”
These projects include the society’s commemorative exhibition, “Untold Stories,” which was unveiled April 19 and aims to spotlight often overlooked narratives hidden within Arlington’s history.
“There’s a lot more history outside the 250th that, frankly, doesn’t get talked about enough,” said Beres.
Lane views the anniversary as a chance to platform the thousands of stories of underrepresented historical players — including free and enslaved people of color, prisoners of war and women — who are too often silenced in stories of the state’s founding.
“We are afraid of the complexity of our history,” he said. “We are not always honest actors, to be sure, but at the same time, our founding narrative is so compelling.”
“What happened here in the 1760s and 1770s absolutely changed the world.”
‘A footnote in the textbooks’
While town officials and cultural institutions say state funding has been “generous,” Arlington has had less luck securing support from its regional tourism office and recognition in history classes.
“We’re just a little bit disconnected,” said Locke. “We’re not on anybody’s top priority list.”
The state is divided into 16 individual tourism regions, each marketed by a Regional Tourism Council. Arlington is under the purview of Meet Boston, an RTC aiming to enhance tourism-related businesses in Boston, Cambridge, and the towns scattered near the cities’ borders.
“Given that Arlington is included in an area so focused on Boston, it would be good to see a strategic plan from Meet Boston to give more attention to not just Arlington, but all the municipalities included in their region,” wrote Luczai.
The attractions and cultural institutions in the towns beyond Boston cement the region’s status as a “top destination for travelers worldwide,” she added.
Meet Boston did not respond to a request for comment.
“The big towns, the towns that have a story that’s been out there for a longer period of time, Boston, Lexington, Concord, they’re certainly receiving the bulk of the attention,” said Locke.
This sentiment is reflected in the history books.
Arlington — the birthplace of Uncle Sam, site of the oldest free children’s public library, and battleground for the bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War’s first day — is often forgotten in conversations centered on the country’s fight for freedom.
The town’s “feuding” neighbors, Concord and Lexington, tend to steal the spotlight, said Beres.
“It’s easier to say Lexington-Concord, instead of Lexington, Concord and Menotomy,” he said. “We’ve never really had a leg in the race.”
The town’s name-changing habit — bouncing from Menotomy to West Cambridge and finally to Arlington in 1867 — may have also played a role in muffling its story, he added.
Beres, who hopes to see more of Arlington’s story taught in American classrooms, even as just a “footnote in the textbooks,” said the 250th has provided the opportunity to promote the town’s heritage.
“I want the town to get the proper recognition it deserves in the narrative,” he said.
‘Continue the momentum’
Visitation to the Jason Russell House & Museum tripled this year, said Beres. On April 19 alone, a record-breaking 505 visitors shuffled into the museum.
While the 250th played a role in attracting tourists, a visit on July 4 from actor Kurt Russell, the sixth great-grandson of Jason Russell, helped up the numbers, said Beres. The actor’s visit to the historic home, where his ancestor was killed by British troops, drew global attention to the museum.
“We’re really trying to focus and continue the momentum into next year,” said Beres.
While it’s difficult to quantify a rise in tourism levels, Locke said she’s noticed an uptick in the number of people cycling down the Minuteman Bikeway — a sure sign the town has seen an increase in visitors.
Luczai wrote that planned community events, such as Arlington’s 250th birthday, Town Day and Octoberfest, always bring crowds of new visitors to the town’s cultural institutions. Collaborating with Lexington, Concord and Lincoln for 250th events also elevated Arlington’s status as a tourist destination, she added.
“We had some nice business overflow coming from the events in Lexington and Concord, because neither of those towns have a lot of restaurants,” said Locke. “Arlington was often the first stop.”
Some hope the town’s tourism sector will continue to grow, driven by the excitement of 250th commemorations.
“We’re not going to have another 250th anniversary, but we’re building more and more reasons to come to Arlington,” said Locke.
“We want to be more ingrained in communities,” said Beres. “We want more people to be involved, not just to help us out, but also to offer suggestions, offer ideas, so that we can reach more of the Arlington community.”
He also emphasized the importance of each donation to the museum, adding that up to 40% of the society’s day-to-day operating costs are covered by individual donations and income from admissions.
The historic sites and societies of Massachusetts “don’t exist in a vacuum,” said Lane.
“They need help and support, and we need to do more,” he said. “The heart and soul of what is being done for the Semiquincentennial is being done in communities by private citizens and private organizations all across Massachusetts.”