Past Projects
From history strolls to school visits and recorded roundtable talks, we've been hard at work finding ways to bring Cambridge history to the community.
(Please click here for upcoming events)
Ackermann Room Project Unveiling — March, 2024
This event marked the culmination of the Ackermann Room Project, begun in 2021 by then-City Councilor Denise Simmons. The project aimed to replace portraiture in the Ackermann Room at City Hall to highlight a diverse group of Cambridge women who have lived lives of notable public service to the city. The unveiling of the newly-installed portraits took place at City Hall the evening of March 6th, 2024.
— Click here to view the project page —
Black History Stroll — February, 2024
In this year's annual Black History Month exhibit, the Cambridge Museum recognized Black trailblazers in Cambridge. This gallery-style poster exhibit was displayed in the Kendall Center Public Lobby (355 - 325 Main St) from February to March 2024.
Katherine "Kittie" Knox Commemoration — March, 2023
In collaboration with the Fletcher Maynard Academy, the Cambridge Museum organized a presentation by City Councilor Denise Simmons, historian Lorenz Finison, and arts advocate James Pierre. They discussed the history of cycling, the story of the Cambridge-born athlete and activist Kittie Knox, and the ways in which students can get involved with cycling in Cambridge. Supported by MIT and the CRA, the event took place on March 31st.
Black History Stroll — February, 2023
Building on the success of the 2022 Black History Stroll, the Cambridge Museum put together another exhibit for Black History Month — this time focussing on Black entrepreneurs and philanthropists. This gallery-style exhibit was displayed in the Kendall Center Public Lobby (355 - 325 Main St) from February to mid-March 2023.
— Click here to view the exhibit page —
Not Cambridge, but Anmoughcawgen: Reclaiming Indigenous Peoples' Narratives in Cambridge (CCTV Roundtable Talk) — November, 2022
Cambridge City Councilor E. Denise Simmons sat down with David Shane Lowry (PhD & 2021-2022 MIT Distinguished Fellow in Native American Studies) and Sage Carbone (Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe & Cambridge Resident) to discuss Indigenous peoples' past, present, and future in Cambridge. This talk follows up on a Policy Order calling for the creation of an advisory group for finding ways to better uplift the voices and acknowledge the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Cambridge.
Watch the talk here: https://vimeo.com/769507269
Cambridge Pride: Looking Backward/Looking Ahead (CCTV Roundtable Talk) — June, 2022
Cambridge City Councilor Denise Simmons moderated a Pride Month talk on the topic of the past, the present, and the future of LGBTQ+ rights in Cambridge. Panel members included: Sue Hyde, Matthew Martin, Timothy McCarthy, and Puja Kranz-Howe.
Watch the talk here: www.cctvcambridge.org/node/851033
Black Women's History Stroll — February, 2022
Following the success of the Summer Pride History Stroll, during Black History Month the Cambridge Museum set up another stroll in Central Square. This exhibit focused on important women of color in Cambridge.
Summer Pride History Stroll — July 2021
Continuing the celebration of Pride beyond June, the Cambridge Museum set up an exhibit in Harvard Square that focused on LGBTQ+ history in Cambridge. The exhibit featured plaques with images and stories from the 1800s to the present day.