The BH&PS will be open for Bristol-Warren Art Night! Stop by on May 28th: 5:30-8:30
walking tours begin!
MAY 23 @ 10 AM
REVOLUTIONARY WAR MAYHEM: THE BURNING OF BRISTOL IN 1778
Meet at the BH&PS, 48 Court Street, Bristol
JUNE 13 @ 5 PM
JUNIPER HILL CEMETERY
Meet at Gate, 24 Sherry Avenue, Bristol
$$ Open to the Public
For more information about BH&PS walking tours, visit our CALENDAR or check out our WALKING TOUR page.
UPCOMING LECTURES, TALKS, CONVERSATIONS, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS & MORE...
ORDERED INTO PUBLIC SERVICE: BRISTOL 1776
An all-day living history event.
Saturday, May 23 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Historic reenactors will take over a section of the Town Common for demonstrations of 18th century militia drills as well as the everyday occupations in which Colonial Bristolians worked. There will also be timed presentations about different parts of Bristol’s Revolutionary-era history, including flax work demonstrations and sword demonstrations.
You might also be able to meet some figures from Bristol’s past!
LECTURE: SOME EARLY BIRD OLD-TIME BRISTOL HOUSES
with local historian Rei Battcher
Friday, June 5 @ 2 PM
Rei Battcher will talk about what we know about the construction of some of Bristol's early historic houses, interesting events that occurred within them, and the history of some of the inhabitants that lived in them.
The BH&PS wil be open for the Bristol-Warren Art Night!
Thursday, May 28, from 5:30 to 8:30
2026 EXHIBIT
BRISTOL IMMIGRATION 1850 - 1940:
A COMPLEX & BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY
In this exhibit, we delve into which ethnic groups settled in Bristol during this 90-year period and how they changed over time. We show what they left behind in their home countries, how they travelled here, what their journey was like, and what they found here in Bristol when they arrived.
OPEN WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS
1 to 5 PM
OPEN ALSO FOR THE BRISTOL-WARREN ART NIGHT: 5:30 to 8:30 ON THURSDAY, MAY 28
JOIN A BH&PS BUS TOUR (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
BH&PS BOSTON MUSEUMS AND THE ART OF COLLECTION BUS TOUR
Join the BH&PS in May as we take our “Cabinet of Curiosities” exhibit theme and the art of collecting on the road. Sign up for an exciting bus tour that explores two special collections at the Harvard University's Museum of Natural History, followed by a lunch on the Charles, and then, last but not least, a visit to the very special Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. $$
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026
THE JOHN QUINCY ADAMS BUS TOUR
Join the BH&PS as we expand our exploration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with a trip to historic Quincy to learn more about John Quincy Adams. The Public Historian for the City of Quincy will meet us for a walking tour, and afterwards we will have a guided visit at the Quincy Historical Society. Then it is lunch on your own at Marina Bay followed by a visit to Peacefield, John Quincy Adams' home. $$
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026
JOIN A BH&PS CLUB (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
BH&PS Genealogy Club
The Genie Club meets on the first Saturday of the month from September through June, unless a holiday bumps us to the next Saturday. Drop in and connect with fellow enthusiasts. It’s fun, and open to anyone curious about their roots—whether you're a beginner or a seasoned researcher.
NEXT MEETING ON SATURDAY, JUNE 6 @ 9-10:30 AM
Free and open to the public.
BH&PS Headquarters,
48 Court Street, Bristol, RI
BH&PS Book Club
Together in partnership with the Rogers Free Library, the BH&PS Book Club has a line-up of three books for the spring of 2026. Next up is the second book in the series with a conversation about the book
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence by Pauline Maier.
NEXT MEETING ON SATURDAY, JUNE 6
@ 1-2:30 PM
Free and open to the public.
Rogers Free Library,
525 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
TALES FROM JAIL NEWSLETTER
The KIDS Tales from Jail is back! This time written and researched by Bristol-Warren's Mt. Hope High School sophomore, Max Chartier. And fitting for America's upcoming 250th anniversary, Max has chosen to write about the rebellious "Tea Parties" up and down the eastern seaboard.
DR. KEVIN E. JORDAN, 1945-2026
Here at the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society, we are mourning the recent loss of Kevin Jordan, a BH&PS member and our favorite preservationist for over 50 years. He gave us so much of himself as our mentor, loyal friend, one time president, full time board member, expert historian, fast moving walking tour guide, our building's structural expert, and more.
A Celebration of Life for Kevin is planned at 12 noon on September 26, 2026, at the Bristol Statehouse, 240 High Street, Bristol, RI.
"ON THIS DAY"
A RETELLING OF KING PHILIP'S WAR
Are you following the BH&PS's retelling of King Philips War? You can receive an email as each story unfolds, day by day. It's on substack as KPW350 and you can sign up for the emails by clicking below.
King Philip’s War was a pivotal moment in both New England and American history. Rooted in the historical interactions between the Indigenous People and the colonists of Plymouth Colony, its ramifications and legacy continue to influence the present.