Boston by Century: How Historic Places Tell the Tale *In-Person* *NEW*

This class explores Boston's remarkable history a century at a time, inspired by historic buildings and other sites that help tell the story. We’ll highlight key aspects of the 17th to 19th centuries in Boston, in political, religious, and cultural domains. How did conflict between British colonists and Native Americans come to a head in a 17th century war of resistance? How did a revolutionary fight for liberty coexist with slavery? How did waves of immigration change the city, and where do we see the traces? We’ll touch on all of these topics and more, alongside relevant historic sites. And because Boston's history is central to U.S. history, we'll find implications that reach far and wide. The course will include illustrated talks with time for discussion. Instructor: Elizabeth Merrick

Sections

Instructor

Elizabeth L. Merrick is a lifelong aficionado of historic buildings and is fascinated by Massachusetts history. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University. Following a career in health services research, she has devoted much of her time to pursuing her love of all things historical. She published "Be There Then: A Guide to Exploring Greater Boston's Historic House Museums" in 2014 and also served as a tour guide at the Royall House and Slave Quarters for 10 years. Since 2017, Elizabeth has taught classes at CCAE on Boston-area historic sites and local history.