Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

In 1974, a contingent of Franklin elementary school students, led by beloved teacher Parma Johnson, convinced the Massachusetts legislature to name the useful and attractive ladybug, as the state insect. 

Fifty years later, in coordination with the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Ladybug Trail walk, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open for extended Saturday hours, from 9-3 and will feature:

• Convenient access to restrooms and trail maps for trail walkers

• Sale of special hand-crafted ladybug items (key chains and book marks) created by local crafter, Rhondy Rosita, with all sales benefiting the museum. 

• At 11 AM, State Representative Jeff Roy will speak about the Ladybug kids and about the legislative process then and now – an informative topic for kids and adults!

• The Museum will also be showing throughout the day, a short Chronicle segment about the Ladybug Trail and a presentation about the 1974 ladybug kids and the 1984 Kennedy School kids that went to the statehouse in 1984, for the 10th anniversary.

• Vintage newspaper clips and ladybug outfits used by Franklin children in their 1974 ‘lobbying’ effort.

• And, late in the afternoon, we plan to release live native ladybugs at the nearby Methodist Church garden as a finale for the celebration.

• All Saturday events are rain or shine (the Downtown Partnership’s Trail Walk, however, has a rain date of Sunday, April 21). The museum will only be open for regular hours, 1-4 pm, on that day.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, in downtown Franklin, near the fire station. You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at

http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/