Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for July 2026

Revolutionaries in White: A Look Across Three Centuries of Bridal Fashion (Continuing from June)

Brides didn't always wear white, but in the 19th century, a number of factors combined to make that the preferred color choice. Today, white remains dominant for American brides as well as for brides in many other lands. Revolutionaries in White will display gowns spanning from the 19th to the 21st century, offering insights into rapid social changes, with groupings that include multi-generational family gowns and the unique 1946 Parachute Dress with its spectacular 13-foot train. The museum is open from 10-1 on Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday. Admission is free but donations are very appreciated.

Sunday, July 12 -- Our `Second Sunday Speaker' topic is `Looking Back at Franklin's 1976 Federal Bicentennial,' delivered by Jim Johnston.

Jim Johnston, a retired Franklin history teacher and author, was also deeply involved with getting the town's 1976 Federal Bicentennial celebration off the ground and making sure it was successful. The museum will show some of its historic images of the event and Jim, always an entertaining speaker, will share stories, kudos, and maybe a few brickbats regarding the town's celebration of half-a-century ago. The museum is open from 1-4 on Sunday and the program starts at about 1:15. There is no charge but donations are encouraged and appreciated.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM (except as noted above), Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM,. Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786. Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.org