Voices from the Grave: Heroes of the American Revolution, an MA250 Event

Honor the legacy of the American Revolution and Springfield’s contribution at war and on the homefront, by joining us at our commemorative “Voices from the Grave: Heroes of the American Revolution” cemetery tour at Springfield Cemetery, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Seven historical residents will be featured on the tour, including John Bryant III (1742-1816), first Armory Superintendent, who lost his arm in battle; Hannah Mason Bryant (1756-1829), who sewed flannel cartridges for the Continental army; Nathaniel Brewer (1711-1809), Deacon of First Church for 53 years, and a joiner by trade; and Susan Freedom (1784-1803), a Black indentured servant whose name poignantly symbolizes the struggle for freedom and identity among African Americans in the post-Revolutionary War era.

Join the tour to see who else from Springfield’s revolutionary history will be highlighted! This tour will highlight the oldest gravestones and residents ever featured on the “Voices from the Grave” tours, ongoing for more than a decade.

Hosted by the Springfield Preservation Trust and developed by historian Derek Strahan and SPT Secretary Michael Stevens, the “Heroes of the American Revolution” tour is an hour-long experience through Springfield Cemetery. It is led by docents who take visitors on a tour to graves of interesting cemetery residents, where costumed interpreters speak about each person of intrigue.

Hour-long walking tours will depart every fifteen minutes starting at 1:00PM at Springfield Cemetery, 171 Maple Street. Tickets are $20 for Springfield Preservation Trust members, and $25 for non-members. (Use promo code "SPTMember" if you are a Trust member, for the $5 discount.) This event is held rain or shine!

This event is supported by a grant, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) within the Executive Office of Economic Development, in celebration of the American Revolution’s 250th Anniversary. Thank you, MOTT!