#Alarmed! 18th Century Social Media
On view through December 8, 2019
Lexington Historical Society
Lexington, Massachusetts
lexingtonhistory.org
Networks. Posting. Sharing. Memes. These may sound like buzzwords describing 21st century social media, but all had their equivalents in the 18th century, some with the same names. In a time of candlelight and horse drawn carriages, there were many sophisticated communications networks in place. Taverns like Buckman Tavern in Lexington played an important role, providing places for people to discover and share information. Lexington Historical Society’s exhibit “#Alarmed! 18th Century Social Media” explores how news went viral 250 years ago, and lets visitors imagine how colonials might have made use of our modern media tools to kick start a revolution.
Image of members of Lexington Minute Men posing as 18th century militia members arguing a point over a pint at Buckman Tavern. Photographed by Rick Beyer.
