John Brown: America250 Events!
John Brown: America250 Events!
Upcoming Events
-
John Brown and Abolitionist Women
March 16, 2026
via ZoomThe roundtable will be hosted by John Brown biographer Louis A. DeCaro Jr., Ph.D. and will feature historian Margaret Washington, Ph.D., and environmental psychologist Shawndel Fraser, M.A.
The event is free, open to the public, and donations are accepted. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
The discussion will extend beyond the bond between Brown and Harriet Tubman to such abolitioniosts as:
Elizabeth A. Gloucester
Jane Harper
Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Edmonia Lewis
Mary Ellen Pleasant
-
Cradle-to-Grave John Brown Week
May 5-10
Details TBAJohn Brown Week runs from Cinco de Mayo to Mother’s Day and takes place in Torrington, CT, where Brown was born, and North Elba, NY, where he rests. John Brown week celebrates community, truth, and family values.
Tuesday: Cinco de Mayo Theme: Resistance and Responsibility — Freedom in the Americas
Thursday: Roundtable: Descendants of John Brown with Alice Mecoy, Marty Brown and someone from the Owen Brown Gravesite Committee
Saturday: TWO John Brown Birthday Parties: In Torrington, we’ll walk the connector trail from the Five Points Arts Center to the John Brown birthplace, where we will enjoy cake, cider, maybe a beard contest, and some speakers before walking back to the Five Points Arts Center for a free concert by abolitionist singer-songwriter Reggie Harris. Sponsored by the Torrington Historical Society.
In North Elba, John Brown Day will take place at the farm, details to come.
Sunday: Mary Brown’s Mother’s Day Brunch: In Torrington, Brinx will serve a special “light brunch” complete with mimosas. More details to come…
-
Art Installation: Americans Who Tell the Truth
Date: May 1 - Oct 31
At the John Brown Farm on John Brown Road in North Elba, NY. -
Musical Tour: Singing Our Journey to Freedom
June 12 - 25
Locations: North Elba, NY, Torrington, CT, Harper’s Ferry, WV, and Sharpsburg MDLed by Dr. Kathy Bullock, Singing Our Journey to Freedom Tour is not just a music tour, it is a moving classroom tracing the unfinished work of emancipation across America. Songs of Slavery and Emancipation are primary-source historical documents in the form of song.
North Elba, NY June 17
Torrington, CT, June 22
Harper’s Ferry, WV. June XX
Sharpsburg MD, June XX
-
Readings: Declaration of Liberty & Provisional Constitution
July 4-5
Location: John Brown Farm, North Elba, NYActor Ian Barford will read John Brown’s Declaration of Liberty and his Provisional Constitution for the Subterranean Pass-way community designed to break the system of slavery through hopelessness and attrition.
-
Philosopher Fantasy Camp Roundtable
July 20
Location: John Brown Farm, North Elba, NYJohn Brown and the Transcendentalists
Dr. Lou is joined by Nell Painter and David Reynolds for a deep look into ‘deeper insights’ into “The Old Man.”You can attend live of view the live stream. Details to come.
-
History on Tap
October 15, 2026
Allstadt’s Ale House
408 Alstadts Hill Rd
Harpers Ferry, WVAn evening talk by Jim Silvia, a Harper’s Ferry tour guide, titled “Liquid Courage – The Townspeople’s reaction to the John Brown Raid.”
-
Pilgrimage to Harpers Ferry
October 16-18
Locations: Harper’s Ferry, WVA Harper’s Ferry BROWNIAC MEETUP!
While there probably will not be extra room in our AirBnB, there will certainly be room to walk with us as we explore Harper’s Ferry, pepper Dr. Lou with questions, and enjoy the scenery.
-
A moonlight hike at John Brown's birthplace
Dec 6
Location: John Brown Birthplace, John Brown Rd., Torrington, CTMemorial moonlight hike at John Brown birthplace—walk in the footsteps of young John Brown in memorial of his execution in this annual memorial hike. It is on flat ground and less than a mile, but make sure Captain Brown would approve of your footwear.
List your #JohnBrown250 Event
Let us know what you’ve got going on in your neck of the woods and we will help promote it!
John Brown: America250 Previous Events
-
John Brown and Abolitionist Women
March 16, 2026
via ZoomThe roundtable will be hosted by John Brown biographer Louis A. DeCaro Jr., Ph.D. and will feature historian Margaret Washington, Ph.D., and environmental psychologist Shawndel Fraser, M.A.
The event is free, open to the public, and donations are accepted. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
The discussion will extend beyond the bond between Brown and Harriet Tubman to such abolitionists as:
Elizabeth A. Gloucester
Jane Harper
Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Edmonia Lewis
Mary Ellen Pleasant
-
Film screening: “His Truth is Marching On”
February 26, 2026
New Milford Public Library
New Milford, CTIn person and online availability.
His Truth Is Marching On is a short documentary that traces the history of American music from 1619 to hip-hop through the Civil War song “John Brown’s Body,” written about a kid from Connecticut who changed the world. Featuring more than 50 musicians from NWCT, it’s been screened at Black History Film Festivals in DC and Atlanta, and earned national and state history awards.
The producer will introduce the project, answer questions, and unveil what's next.
-
John Brown and Social Justice
February 16, 2026
via ZoomIn this inaugural John Brown America250 roundtable discussion, Dr. Louis A. DeCaro Jr. hosts two distinguished scholars on the topic of social justice activism as it relates to John Brown’s life and legacy.
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an EMMY Award-winning writer, a professor of constitutional law at John Jay College, playwright, social justice attorney, and the author of eight books. Her most recent book is titled “A Protest History of the United States” which includes John Brown. Prof. Browne-Marshall was a John Brown Fellow, in 2023, and a speaker at the John Brown Lives! Long Table, in 2024.
Bill Ayers is Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago (retired), and his most recent book is When Freedom is the Question Abolition is the Answer.