Boston Bombshells

Join us as we explore mayhem, murder, and mischief in the “Hub of the Universe”— our own Boston, Massachusetts. The course presentations will cover the Great Fire of 1872, the Police Strike of 1919, the arson spree of the 1980s, the 1999 Deer Island Tunnel tragedy, and the 1917 Halifax Explosion (and why it means Boston receives a free Christmas tree every year). We will visit the Boston Athenaeum’s special collections to view materials related to the Great Fire, and we will enjoy a private tour of the Parker House with historian Susan Wilson, who will share stories of the mischief long associated with the landmark hotel. Both tours will be followed by opportunities to socialize.

Group Leader: Maureen Marcucci
Venue: The Engineering Center
Meets on: Wednesday 1 PM to 3 PM
Starting: April 8
Sessions: 6
Class Size: 20
Teaching Style:
Weekly Preparation:
Maureen Marcucci is an active docent at the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Athenaeum. A few years ago, she facilitated tours of the Athenaeum’s Great Fire of Boston Exhibit, which inspired the idea for this new class. Maureen has taught BHS classes on Massachusetts governors, Civil War history, and Frozen: an exploration of the Arctic, Antarctic, and the history of ice. This class we will raise the temperature! Maureen facilitates a Civil War reading group and chairs the Civil War Committee at the Union Club of Boston, which annually bestows the Governor Andrew award for Civil War scholarship.