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(Bitter)sweet History: Exploring 18th Century Chocolate from Bean to Beverage with Michele Gabrielson

  • February 14, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  • John Brown House Museum

    52 Power Street
    Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Ticket Price $5.00-$11.63 Buy Tickets
Description

Join historian and educator Michele Gabrielson on Saturday, February 14th at 11am for a delectable journey through taste, tradition, and transformation in the world of 18th-century chocolate. This interactive demonstration explores the fascinating history of chocolate during the 18th century, a pivotal time when this once-exclusive beverage became a beloved delicacy across the world. We will examine the origins of chocolate, tracing its journey from Mesoamerica to its introduction in Spain and subsequent spread across the continent and back to the American colonies. The program concludes by sampling chocolate that would have been enjoyed by colonial Rhode Islanders!  

 

Michele Gabrielson is a history teacher and historic interpreter of the 18th century.  When she is not teaching in the classroom, Michele can be found leading tours, lectures, and demonstrations at historic sites in the greater Boston area.  She specializes in interpreting the history of colonial women printers, the stories of loyalist refugees, of 18th-century chocolate makers, and, more recently, portraying revolutionary playwright and poet Mercy Otis Warren.  She was awarded a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance for her programming titled “The Revolutionary Classroom” and named a finalist for the 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year.  She has been named the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year for 2025 and the 2025 winner of the Fred Graham Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

 

Admission to the program is available via online ticketing or at the door. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Date & Time

Sat, Feb 14, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Venue Details

John Brown House Museum

52 Power Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 John Brown House Museum
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


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