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HYBRID VALLEY TALK: Looking Back 50 Years: 1976 and the Bicentennial Celebration in Woonsocket

  • January 11, 2026 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

  • Museum of Work and Culture

    42 South Main Street
    Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895
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Description

Again this year, all Valley Talks will be presented in a hybrid format, meaning guests have the option to attend the presentation in person at the Museum or virtually through Zoom. In checkout, make sure to select the correct ticketing option that reflects how you would like to attend the presentation.

The Museum of Work & Culture, a Rhode Island Historical Society Museum, will host its annual Valley Talks series featuring six free lectures celebrating the Blackstone Valley's history beginning Sunday, January 11 at 1:30 pm. 

As we enter 2026 and cities and towns prepare to commemorate America's 250th anniversary, join the Museum of Work & Culture for a community conversation reflecting on the nation's last major milestone: the Bicentennial of 1976. Moderated by former Lieutenant Governor and Woonsocket Bicentennial Commission member Roger Begin, and developed in collaboration with Woonsocket Call reporter Joe Nadeau, this program will feature the stories of Woonsocket's bicentennial parade, Julien Bessette's backyard Bicentennial showcase, community-led initiatives, and more. The event will also include images from the Woonsocket Call photo archive, now preserved by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Community members are invited to share their own memories of this landmark year as part of the program, including photographs, yearbooks, and personal mementos that capture the Spirit of '76.

The Museum’s 2026 Valley Talks series is presented by the Museum of Work & Culture Preservation Foundation and the RI AFL-CIO.

Date & Time

Sun, Jan 11, 2026 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Venue Details

Museum of Work and Culture

42 South Main Street
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 Museum of Work and Culture
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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