On Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 10am – 4pm, discover how the printed word helped fuel the American Revolution. During this special Saturdays in the 1700s program, living historian Gary Gregory, who is the founder and proprietor of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, will visit the Museum at the John Brown House for an engaging program that brings the historic printing press to life.
In the 18th century, printing presses served as the era’s mass media, spreading news, political ideas, and calls to action across the colonies. Through a lively demonstration, Gregory will bring Revolutionary-era printing to life as he showcases the art of typesetting and highlights different kinds of 18th-century printing presses. He will also share what happened when news of the Declaration of Independence arrived in American cities, along with the extensive research behind his exact reproductions of 1776 Declaration broadsides.
A former Fortune 500 sales manager who left the corporate world to pursue his passion for Revolutionary history, Gregory founded the Printing Office of Edes & Gill in 2007 and has spent decades researching and recreating the craft that helped shape the nation.
Additionally, visitors can create their own historically inspired button using reproductions of printed documents from the Rhode Island Historical Society archives.
Guests can register here. Tickets are free for RIHS members and $10 for GA.