In 1915, Southampton hosted its 275th anniversary with a pageant in Agawam Park. The celebration was unprecedented in its time, consisting of staged performances, gatherings of Shinnecock natives, costumed pilgrims and soldiers, musicians, orators, children marching, a whaling rally, and many other events. Many of these happenings were documented by the photographs of George Morris, as well as the Pathé News film of the celebration. Fast forward to 2015 - marking the 375th anniversary of Southampton - and the celebration has expanded to a full year of events and gatherings to honor Southampton's history. A century makes a remarkable difference, adding new methods and activities for celebrating. These included the Halsey House gala, multiple history lectures and cultural performances, tours of both the houses of worship and the remarkable homes that celebrate Southampton's architectural history. This lecture will focus primarily on the 1915 Pageant and its forms of celebration, and will compare them to the 2015 year-long celebration. If you need assistance setting up Zoom, contact techsupport@myrml.org. Co-Sponsored with the Rogers Memorial Library.
