Newton: The City We Make reimagines the entire first floor of the Jackson Homestead as an immersive exhibition exploring how ordinary people, over centuries, have shaped the city we know today. Rather than presenting history as a single, linear narrative, this exciting exhibit centers visitors as participants in an ongoing civic story.

The exhibition is organized around three core themes:

• On This Land explores how Indigenous stewardship, colonization, industry, transportation, and suburbanization reshaped Newton’s landscape.

• Making Newton Home highlights successive waves of immigrants and newcomers who built community, livelihoods, and cultural life.

• Creating Change traces how Newtonians engaged in movements for abolition, women’s suffrage, civil rights, labor reform, environmental activism, and peace.

The exhibit invites visitors of all ages to explore Newton’s history through objects, images, personal stories, and interactive experiences that connect local history to present-day questions of belonging, change, and shared responsibility.

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This exhibit would not be possible without the continued generosity of our community. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.