(Bitter)sweet History: Exploring 18th Century Chocolate from Bean to Beverage with Michele Gabrielso
Schedule
Sat, 14 Feb, 2026 at 11:00 am
UTC-05:00Location
John Brown House | Providence, RI
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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.
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Where is it happening?
John Brown House, 52 Power St,Providence, Rhode Island, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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