Explore the “storied” history of The Republican newspaper as it marks its bicentennial year.

This special exhibit includes video highlights from the newspaper’s archives, showcasing the people, events, and activities that shaped not only the region, but the nation and the world. Visitors can utilize an interactive screen to view the most important front-page headlines that made the news month to month, and trace important historical events and figures in the paper’s history 1824 to today.

Samuel Bowles II traveled up the Connecticut River from Hartford with his family and his printing press to start a weekly newspaper in Springfield. Its first edition appeared on September 8th, 1824. Wearing the combined hats of editor, printer and entrepreneur, Bowles made a success of his paper, passing it to his son, Samuel Bowles III, who expanded it to a daily in 1844. Under Samuel Bowles III, The Republican achieved national recognition, playing a crucial role in ending slavery nationwide.

The Republican stayed in the hands of the Bowles family for 136 years, then in 1960, it was sold to another American family headed by Samuel I. Newhouse of New York, another classic entrepreneur.  The Newhouse family still owns The Republican and operates one of the largest family-owned-and-operated print and electronic news businesses in the world.