Mass 250 Commemorative Plate Becomes Most Popular Specialty Plate in State History

07:43AM / Saturday, August 22, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Registry of Motor Vehicles Division (RMV) today announced that it has issued over 100,000 commemorative 250th Anniversary license plates, making it the most popular specialty plate in state history.

Introduced in May 2025, the plate celebrates 250 years of American independence and Massachusetts’ central role in the founding of the nation. The distinctive blue background with a white and red design features the year "1776" surrounded by 13 stars representing the original colonies, and the phrase "250 Years of Independence" across the bottom.

"The story of America's independence begins in Massachusetts, and these plates have become a symbol of the pride people feel in that history," said Governor Maura Healey. "Reaching 100,000 plates is an incredible milestone, and it's exciting to see so many residents taking part in our Massachusetts 250 celebration."

As part of the anniversary celebration, the RMV conducted a special Massachusetts 250 Low Plate Lottery for plates numbered 1 through 999, as well as the commemorative number 1776. The lottery attracted 48,457 eligible entries, with winners representing 289 cities and towns from Pittsfield to Provincetown.

More than 4,500 people watched the special prerecorded lottery broadcast featuring stories, trivia, and local history connected to selected plate numbers. The program included appearances by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, Registrar Ogilvie, and other RMV leaders.

The Massachusetts 250th Anniversary plate may be ordered online at Mass.Gov/RMV, at RMV Service Centers, and through participating Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) dealerships. The plate will continue to be offered beyond the end of this year. The biennial cost is $100, consisting of the standard $60 vehicle registration fee and a $40 special plate fee.

In addition to the Massachusetts 250 plate, the RMV offers 56 specialty plates, including charitable, military, organizational, environmental, and other distinctive designs.

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Berkshire Museum Explores Ancient Egypt With ‘Soulful Creatures’

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
11:33AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following its multimillion-dollar renovation, the Berkshire Museum is welcoming an exhibition unlike any it has been able to host before.

Marking the museum's first major exhibition since its renovation, "Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt," opening Saturday, Oct. 10, thins the veil between the ever-evolving history of Egyptian culture and society and modern day people.

"The most important thing about history is recognizing people from the past as actual people. Ancient Egyptians are no different than us," said William Dore, the museum's chief curator. "They have different cultures and beliefs and different viewpoints, but you can say the same thing about people today."

When audiences experience the exhibit, they will see the humanity in the people of the past, which in turn helps them connect with different views and perspectives around the world today, he said.

Combining archeology with modern scientific imaging, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Museum curators Yekaterina Barbash and Edward Bleiberg designed an exhibit that works to uncover the mysteries behind these objects and the beliefs and rituals that surround them.

"I think something that people kind of misunderstand about history is none of it's ever settled. ... History is a science that is constantly questioned,” Dore said. "It only works if everyone's constantly rethinking things, learning new things ... which is for me super exciting because as much as we know a lot about the ancient Egyptians, there's a lot we don't know.”

The installation features dozens of artifacts on loan from the Brooklyn Museum that explores the practice of animal mummification and the role animals played in ancient Egyptian religion.

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