Join us for an evening walking tour of Woods End Road,
adjacent to the 1938 Gropius House, where three significant
architect-designed modern houses were built in 1939. Tour
the Gropius House and enjoy light refreshments on the back
porch.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Join curatorial and conservation staff for an exclusive look at Historic New England’s extensive study collection of furnishings, decorative arts, costumes, and other household effects. Visit the conservation lab and learn how the conservators clean and stabilize objects from the collection. This tour is followed by light refreshments..
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Visit the Phillips House at twilight and experience the effect created by early twentieth-century lighting fixtures in this Federal era house. Watch selections from Phillips family home movies for a glimpse of how the family lived and entertained, and see where they traveled in their leisure time. Light refreshments provided.
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
Visit the historic greenhouses on any Friday during the Members' Month and receive complimentary expert assistance on repotting a plant. Historic New England Greenhouse Manager Lynn Ackerman is an orchid expert. Limited enrollment to Garden and Landscape members only.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
This sale features a variety of plants from the beautiful and extensive historic Colonial Revival garden planted by the Marrett sisters in the 1920s and 1930s. Visitors can choose plants directly from the Marrett House holding garden. Plants for sale will include Paeonia, Baptisia, Chelone, Daylilies, Echinops, Eupatoriaum, various perennial Geraniums, Iris, Hosta, Liatris, various species of Veronica, Phlox, Polygonum and Primrose. Visitors are encouraged to take free tours of the 1789 house, which is furnished with treasured eighteenth- and nineteenth-century antiques, and hear how the family lived and preserved this very special place.
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
The Boardman House, one of more than twenty-five seventeenth-century properties in Essex County, is open on today as part of a regional Escapes North promotion. Members will enjoy coffee and refreshments, a private tour, directions, and advice about where to go next, all before the home opens to the general public.
June is Members’ Month. Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Two historians portray an upstairs/downstairs view of life in Boston during the early 1800s. Based on extensive research, Diann Ralph Strausberg and Camille Arbogast assume the roles of two women who were contemporaries in the early years of the new republic--Catherine Codman, wife of a prominent merchant, and Mary Stone, a servant. In a vivid monologue, each interpreter depicts her character’s daily life and gives her perspective on topics such as the relationship between mistress and servant, food, the experience of motherhood, and theft by servants. The talks are followed by an in-character question-and-answer session, during which guests are offered a buffet of period refreshments. Live music accompanies the program, followed by an optional tour of the Codman House.
Watch the Essex Baseball Club play baseball against regional clubs, using 1861 rules. Players pitch underhand, no gloves are allowed, and a ball bounced once and caught counts as an out. Beer samples provided by Ipswich Ale. Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Grass field seating: bring blankets and lawn chairs, no reserved seating. Weather permitting, please call.
Bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the Essex Baseball Club play against other regional teams, using 1861 rules. Be sure to bring your appetite and blankets or chairs for the complimentary picnic lunch, exclusively for Historic New England members. Beer samples provided by Mercury Brewing Company, makers of Ipswich Ale.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Boston was a center for reform in interior design in the United States. Boston's influential Society of Arts and Crafts championed William Morris's dictum, "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." The Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements involved architects, designers, craft workers, and, significantly, design critics. The critics interacted with the craft workers, functioning sometimes as advisors and promoters, and sometimes as their tormentors. Through publication and travel, Boston reformers furthered the quest for usefulness and beauty across the country and abroad.
Beverly K. Brandt is an award-winning professor in the Department of Interior Design at Arizona State University and an avid collector of antiques and contemporary craft. Her latest book, just published by the University of Massachusetts Press, is The Craftsman and the Critic.
Spend an evening among Beacon Hill’s treasures, including historic gas-lit streets, elegant mansions overlooking Louisburg Square, the Massachusetts State House and the African Meeting House. The tour meets at the Otis House Museum and ends on Charles Street, close to many restaurants and shops. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes to navigate the hills and cobblestones.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Join us for an expanded tour of this wonderful house, including some of the rooms where servants and family members stayed during the busy boarding house era summers.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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There is a saying in Wiscasset that there are the High Street folks and then everyone else. Daniel Stevens, longtime Maine resident and Nickels Sortwell tour guide, tells you why on a walking tour of the mansions of High and Maine Streets. Hear stories of heroes, villains, rogues, thieves and damsels in distress during a walk from Castle Tucker down the hill to the Nickels Sortwell House. Optional reception to follow.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Come wet your whistle after the walk with a little wine and cheese in the Charles Eliot designed garden at the Nickels Sortwell House.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Walter Gropius, founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. He designed the Lincoln house as his family home in 1938, when he came to teach at Harvard's Graduate School of Design. Modest in scale, the house was revolutionary in impact. It combined the traditional elements of New England architecture -- wood, brick, and fieldstone -- with innovative materials rarely used in domestic settings at that time -- glass block, acoustical plaster, and chrome banisters, along with the latest technology in fixtures. Spend an evening learning more about Gropius presentation and see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Light refreshments provided..
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Earle Shettleworth, Director and Maine State Historic Preservation Officer, gives an architecturally focused tour of Nickel-Sortwell House. Although no single architect has been confirmed as the designer, the house contains features and details representative of the High Federal style at its most magnificent as well as unique elements that speak to the identity and aspirations of Captain William Nickels, the original owner.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Cogswell’s Grant has been a working farm from the seventeenth century to present day. Join us for a walking tour through the fields and to the marsh. Learn the rich history of the families who lived and farmed here and find out how coastal farming has evolved over nearly four centuries.
Join Preservation Specialist Jodi Black as she discusses the ongoing restoration work of the Beauport windows. Funded by the Save America’s Treasures grant, the window work at Beauport is part of Historic New England’s ongoing effort to protect and preserve our properties. Jodi leads the group on a special tour explaining the project.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Explore Beacon Hill and see how this neighborhood's meeting places reflect changes over time. This walking tour visits the African Meeting House, the first black church in Boston, now a museum; the Old West Church, which served numerous purposes before becoming a church again; the Charles Street Meeting House, now offices and businesses; the Vilna Shul, a rare example of an early Boston synagogue, currently being restored; and the Massachusetts State House, still operating in its original function. Tour begins at the Otis House Museum.
Enjoy a family friendly tour of Casey Farm that includes grinding corn to feed the chickens and visiting the turkeys, pigs, and cows. Then, make a kite and practice flying them on the front lawn. Members may visit the Coastal Grower’s Farmer’s Market prior to this special tour or bring their own supplies for a picnic on site. Please note that the Farmer’s Market ends at 12 pm.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Charles Ruby, local historian and guide at Marrett House leads a comprehensive tour of the home of the Marretts of Standish. Hear stories of this colorful and adventurous family from Daniel Marrett in the eighteenth century to Frances Marrett in the early twentieth century. Marrett House also features a beautiful perennial garden, planted by Caroline and Helen Marriott in the late nineteenth century.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Enjoy a late afternoon tea and refreshments in the lovely gardens. Stroll through the grounds, chat with the gardeners and guide staff, take photos, or just relax on a garden bench and imagine how the Tyson and Vaughan families might have enjoyed a June afternoon 100 years ago. The tea is followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the house. Peak into closets and visit areas of the house, including the third and fourth floors, not typically open to visitors.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Join Historic New England staff at the opening day of the Newburyport Farmers Market, at the Tannery between 10:00 a.m. and noon, and get $5 in Tannery bucks to spend at any participating store or restaurant. Then stop by the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm at 2:00 p.m. for refreshments and a visit with Liz Howell of Celestial Living Arts, for a talk on how New England seasons and lunar cycles influenced the evolution of agricultural and culinary traditions in New England. Howell will profile each month, including the English names of the full moons, describe lunar and agricultural symbolism, and offer related culinary notes. Samples of her specially blended tub teas and spice kits will be available.
Get an in-depth look at the architectural evolution of a New England house lived in by ten generations of one family. Refreshments follow the tour.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
With its impressive architecture, collection of fine art, and beautifully landscaped grounds, this property resembles a gentleman’s country seat in the English tradition. Tours are for members only throughout the day on the hour. Last tour begins at 4:00 p.m.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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Join carpentry crew foreman Bruce Blanchard for a discussion of harling, a traditional parging used to protect the massive stone ender of the Arnold House. Bruce will discuss the material and the unique application of this lime based material.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It’s our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
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The Arnold House is a rare surviving example of a "stone-ender," a once-common building type first developed in the western part of England. With an exposed fieldstone end wall and pilastered chimney, the house was originally a two-story structure with an integral lean-to and four rooms on each floor. The house has undergone three major interventions, in 1920, 1950, and most recently in 2006. The 2006 work included the repair and restoration of the exterior clapboards and conservation of the casement windows. Join Historic New England Team Leader, Property Care Ben Haavik for this lecture to discuss Historic New England’s preservation philosophy and the 2006 restoration efforts.
This detailed tour showcases this rarely opened home exclusively for our members.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Members-only Tour Members Month Program!
When: Thursday, June 18, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Rocky Hill Meeting House, Amesbury, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Historic New England Carpentry Foreman Bruce Blanchard and Regional Site Manager Bethany Groff give this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Rocky Hill Meeting House. The Rocky Hill Meeting House is the only Historic New England property that was never a private home, and is a pristine example of a building type that was once the focal point for many small communities across New England. It is the best preserved meeting house interior in New England.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
This event is Sold Out!
Hosta Sale
When: Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21, 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: Free
Thousands of plants are available in creams, golds, blues, and mixes. Choose from large specimen and small plants, along with many new to the market and hard-to-find varieties. Our knowledgeable staff is on hand to help you choose the right hostas for your garden.
An Evening in Sleeper’s Garden
When: Friday, June 19, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $10 Garden and Landscape members, $15 Historic New England members, $20 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
An evening reception on the newly restored grounds of Beauport kicks off a weekend of garden celebrations, in conjunction with the tenth annual Cape Ann House and Garden Tour. Historic New England’s Property Care Team Leader, Benjamin Haavik, will discuss the ongoing landscape work at Beauport, highlighting the restoration of the original terrace staircase built by Beauport’s creator, Henry Davis Sleeper. Abridged house tours are available.
For information about and tickets for the other Garden Festival events, please visit sargenthouse.org.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 20, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Seasonal Market & Local Vineyard Tasting Members Month Program!
When: Saturday, June 20, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 617-227.3957, ext. 244
Admission: Limited enrollment to Young Friends only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
The Young Friends of Historic New England visit the lively Casey Farm's Costal Grower's Market - a seasonal market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Young Friends then visits Greenvale Vineyards, located along the beautiful Sakonnet River in nearby Portsmouth. There, our special group does a tour and tasting with General Manager Nancy Parker Wilson. Tour highlights include a recently-restored John H. Sturgis stable built in 1863, which received a preservation award. and a beautifully-restored nineteenth-century farmhouse not normally open to the public.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Meet the Author-Book Signing Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, June 20, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Celebrate America's Kitchens, Historic New England's newest publication, with a talk and book signing by co-author and Museum Historian Jennifer Pustz. Innovatively designed and lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and colorful ephemera from Historic New England's diverse collections, America's Kitchens features New England kitchens, detached kitchens on southern plantations, Spanish colonial kitchens of the Southwest, elaborate nineteenth-century kitchens in the Midwest, and middle-class open-plan homes of 1950s suburbia. Copies of the book are available for purchase.
Saturday Yoga Members Month Program!
When: Saturday, June 20 9:45 – 11:00 am, followed by optional tour (11:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: This program has been canceled.
Start your Saturday off right with a beginner yoga class in the reception room. Take a break over herbal tea to meet the other members in the class, then take the 11:00 a.m. tour of the house (optional).
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Sixth Annual Connecticut Historic Gardens Day
When: Sunday, June 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Celebrate Connecticut Historic Gardens Day at Roseland Cottage. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden and learn the history, significance, and theory behind the Roseland Cottage garden layout and design, including Historic New England's on-going boxwood restoration project.
Little Ducklings Camp
When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, June 22, 24, and 26, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: $50 Historic New England members, $70 nonmembers
Please note: For ages 4 and 5
A unique camp for young children who are ready to come to Casey Farm on their own but not ready for the full week or day experience. For three mornings a week campers meet the animals, sing farm songs, listen to farm stories and complete farm crafts. Also offered August 3, 5, and 7.
Victorian Tea Members Month Program!
When: Wednesday, June 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea in Roseland Cottage’s Carriage Barn. After nibbling on tasty scones and cakes, enjoy a tour of this Gothic Revival summer cottage to learn about Victorian dining customs and etiquette. Be sure to take a stroll through the formal parterre garden, which was laid out by Henry C. Bowen in 1850.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Tour of the Lyman Estate, The Vale Members Month Program!
When: Wednesday, June 24, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Get to know "The Vale," the 1793 summer house of merchant Theodore Lyman, designed by noted architect Samuel McIntire, in a basement to attic tour of this National Historic Landmark. The architecture of house encompasses three distinct periods of design, from the Federal through the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. Participants are invited to arrive early to visit the historic greenhouses and enjoy the grounds before the tour..
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
This event is Sold Out!
Little Stories Members Month Program!
When: Thursday, June 25, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Join us for an extended tour of Cogswell’s Grant focusing on Little family anecdotes. Bert and Nina Little and their three children spent summers at Cogswell’s Grant from 1937 until the 1990s, and this special tour shares some of their favorite stories about restoring the house, collecting antiques, and life on the farm. Light refreshments included..
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
This event is Sold Out!
Landscape and Garden Tour
When: Thursdays, June 25 and July 23, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: Free to Garden and Landscape members, $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Take part in a special opportunity to learn about the landscape and gardens at Hamilton House with Historic New England's Regional Landscape Manager Gary Wetzel. Imagine the changes in the land as wilderness yielded to a busy commercial waterfront, then to farming, and finally, to formal gardens. Learn about the flowers, trees, and other plants at the house and hear how Wetzel and gardeners Mimi Demers and Kathy Gray create and maintain the beautiful formal gardens. Garden and landscape tours available for private groups by special arrangement. Call 207-384-2454 for details.
Twilight Lawn Concerts
When: Friday, June 26, Sunday, July 12, Saturday July 25, and Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Enjoy the sounds of local bands. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic supper. Cosponsored with the Woodstock Recreation Commission.
Please note: the Twilight Lawn Concerts are on Friday, June 26, with a rain date of June 29; Sunday, July 12 with a rain date of August 14), Saturday, July 25 (no rain date) and Wednesday, August 5, rain date August 6.
Saturday Sports
When: Saturdays, June 27, July 25, August 29 and September 26, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Explore sports in the early twentieth century with a specialty tour of the property and a screening of the Phillips family's film collection. Watch the family's home movies of lawn games and sailing as well as of major events like the Boston Marathon and Harvard football games. Afterwards, play family-friendly lawn games in the backyard.
America’s Kitchens Opening and Reception Members Month Program!
When: Saturday, June 27, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Where: New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N.H.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Experience the history of the American kitchen from
the Colonial period to the present through vignettes
and interactive experiences. Based on real historical
kitchens and primary research, the exhibition
features innovative design, including recreated
kitchens, artifacts, photographs, and personal
stories.
Join us for Historic New England’s "America’s
Kitchens” exhibition opening reception, where
Nancy Carlisle, America’s Kitchens author and
Historic New England curator, will share comments.
Members will also be able to explore other
exhibitions at the museum, including “Abraham
Lincoln and New Hampshire,” and “New
Hampshire Favorites.” Light refreshments will be served.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 27, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Capturing Historic Houses
When: Saturday, June 27, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Photographer Geoffrey Gross discusses his fascination with historic houses, his creative process, and his five Rizzoli publications including Great Houses of New England. Great Houses, which features four house museums owned by Historic New England including Beauport, Sleeper – McCann House which graces the cover. Gross has nearly forty years experience in the field and is currently completing two publications, Old Houses of New England and New England Modern. Both books include Historic New England properties. Great Houses of New England is available for sale following the program.
South Berwick Strawberry Festival
When: Saturday, June 27, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: Free
Celebrate a great Maine tradition. Enjoy musical performances, children's games, and sales of crafts and fine art, as well as a variety of food offered by local non-profit organizations. The centerpiece of the festival is the fabulous homemade strawberry shortcake. Each year Historic New England participates in the Strawberry Festival by opening the Sarah Orne Jewett House free of charge.
Jazz Brunch Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Sunday, June 28, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $30 Historic New England members, $40 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Welcome summer on a Sunday morning in the Langdon House garden. A jazz trio plays as guests enjoy a full brunch, including mimosas. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the gardens and grounds. Tour the house or use your ticket to come back another day.
Nooks and Crannies Tour Members Month Program!
When: Sunday, June 28, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Gedney House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Explore all levels of the Gedney house, from the attic to the basement, during this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, including a special historic floorboard exhibit. After the tour, spend the afternoon in Salem with a visit to the Phillips House for a regularly scheduled tour. .
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
This event is Sold Out!
New England Victorian Cookery Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Sunday, June 28, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Sandy Oliver, noted food historian and author of Saltwater Foodways and Food in Colonial and Federal America, speaks about the strange and savory food favored by New Englanders in the Victorian era. The lecture is followed by refreshments. This lecture is part of the Life in Nineteenth Century America Lecture Series. Additional lectures are on July 19, September 13, and September 27. Sponsored by the Maine Antiques Dealers' Association.
Nevin’s Farm Tour Members Month Program!
When: Sunday, June 28, 300 - 5:00 pm
Where: MSPCA at Nevin's Farm, Methuen, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
If you have met the friendly farm animals at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, then you have the MSPCA at Nevins Farm to thank! Come for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Nevins Farm Small Animal and Farm Animal Rescue. Meet rescue staff at their state-of-the-art facility.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
Peonies & Roses: Garden Tour at Rundlet May Members Month Program!
When: Tuesday, June 30, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rundlet-May House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Join Landscape Manager Gary Wetzel on a tour of the expansive gardens at Rundlet-May House. Enjoy the large peony bed, original garden layout, and a walk through the remaining fruit orchard. Rain or shine.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
The Gropiuses’ Neighborhood Members Month Program!
When: Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 264
Admission: Free, Historic New England members only.
Please note: Registration required. Space is limited!
Join us for an evening walking tour of Woods End Road,
adjacent to the 1938 Gropius House, where three significant
architect-designed modern houses were built in 1939. Tour
the Gropius House and enjoy light refreshments on the back
porch.
June is Members’ Month! Please join us for 30 free programs and events, exclusively for
Historic New England members. Look for the green program listing to indicate members month programs. It is our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Please email Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org to register.
Not a member? Join Now!
JULY:
Harborfest Walking Tours
When: Tuesday, June 30 through Sunday, July 5; Various Times
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration strongly recommended for the walking tours
The Otis House Museum opens its doors for Harborfest, a family-friendly celebration of Boston's heritage. Enjoy tours of the house, where a wealthy and prominent family lived in the 1790s. Take a walking tour of historic Beacon Hill. Times and prices vary; call the Otis House Museum at 617-227-3957, ext. 256 for information or visit www.BostonHarborfest.com.
Fireworks over Gloucester Harbor
When: Friday, July 3, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $18 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy Gloucester’s fireworks from Beauport’s terrace and lawn overlooking the harbor, and sample fine local beers from the Cape Ann Brewing Company. Blankets, chairs, and picnics are recommended. The house is open for abridged tours on the half-hour. Adults only, please.
This event is Sold Out!
Fourth of July Celebration
When: Saturday, July 4, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Fourth of July at the home of a man called “Mr. Fourth of July” for his patriotism and close ties to several U.S. presidents. Historic flags used by Henry Bowen during his July 4 celebrations (1870-1895), including a 29-foot flag flown for the 1889 visit by President Benjamin Harrison, are on display. Ulysses S. Grant makes a special appearance. Family activities are offered, including period children’s games, word puzzles, and art projects.
Sundays in the Garden Concert Series
When: Sundays, July 5, 12, 19, and 26, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: free Garden & Landscape members, $4 Historic New England members, $7 seniors, $8 nonmembers
Please note: Rain or shine
This series is a long-standing summer tradition, offering some of the seacoast's most popular musical performers in one of its loveliest settings. The Hamilton House gardens overlook the Salmon Falls River and provide the perfect backdrop for this series of late-afternoon performances. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic basket. This year's schedule includes Harvey Reid on July 5, Dave Peloquin on July 12, Jon Nolan on July 19, and Kristen Miller on July 26. In case of rain, concerts are held in the garden cottage.
Growing Together Camp
When: Monday through Friday, weekly in July
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: $160 Historic New England members, $215 nonmembers (includes Household membership)
Please note: For ages 5 - 8
Campers experience work and play from a farmer’s point of view. What are your morning chores? What do we feed the animals? How do we collect the eggs? What do we do for fun when work is done? Week l: July 6–10; Week 2: July 13–17; Week 3: July 20–24; Week 4: July 27–31.
Sense of Place Camp
When: Monday through Friday, weekly in July
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: $175 Historic New England members, $230 nonmembers (includes Household membership)
Please note: For ages 9 - 11
In this science-oriented program, campers investigate plants and animals, both domestic and wild, which create the dynamic interaction between Casey Farm and the surrounding land and water. Week l: July 6–10; Week 2: July 13–17; Week 3: July 20–24; Week 4: July 27–31.
Walk With Washington
When: Tuesdays, July 7 and September 15, 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Walk the streets of Portsmouth just like George Washington, when he visited the city in 1789. See where he took tea with his secretary's mother, Mrs. Lear, attended services at St. John's Church, and was feted at a reception at the Langdon House. End the tour with a wine and cheese reception in the double parlor of the house.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: Wednesday, July 8, and Saturdays, August 15, September 12, and October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $22 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This leisurely behind-the-scenes tour of Henry Davis Sleeper's summer retreat allows plenty of time to explore each room and includes passageways, closets, and other spaces not usually open to the public. Guides highlight their favorite objects and share rarely told stories about Sleeper, his friends, and staff. Light refreshments included.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, July 11, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
From Hall to Kitchen Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, July 11, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Boardman House and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site, Saugus, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: free for Historic New England members, $5 nonmembers
Please note: Tours on the house
Study the seventeenth century kitchen at two historic sites. Tour Historic New England's Boardman House and discover how the original “hall” —a multi-purpose room used for cooking, eating, and gathering —was transformed into the “best room” after a new kitchen and dairy were added to the rear of the house. By removing the smells and bustle of cooking, the hall was upgraded into a social space, reflecting a widespread shift in architecture and behavior. Then travel five miles to the Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site, for demonstrations on seventeenth-century cooking techniques. The cooking demonstrations at the are throughoug the day.
Getting Started in Genealogy
When: Saturday, July 11, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 254
Admission: $45 Historic New England and NEHGS members, $55 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Each of us has a remarkable family story waiting to be discovered. Since 1845, the New England Historic Genealogical Society has provided expert resources and staff to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of families in America. Join NEHGS and Historic New England for a seminar that teaches basic techniques for exploring your family history. Learn strategies for using repositories and websites to locate vital record information, organizing a pedigree chart, and documenting your discoveries.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, through November 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Twilight Lawn Concerts
When: Sunday, July 12, Saturday July 25, and Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Enjoy the sounds of local bands. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic supper. Cosponsored with the Woodstock Recreation Commission.
Please note: the Twilight Lawn Concerts are on Sunday, July 12 with a rain date of August 14), Saturday, July 25 (no rain date) and Wednesday, August 5, rain date August 6.
Twilight Picnic
When: Thursday, July 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Forest River or Salem Willows
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: Free
Please note: This event is canceled.
Pack a picnic supper and join the Phillips House staff at Forest River Park/the Salem Willows for an evening of home movies and music from the 1920s. See the Phillips’ 1929 Model A Ford and learn about how the family spent their summer vacations. Stay for a viewing of Phillips’ family home movies.
Wine at Twilight Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Fridays, July 17 and August 21, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $30 Historic New England members, $40 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Begin the evening with a house tour as the setting sun glints off the colored glass in the Golden Step Room, and admire Sleeper’s magical lighting effects throughout the interior. Then join us for a twilight wine tasting on the Beauport terrace, with its breathtaking harbor views.
“Made Of Berwick Dust”- Sarah Orne Jewett Walking Tour
When: Fridays, July 17 and September 18, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
The world of Sarah Orne Jewett comes to life during this guided tour of her South Berwick neighborhood. Explore a streetscape with many shop buildings and homes from Sarah’s day still in existence. Imagine what the town and people were like during her lifetime as you examine historic photos and stop at places Jewett family members knew and frequented. Find out why South Berwick was so dear to Jewett that she described herself as “made of Berwick dust.”
An Evening at Gropius
When: Fridays, July 17 and 31, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required.
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
American Independence Festival
When: Saturday, July 18, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Gilman Garrison House, Exeter, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: Free
A one-day, town-wide, event celebrating the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Tour the 1709 Gilman Garrison House and visit the Historic New England booth on the festival grounds to take part in children’s activities.
The Way They Were Tour Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturdays, July 18 and September 19, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m..
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Go behind-the-scenes to learn about the daily routines of domestics, groundskeepers, and others who worked for families like the Tysons early in the twentieth century. Visit the fourth floor attic space where servants lived and enjoy the stunning view of the river from the rooftop skylight. Explore the grounds and see the quarters of the Tysons' chauffeur.
Herbs in The Country of the Pointed Firs Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, July 18, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Many of us think of herbs as a way to flavor our favorite dishes but they have a long history of use for their abilities to fortify and heal the body. In this combination lecture and garden tour, landscape gardener Nancy Wetzel takes a fascinating look at medicinal herbs, the historic importance of community herbalists and herb gardens through the lens of author Sarah Orne Jewett’s book The Country of the Pointed Firs(1896). Jewett (1849-1909) has been called one of the most important regional or “local color” writers of the nineteenth century. Wetzel’s talk, which takes place in Jewett’s kitchen, introduces Jewett’s character Mrs. Todd, the village herbalist of the fictional Dunnet Landing. We’ll learn about Mrs. Todd’s herb garden and kitchen, where she creates herbal remedies and consults with neighbors about health concerns. After the lecture, Wetzel leads the group into the Jewett House gardens to see, touch, and smell some of the herbs described by Jewett in her writing. Familiarity with Country of the Pointed Firs is optional.
Canning and Preserving at Cogswell’s Grant Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturdays, July 18, August 15, and September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join Caroline Craig for a lecture and demonstration on canning and preserving. Learn about traditional preservation methods, look at the equipment used, and see some of the produce from Bert and Nina Fletcher Little’s farm. Caroline worked for the Little family for more than twenty years and one summer put up more than eight hundred jars of jams, jellies, and preserves. She shares the family’s favorite seasonal recipes for strawberry jam in July, scalloped tomatoes in August, and applesauce in September. Samples available for tasting.
Food and Family Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, July 18, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Historic New England Museum Historian Jennifer Pustz delivers an illustrated presentation of food traditions in the late nineteenth century, highlighting the recipes, menus, and tastes of the Bowen family. The presentation is followed by a tasting of Bowen family recipes, generously provided by the Mansion at Bald Hill, and a tour of the entertaining spaces at Roseland Cottage.
Watercolor Workshop
When: Saturdays, July 18 and August 15, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Raindates: Sundays, July 19 and August 16
Where: Watson Farm, Jamestown, R.I.
Phone: 401-423-0005
Admission: $20 Garden & Landscape members, $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join artist Natalie Pfanstiehl for a full-day watercolor workshop. Ms. Pfanstiehl gives a one-hour demonstration of landscape painting, then assists students with composition, lighting, and painting techniques. The workshop ends with a constructive critique. Please bring painting materials and a bag lunch. Open to all levels of experience.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, July 18, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Antique Auto Show
When: Sunday, July 19, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Codman Estate, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 270
Admission: Free to Historic New England members & children under 12, $10 nonmembers, $5 per antique auto
Please note: Rain or shine
This annual auto show draws more than 200 classic and antique autos, trucks, and motorcycles from all over New England and includes entertainment by the New Liberty Jazz Band, museum tours, a raffle, family activities, and food concessions.
Curves, Carpets, and Color - Romantic and Victorian Gardening in America
When: Sunday, July 19, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: Free Garden and Landscape members, $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Who were the garden tastemakers of the 1800s? Why do some garden historians call landscape designers today The New Victorians? Author Marta McDowell explores the development of an American landscaping style from the formal plans of the eighteenth century to the elaborate designs of Victorian high style. McDowell teaches landscape history and preservation at the New York Botanical Garden and Drew University and is author of Emily Dickinson’s Gardens as well as numerous articles. Additional lectures are held on September 13 and 27. Sponsored by the Maine Antiques Dealers' Association.
Victorian Tea Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursdays, July 23 and August 13, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea in the carriage barn. After nibbling on scones and cakes, tour this remarkable Gothic Revival summer cottage to learn about Victorian dining customs and etiquette, then stroll through the formal parterre garden, laid out by Henry C. Bowen in 1850.
Landscape and Garden Tour
When: Thursday, July 23, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: Free to Garden and Landscape members, $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Take part in a special opportunity to learn about the landscape and gardens at Hamilton House with Historic New England's Regional Landscape Manager Gary Wetzel. Imagine the changes in the land as wilderness yielded to a busy commercial waterfront, then to farming, and finally, to formal gardens. Learn about the flowers, trees, and other plants at the house and hear how Wetzel and gardeners Mimi Demers and Kathy Gray create and maintain the beautiful formal gardens. Garden and landscape tours available for private groups by special arrangement. Call 207-384-2454 for details.
Picnic By The Sea Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursdays, July 23 and August 27, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Rain dates: July 24 & August 28, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers, $10 children 12 and under
Please note: Registration required
Celebrate the Year of the Kitchen with a catered buffet lunch on the grounds. This family friendly event offers the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely afternoon with delicious New England fare and breathtaking views of the harbor. Bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. Guided tours on the hour.
Kites at the Castle
When: Saturday, July 25, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: Free to Historic New England member, $5 nonmember, $2 children
The field at Castle Tucker, overlooking the beautiful Sheepscot River and Wiscasset Harbor, is a scene of color and merriment as families and kite enthusiasts converge in a joyous celebration of wind and ingenuity. Professional kite flyers are on hand to offer tips and instruction.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, July 25, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Twilight Lawn Concerts
When: Sunday, July 12, Saturday July 25, and Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Enjoy the sounds of local bands. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic supper. Cosponsored with the Woodstock Recreation Commission.
Please note: the Twilight Lawn Concerts are on Sunday, July 12 (with a rain date of August 14), Saturday, July 25 (no rain date) and Wednesday, August 5, rain date August 6.
Meet the Author-Book Signing Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, July 25, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: Free
Celebrate America's Kitchens, Historic New England's newest publication, with a talk and book signing by author and Curator Nancy Carlisle. Innovatively designed and lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and colorful ephemera from Historic New England's diverse collections, America's Kitchens features New England kitchens, detached kitchens on southern plantations, Spanish colonial kitchens of the Southwest, elaborate nineteenth-century kitchens in the Midwest, and middle-class open-plan homes of 1950s suburbia. Copies of the book are available for purchase.
Twilight Tour
When: Thursday, July 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $14 Historic New England members, $21 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Take a leisurely evening tour of Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, as it transforms at twilight. Watch lamplight and reflections from the water create magical effects inside the house. This event highlights rooms that dazzle at night, including the Master Mariner's, Strawberry Hill, Octagon, and South Gallery rooms. Light refreshments included.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, July 31, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required.
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
AUGUST:
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, August 1, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, through November 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Kids’ Club
When: Wednesdays, August 5, 12, and 19, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $15 Historic New England members per child, $30 nonmembers. Adults free.
Please note: Registration required
In Sarah Orne Jewett’s children’s book, Betty Leicester: A Story for Girls, 1890, lead character Betty joins with a group of Tidewater (South Berwick) friends to form the “Out-of-Door Club” and explore the world around them. In the spirit of Betty’s Club, Kids’ Club involves a structured set of activities for children ages five through ten combining history, craft activities, and story time. Each week the children explore a different theme, such as visiting the Hamilton House kitchen and making herbal butters, looking at antique toys and making Victorian paper dolls, and learning about maritime history and making soap scrimshaw. Children may come to one program or attend all three.
Twilight Lawn Concerts
When: Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m. Rain date: Thursday, August 6, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Enjoy the sounds of local bands. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and a picnic supper. Cosponsored with the Woodstock Recreation Commission.
Thursdays at Twilight
When: Thursday, August 6, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Visit the Phillips House at twilight and experience the effect created by early twentieth-century lighting fixtures in this Federal era house. Watch selections from Phillips family home movies for a glimpse of how the family lived and entertained, and see where they traveled in their leisure time. Light refreshments provided.
Afternoon Tea Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, August 8, 12:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: : $20 Historic New England members, $30 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Experience this rare opportunity to take tea with friends and family on Eastern Point as Henry Davis Sleeper often did. Afternoon tea, with scones, finger sandwiches, and sweets, is set on the terrace and grounds, while a classical guitarist plays in the background. A tour of the house is offered after each of the sittings. Rain or shine.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, August 8, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Eighth Annual Car Meet
When: Sunday August 9, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: Free
Join the Phillips House and the North Shore Old Car Club for the Eighth Annual Car Meet at which vintage and antique vehicles, including the Phillipses’ collection of carriages, two Pierce-Arrows, and a Model A Ford, are displayed on historic Chestnut Street.
Victorian Tea Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursday, August 13, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea in the carriage barn. After nibbling on scones and cakes, tour this remarkable Gothic Revival summer cottage to learn about Victorian dining customs and etiquette, then stroll through the formal parterre garden, laid out by Henry C. Bowen in 1850.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Fridays, August 14 and 28, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required. Offered every other Friday through October 16,
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
Meet the Author-Book Signing Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Friday, August 14, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-5269
Admission: Free
Celebrate America's Kitchens, Historic New England's newest publication, with a talk and book signing by author and Curator Nancy Carlisle. Innovatively designed and lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and colorful ephemera from Historic New England's diverse collections, America's Kitchens features New England kitchens, detached kitchens on southern plantations, Spanish colonial kitchens of the Southwest, elaborate nineteenth-century kitchens in the Midwest, and middle-class open-plan homes of 1950s suburbia. Copies of the book are available for purchase.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, August 15, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Watercolor Workshop
When: Saturday, August 15, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Rain date: Sunday, August 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Watson Farm, Jamestown, R.I.
Phone: 401-423-0005
Admission: $20 Garden & Landscape members, $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join artist Natalie Pfanstiehl for a full-day watercolor workshop. Ms. Pfanstiehl gives a one-hour demonstration of landscape painting, then assists students with composition, lighting, and painting techniques. The workshop ends with a constructive critique. Please bring painting materials and a bag lunch. Open to all levels of experience.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: Saturdays, August 15, September 12, and October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $22 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This leisurely behind-the-scenes tour of Henry Davis Sleeper's summer retreat allows plenty of time to explore each room and includes passageways, closets, and other spaces not usually open to the public. Guides highlight their favorite objects and share rarely told stories about Sleeper, his friends, and staff. Light refreshments included.
Fiber Revival
When: Saturday, August 15, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Rain Date: Sunday, August 16
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: Free to Historic New England members, $5 nonmembers
Join the Newburyport Spinners Guild and Historic New England for a daylong exploration of fiber arts, featuring demonstrations of needle felting, hand-spinning, weaving, and alpaca and sheep husbandry. Meet fiber animals and wash, comb, spin, and weave wool from our resident sheep. Vendors offer a variety of natural fibers, yarn, and equipment. To register for specific workshops on weaving, felting, dyeing, and color matching, and more, please visit www.fiberrevival.com or contact kcorcoran@historicnewengland.org. There is an additional fee for workshop participation. The house is open from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Refreshments are for sale.
Canning and Preserving at Cogswell’s Grant Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturdays, August 15 and September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join Caroline Craig for a lecture and demonstration on canning and preserving. Learn about traditional preservation methods, look at the equipment used, and see some of the produce from Bert and Nina Fletcher Little’s farm. Caroline worked for the Little family for more than twenty years and one summer put up more than eight hundred jars of jams, jellies, and preserves. She shares the family’s favorite seasonal recipes for scalloped tomatoes in August and applesauce in September. Samples available for tasting.
Jonathan Hamilton’s Berwick: A Walking Tour of Oldfields
When: Thursday, August 20, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Stroll through “Oldfields,” the oldest neighborhood in South Berwick and home to the Hamilton House. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery plus Colonial homesteads, the millpond, and the site of the First Parish Church. Learn about the inhabitants of the Vine Street burial ground, and hear about the local mills, Indian raids, and the maritime trade that shaped people's lives in what was then Berwick, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The walking tour begins at the Hamilton House visitor center. A bottle of water and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Wiscasset Twilight Tours
When: Thursdays, August 20 and September 10, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker and Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy a special look at two 1807 mansions. The Castle Tucker tour includes rooms not usually open to the public, offering a deeper picture of how the family, seasonal staff, and boarders utilized the house in the summer. At Nickels-Sortwell House, visitors tour the mansion and see the restored barn with its horse stalls and an early nineteenth century Wiscasset fire engine.
Wine at Twilight Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Friday, August 21, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $30 Historic New England members, $40 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Begin the evening with a house tour as the setting sun glints off the colored glass in the Golden Step Room, and admire Sleeper’s magical lighting effects throughout the interior. Then join us for a twilight wine tasting on the Beauport terrace, with its breathtaking harbor views.
Planting and Growing a Kitchen Garden Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Friday, August 21, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: : $15 Garden and Landscape members, $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Learn about planting and growing kitchen gardens from the Pilgrims to the present, and find out what past generations relied on to nourish and cure them. We will talk about heirloom varieties, their culture, and how to plant and harvest herbs and vegetables all summer long.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, August 22, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
West End Walking Tour
When: Sunday, August 23, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $7 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
The words “West End” evoke a variety of reactions in Boston. Long ago it was a genteel neighborhood of quiet streets and gracious mansions, later a teeming urban melting pot, and now trying to establish its identity. The West End has experienced drastic change over the past four centuries. Tour this complex neighborhood; learn about its streets, stories, and people, and where it stands today.
Picnic By The Sea Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursday, August 27, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Rain date: Friday, August 28, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers, $10 children 12 and under
Please note: Registration required
Celebrate the Year of the Kitchen with a catered buffet lunch on the grounds. This family friendly event offers the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely afternoon with delicious New England fare and breathtaking views of the harbor. Bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. Guided tours on the hour.
Mollie Tucker’s Kitchen Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, August 29, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. and Friday, October 2, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
From 1858 until her death in 1922, Mollie Tucker prepared food in the kitchen for her family of eight, plus visiting friends or family, and in the summer season, paying guests. In addition to feeding all those people, there was laundry and cleaning to be done. Discover how she managed with the limited equipment available to her. Learn about the food and how it was prepared, and how her daughter and granddaughter used the kitchen later on. Tour the kitchen and see this unusual family space with four generations of cooking technology.
Behind the Scenes at Roseland Cottage
When: Saturday, August 29, 1:00 -2:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $8 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This in-depth tour explores sections of Henry C. Bowen’s Gothic Revival summer retreat not typically seen by visitors. Visitors have the opportunity to see the house and barn from the attic to the basement, including the servants’ quarters, back staircases, water cisterns, and barn haylofts.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, August 29, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
SEPTEMBER:
Reused and Recycled: Sixty Years of the Gilman Garrison Going Green
When: Thursday, September 3, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Gilman Garrison House, Exeter, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $7 Historic New England members, $14 nonmembers
Tour the rarely opened basement and attic for a special look at how the house was restored in the mid-twentieth century. William Dudley, last private owner of the house, created a house museum on a budget, reusing materials, recycling, and re-forming furniture to create the collection. Light refreshments are provided.
Growing Edible Tropical Fruit Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Friday, September 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: $15 Garden and Landscape members, $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Few things are more rewarding than plucking a lemon off your plant in the middle of the winter or savoring your own fresh figs in the middle of summer. Learn to grow numerous types of citrus including; lemons, limes, and oranges, along with delicious figs, on your windowsill or in your garden. We will cover propagation, light, feeding, and general culture. Each participant goes home with a plant.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 5, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, through November 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Wiscasset Twilight Tours
When: Thursday, September 10, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy a special look at two 1807 mansions. The Castle Tucker tour includes rooms not usually open to the public, offering a deeper picture of how the family, seasonal staff, and boarders utilized the house in the summer. At Nickels-Sortwell House, visitors tour the mansion and see the restored barn with its horse stalls and an early nineteenth-century Wiscasset fire engine.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Fridays, September 11 and 25, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required. Offered every other Friday through October 16,
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival
When: Saturday, September 12, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Codman Estate, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 270
Admission: Free to Historic New England members and children under 12, $5 nonmembers
Please note: Rain or shine
This annual event features the work of over one hundred artisans. Items include wooden furniture and toys, pottery, photography, jewelry, glass, knitted sweaters and throws, children’s clothing, metalware, and folk carvings. Enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities, and a food court. The Codman Estate is open for museum tours. This event is rain or shine.
Jackson Hill Cider Day
When: Saturday, September 12, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Jackson House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: Free to Historic New England members, $6 nonmembers
A tradition at the Jackson House for over a decade, this event is for people of all ages. Enjoy children's crafts, music, and demonstrations of spinning, cider pressing, and crafts. Crafts and refreshments on sale. The house is open for tours.
Civil War Living History Weekend
When: Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Roseland Cottage opens its grounds for a Civil War living history weekend. Civilian and military reenactors create a sense of life during the middle of the nineteenth century at a time the country was in the deadly grips of the Civil War. Period children's games and activities will be available as well.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: and Saturdays, September 12, and October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $22 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This leisurely behind-the-scenes tour of Henry Davis Sleeper's summer retreat allows plenty of time to explore each room and includes passageways, closets, and other spaces not usually open to the public. Guides highlight their favorite objects and share rarely told stories about Sleeper, his friends, and staff. Light refreshments included.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 12, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
All Around the Common
When: Sunday, September 13, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Winslow Crocker House, Yarmouth Port, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: Free
Captain Bangs Hallet House, Yarmouth New Church, Winslow Crocker House, and the Edward Gorey House are open free of charge for this annual event. Enjoy a Sunday on the Yarmouth Port Common with an organ concert at the New Church and special activities at the Gorey House. Refreshments available at the Captain Bangs Hallet House and the Winslow Crocker House.
Furniture Forensics
When: Sunday, September 13, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Do you want to know how to read a piece of antique furniture -- who made it, when, and where? Historic New England Conservator John Childs offers tips on understanding and caring for old furniture and wooden paneling, whether ancient Egyptian, Renaissance, eighteenth-century European and American, Arts and Crafts, or mid-century modern American. Was grandmother's dresser handed down since the Revolutionary War or is it a 1920s reproduction? Learn how to find the answers to these questions. The lecture is followed by a question-and-answer session and refreshments. Sponsored by the Maine Antiques Dealers' Association.
Celebrating Sarah Orne Jewett Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Sunday, September 13, 2009, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join literary enthusiasts, community members, and staff in this annual celebration of Sarah Orne Jewett’s birthday. The heart of the celebration is the readings of excerpts from the author’s works. This year South Berwick’s Tatnic Book Group, celebrating their twentieth anniversary, has offered to be our readers and, in concurrence with Historic New England’s “Year of the Kitchen,” offer up some tasty literary treats. Relax as you journey back in time to Maine’s homes, hearths, and taverns of the late nineteenth century through Jewett’s writing, sample treats made using Jewett family recipes, and tour the author’s home.
Walk With Washington
When: Tuesday, September 15, 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 non-members
Please note: Registration recommended
Walk the streets of Portsmouth just like George Washington, when he visited the city in 1789. See where he took tea with his secretary's mother, Mrs. Lear, attended services at St. John's Church, and was feted at a reception at the Langdon House. End the tour with a wine and cheese reception in the double parlor of the house.
Canning and Preserving at Cogswell’s Grant Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join Caroline Craig for a lecture and demonstration on canning and preserving. Learn about traditional preservation methods, look at the equipment used, and see some of the produce from Bert and Nina Fletcher Little’s farm. Caroline worked for the Little family for more than twenty years and one summer put up more than eight hundred jars of jams, jellies, and preserves. She shares the family’s favorite seasonal recipes for applesauce. Samples available for tasting.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 19, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
The Way They Were Tour Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Go behind-the-scenes at Hamilton House to learn about the daily routines of domestics, grounds keepers, and others who worked for families like the Tysons early in the twentieth century. See the fourth floor attic space where servants lived and enjoy the stunning view of the river from the rooftop skylight. Explore the grounds and discover where the Tysons' chauffeur once slept.
Eastern Point Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy this engaging tour of the Eastern Point neighborhood surrounding Beauport. In the early years of the twentieth century, Eastern Point became a summer playground for Boston elite, specifically Henry Davis Sleeper and his social circle. Learn about this neighborhood’s rich history and the colorful denizens of the Dabsville community while enjoying breathtaking views of the harbor. Tour is followed by light refreshments and a tour of Beauport.
Fairy House Tours
When: Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $10 adults and $4 children in advance, $15 adults and $5 children on days of the tour
The grounds are transformed into a whimsical village of fairy houses. Visitors search throughout the landscape for the tiny structures created by artists and children and hidden in the wooded areas, under trees, and in the garden. The event is a partnership with the Friends of the South End. Also, explore Strawbery Banke, Pierce Island, Prescott Park, and the Wentworth-Gardner House. The Langdon House first floor is open for tours.
Off the Beaten Path
When: Sunday, September 20, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Watson Farm, Jamestown, R.I.
Phone: 401-423-0005
Admission: free Garden and Landscape members, $3 Historic New England members, $8 nonmembers
Farm managers Don and Heather Minto lead a tour of this extensive seaside agrarian landscape. The history of Watson Farm is placed in the larger context of the local island community and Rhode Island's history. The walk focuses on the land, people, and natural resources of Narragansett Bay. Participants have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic vistas and hike the two-mile trail through farm fields and rocky shoreline.
Modern Kitchen Design and Social Impact Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursday, September 24, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Codman Estate Carriage House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Kristina Wilson, assistant professor of art history at Clark University, discusses the impact of mid-century modern kitchen design, specifically kitchen appliances, on the social implications of family and society. Her lecture focuses on intersections between modernism and popular culture in the twentieth century and how modern art, design, and architecture are marketed to broad audiences. She is the author of Livable Modernism: Interior Decorating and Design During the Great Depression, which won the Charles F. Montgomery Book Award from the Decorative Arts Society.
Trails and Sails: Coastal Farming Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: Free
Cogswell’s Grant has been a working farm from the seventeenth century to present day. Join us for a walking tour through the fields and to the marsh. Learn the rich history of the families who lived and farmed here and find out how coastal farming has evolved over the centuries.
Cosponsored with the Essex National Heritage Commission.
Trails and Sails: Guide Favorites
When: Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: Free
This abbreviated tour highlights the favorite rooms, stories, and objects of those who know it best - the Beauport guides. Space is limited; admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis. Cosponsored with the Essex National Heritage Commission.
Family Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: Free to members, $6 nonmembers, $4 children
See tractors and other farm equipment spanning eighty years. Try corn husking or win a prize at the pie-eating contest. Learn how simple machines help farmers with pumping water, pressing cider, and preparing food. Find your way through a hay bale maze, harvest wild herbs, and see vegetables preserved in the traditional way. Enjoy a wagon ride through the fields, build scarecrows, go on a pumpkin treasure hunt, and make fall crafts. Listen to folk music performed by Sweet Loretta’s Snake Oil Jug Band or watch a puppet show by Martha Dana. The c. 1690 manor house is open. Cider, donuts, and hot lunch are available.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Meet the Author-Book Signing Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, September 26, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Barrett House, New Ipswich, N.H.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Celebrate America's Kitchens, Historic New England's newest publication, with a talk and book signing by author and Curator Nancy Carlisle. Innovatively designed and lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs, and colorful ephemera from Historic New England's diverse collections, America's Kitchens features New England kitchens, detached kitchens on southern plantations, Spanish colonial kitchens of the Southwest, elaborate nineteenth-century kitchens in the Midwest, and middle-class open-plan homes of 1950s suburbia. Copies of the book are available for purchase.
Victorian Furniture: Design Run Amok or Inspired Creativity?
When: Sunday, September 27, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Nickels-Sortwell House, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Victorian style resulted from the meeting of unprecedented technological development with rampant consumerism and elaborate, exuberant taste. Even if the densely decorated look is not your personal style, Historic New England Curator Nancy Carlisle explains why this period matters to anyone interested in furniture and decorative arts history and may give you a new appreciation of your great-grandmother’s table. Refreshments included. Sponsored by the Maine Antiques Dealers' Association.
Favorite Things and Hidden Treasures
When: Wednesday, September 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $18 nonmember
Please note: Registration required
This special tour highlights the favorite objects of renowned American folk art collectors Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little. Visitors have the opportunity to see objects hidden in cupboards and cabinets and take extra time to linger over the wealth of objects on view. The tour also includes a rare opportunity to see treasures stored in the attic, which is not usually open to the public.
Power of the Press
When: Wednesday, September 30, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $8 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Power of the Press, 1858 - 1859, addresses critical events leading up to the Civil War, including the Lincoln-Douglas Debates and John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry. Staff present excerpts from editorials and articles in Henry Chandler Bowen’s newspaper, The Independent, and other papers of the period, with primary source images and a narration. A question-and-answer period follows the presentations.
OCTOBER:
Introduction to New England Architecture
When: Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, 27, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 31, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Where: Codman Estate Carriage House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 254
Admission: $35 Historic Homeowner members, $50 Historic New England members, $95 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This course tells the story of New England architecture from 1640 to 1940. Staff explore building tradition, available technology, and how architecture evolved to suit the lifestyles of generations of New Englanders. Using high-style and vernacular examples from across New England, Senior Stewardship Manager Joseph Cornish and Preservation Specialist Sally Zimmerman trace changes in construction, style, and function in residential architecture in a series of lectures, culminating in a close examination of the Codman Estate to help you to read your old house.
Tales and Ales Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, October 3, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Swett-Ilsley House, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
In the late seventeenth century, the Swett-Ilsley House was Swett’s Tavern, one of three watering holes in town. The huge fireplace and massive beams are a perfect backdrop for an evening of historic fun. Enjoy traditional local brews and a hearty tavern dinner while listening to true tales of sword fights, scandalous romances, and bloody brawls, all from Newbury’s storied past.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, through November 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Vintage Baseball Doubleheader
When: Saturday, October 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Children's game, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: Free Historic New England members, $3 nonmembers
Watch the Essex Baseball Club play old-fashioned baseball against the Lynn Live Oaks and the Fitchburg Rollstones, using 1861 rules. Players pitch underhand, no gloves are allowed, and a ball bounced once and caught counts as an out. Kids of all ages are invited to play with the team at 2:00 p.m. Beer samples provided by Ipswich Ale. Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Grass field seating: bring blankets and lawn chairs, no reserved seating. Weather permitting, please call.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 3, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Colonial Crafts
When: Sunday, October 4, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Arnold House, Lincoln, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Visit the 1693 Arnold House, one of the oldest "stone enders" in Rhode Island, during the Great Road Heritage Festival. Go back in time and experience seventeenth century crafts with demonstrations by a potter, lace maker, candlemaker, cooper, armorer, horn worker, and tape maker. There are also opportunities for visitors to dip a candle, card wool, spin with a drop spindle, write with a quill pen, play period games, and more.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Fridays, October 9 and 23, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $25 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
The 1938 home of architect and teacher Walter Gropius showcases the clean, contemporary lines of Modernist design. Gropius’s use of subtle flattering lighting illuminates the connection between interior living spaces and exterior landscapes. During this evening slide show and house tour, see how Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Refreshments provided.
Comfort and Convenience Tour Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, October 10, 9:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Rundlet-May House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Explore changes in domestic technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the availability of new utilities in Portsmouth, and the incorporation of both into the house. The tour explores areas, like the basement and service ells, not normally open to the public.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: Saturday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $15 Historic New England members, $22 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This leisurely behind-the-scenes tour of Henry Davis Sleeper's summer retreat allows plenty of time to explore each room and includes passageways, closets, and other spaces not usually open to the public. Guides highlight their favorite objects and share anecdotes about Sleeper, his friends, and staff. Light refreshments included.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 10, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Walktober, Speaking from the Grave
When: Sunday, October 11, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: Free
Explore the oldest burying ground in Windham County (c. 1689). Learn about gravestone art and the different carvers in Northeast Connecticut. Interact with costumed interpreters, who will portray people from Woodstock’s past and speak about Woodstock’s history. Bring a camera and sketchbook.
Edwardian Afternoon at Castle Tucker
When: Sunday, October 11, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: Free to Historic New England members, $5 nonmembers, $2 children
Please note: Registration recommended
The Edwardian Age was an era of fabulous entertaining and elaborate fashion. Join us on the lawn of Castle Tucker for a display of fine period fashion and amusements by the ladies and gentlemen of the Order of Edwardian Gunners, Downeast Chapter, overlooking the spectacular Sheepscot River Harbor.
Jonathan Hamilton’s Berwick: A Walking Tour of Oldfields
When: Thursday, October 15, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Stroll through “Oldfields,” the oldest neighborhood in South Berwick and home to the Hamilton House. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery plus Colonial homesteads, the millpond, and the site of the First Parish Church. Learn about the inhabitants of the Vine Street burial ground, and hear about local mills, Indian raids, and the maritime trade that shaped peoples’ lives in what was then Berwick, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The walking tour begins at the Hamilton House visitor center. A bottle of water and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Fall Orchid Sale
When: Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: Free
Celebrate the blooming season of the orchid collection at the Lyman Estate greenhouses. Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale, including many hard-to-find varieties. Visit these antique greenhouses and enjoy gorgeous floral colors, shapes, and scents. Among the many varieties on display and for sale are cattleyas, laelias, oncidiums, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Their long lasting and showy blooms make orchids a dramatic addition to any indoor environment and this adaptable species can be grown in a variety of home conditions.
Cogswell's Grant Pumpkin Day
When: Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: Free to Historic New England members, $6 nonmembers, $4 children
Celebrate the arrival of fall. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, choose pumpkins to decorate, compete in a pumpkin pie-eating contest, do crafts, play games, and try cider pressing. Enjoy hot mulled apple cider and homemade pumpkin pie. The house is open for tours of one of the country's most celebrated collections of American folk art.
Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival
When: Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 617227-3957, ext. 270
Admission: Free to Historic New England members and children under 12, $5 nonmembers
Please note: Rain or shine
This festival is one of the leading juried fine arts and crafts shows in New England and features 175 artisans and their wares - jewelry, woodworking, pottery, clothing, metalwork, and much more. Enjoy live music, a food court, and first floor tours of Roseland Cottage.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Gedney Glows
When: Thursday, October 22, 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Where: Gedney House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $3 Historic New England members, $6 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Explore the house by the glow of lantern light and see why this is not your typical historic house tour. Explore the architecture of an eighteenth-century Salem shipbuilder's home --stand inside the chimney, see original paint treatments from the late 1600s, and view the layers of the house in a very new light.
Fall Family Fun
When: Saturday, October 24, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Pierce House, Dorchester, Mass.
Phone: 617-288-6041
Admission: Free to Historic New England members, $2 nonmembers
Enjoy craft activities and other hands-on opportunities connected to harvest time and the history of the Pierce House as a working farm. Families can make a leaf rubbing, design a pressed leaf card, practice spinning and weaving, and grind corn. Take a step back in time with Colonial clothing, toys, and games. Tours of the house are on the hour.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 24, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 31, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $6 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended. Register online until 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Go beyond the brick sidewalks and charming gardens and learn about how Beacon Hill was developed in the Federal era. The fortunes, ambitions, and struggles of Beacon Hill’s early residents, both wealthy and working class, shaped the streets, architecture, and character of the hill. Start with a tour of the Otis House Museum, the earliest intact mansion in the neighborhood, and continue on Beacon Hill’s historic streets. Private group tours available by appointment.
Historic House Kitchens Symposium Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Saturday, October 31, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, and Coffin House, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: $45 Historic New England members, $60 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This program is aimed at helping staff and volunteers at historic house museums enhance the presentation and interpretation of the kitchens in their museums. Participants will learn about finding information on kitchen history, discussing the work in the kitchen, enhancing the presentation through faux foods, and conducting demonstrations to help visitors understand more about the meaning of the room and food preparation in previous eras.
NOVEMBER:
Federal Era Wine Tasting Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Sunday, November 1, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $40 Historic New England members, $50 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Harrison Gray Otis was known for his love of food, drink, and entertaining. He especially loved Madeira, and ordered it by the “pipe,” a cask that held more than one hundred gallons. Learn more about fortified wines, their place in early American history, and entertaining in Federal era Boston during a tour and tasting at the Otis House Museum. Wine educator Sara Davies leads a tasting and discussion of port, Madeira, and sherry with wines provided by Charles Street Liquors, just in time to inspire your own holiday gathering.
Beginning Orchid Growing Workshop
When: Friday, November 6, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: Free to Garden and Landscape members, $30 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Learn the essentials of growing orchids, including requirements of growing media, light, water, temperature, and fertilization. With their long-lasting and showy blooms, orchids are one of the most beautiful and dramatic of all flowering plants. This popular course is taught by Lyman Estate horticulturist Lynn Ackerman, an accomplished orchid grower and member of the Orchid Society.
The Awakened Eye
When: Saturday, November 7, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Codman Estate Carriage House, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: $30 Historic New England members, $45 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Ati Gropius Johansen, daughter of Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, leads a hands-on workshop to introduce Bauhaus principles. The workshop is designed to develop a new awareness of the visual world as taught at the famous Bauhaus school of design in the early twentieth century.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, through November 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: Free
Casey Farm hosts a seasonal farmers market in collaboration with other local farms and artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Gadgets and Gizmos Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Sunday, November 8, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
What are those odd-looking gadgets in the kitchen? Who made them? How do you use them? Explore the Phillips House kitchen and experiment with the odd looking gadgets and gizmos that made life easier for the domestic staff. This hands-on family discussion is part of Historic New England's Year of the Kitchen.
Orchid Growing Clinic
When: Friday, November 13, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: $10 for up to three orchids
Bring up to three orchid plants for evaluation by experienced horticulturists. Get advice on maintaining healthy blooming plants. Other services offered include repotting and educational handouts about orchids. Books, pots, and growing supplies are for sale.
Thanksgiving with the Phillips Family Year of the Kitchen Program
When: Thursday, November 19, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration recommended
Kick off the holiday season at the Phillips House. Learn how a prominent Salem family assembled to celebrate and give thanks. Listen to stories derived from the social calendars and personal journals of five generations of the Phillips family.
Holiday Fine Art and Gift Sale
When: Friday, November 27, through Sunday, November 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: Free
Spend the days after Thanksgiving at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm. Tour the c. 1690 manor house, take a wagon ride through the fields, and pick up the perfect present from a selection of fine art and gifts, including artwork from members of the Newburyport Art Association. Visit with Socrates the turkey and all the farm animals. Enjoy hot cider and seasonal treats, browse through books and unusual gifts. Hundreds of items at up to 60% off, including toys, books, gift items, jewelry, and crafts.
DECEMBER:
Merwin Open House
When: Saturday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Merwin House, Stockbridge, Mass.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: free
Don’t miss your chance to see the c. 1825 Merwin House decorated for the holiday season. Enjoy a free tour of the first floor of this handsome brick structure. Held in conjunction with the Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas celebration.
The Bowen's 1887 Christmas Celebration
When: Sunday, December 6, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Admission: Free
This annual Christmas program highlights decorations based upon the Bowens' 1887 written account of their Christmas celebration in New York. Enjoy first floor tours of the house, holiday music, and readings from Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
Appointments can also be made for special group tours through January 10, for a fee of $5 per person.
First Night Tours
When: Thursday, December 31, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: Free with First Night button
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Otises. Experience the elegant life of one of Boston's leading families just after the Revolution. Visit the home of Harrison Gray Otis and Sally Foster Otis illuminated for a New Year's Eve celebration. Tour the first floor of this elegant mansion, built in 1796. Refreshments available.
JANUARY:
Winter Weekends
When: Saturdays, January 16 through February 27, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Phone: 978-744-0440
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $8 nonmembers, $7 students/seniors, $6 children
Please note: Registration recommended
Follow the Phillips family on a wintery jaunt around New England. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while viewing film clips of the family engaged in their favorite winter activities. Tour the house and see Phillips family items, such as sporting equipment, postcards, photographs, and artwork, not usually on display.
