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APRIL:
The Preservation Movement Then and Now
When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. until May 3
Where: Portsmouth Athenaeum, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-431-2538
Admission: free
The exhibition tells the story of the preservation movement in New England, drawing on Historic New England's significant role as the region's premier preservation organization and its rich collection of documents and artifacts related to the Hancock House, one of the earliest preservation stories in New England. The show also examines preservation today, how the concept has changed and expanded from saving one architectural monument to preserving streetscapes, neighborhoods, and open spaces. A resource panel includes information on preservation services including Historic New England's Stewardship program, and information on state preservation offices and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The exhibition also contains a special section on Portsmouth's Rundlet-May House.
Boston Close Up: Windows on a New Century
When: Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: National Heritage Museum, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, Mass.
Phone: 781-861-6559
Admission: free
Boston Close Up offers a glimpse of Boston daily life around the turn of the twentieth century. The photographic panels capture details of ordinary life as it appeared in the commercial and residential streets of the city. Comparing past and present, there are several views of the same sites today by well known photographer Peter Vanderwarker, who has been documenting Boston since 1977.
Orchid Preview Sale - Garden and Landscape Members Only!
When: Thursday, April 3, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: free
Historic New England Garden and Landscape Members enjoy a special preview sale. Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale at a 15% discount, including cattleyas, laelias, paphiopedilums, and phalaenopsis. Both species and hybrid plants are available.
Spring Orchid Sale
When: Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: free
Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale, including many hard-to-find varieties. Among the varieties on display and for sale: cattleyas, laelias, paphiopedilums, and phalaenopsis. Both species and hybrid plants that are budded and blooming are available.
Boarding and Lodging Tour
When: Sunday, April 6, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $7 Historic New England members, $13 non-members
Please note: Registration required
The Otis House was once a first-class boarding house. Historian Susan Porter discusses the period from 1854 to 1868, when the Williams sisters were the landladies of this genteel establishment. Learn more about the sisters, their boarders, and how the house looked during this period. After the tour, enjoy refreshments and conversation.
Dearly Beloved - Jewelry of Marriage and Sentiment in the Historic New England Collection
When: Thursday, April 10, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: The Highlands, Topsham, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: free to Historic New England members and Highland residents, $5 non-members
Sarah Brierley, cataloguer and former Tiffany Fellow, shares stories and images of jewelry from the Historic New England collection, which contains more than 2,000 pieces and represents major designs popular with New Englanders from the early eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. While styles may change, the gift of jewelry is a treasured tradition, expressing love, friendship, loyalty, gratitude, and appreciation. Join us for an evening of great stories with fine examples of craftsmanship.
A Changing World: New England in the Photographs of Verner Reed, 1950-1972
When: Monday, April 21 - Sunday, July 20
Where: Adams Gallery, Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-305-1782
Admission: free
A Changing World surveys patterns in New England's social fabric as captured by the lens of a photographer with a keen eye and a warm sense of humor. Verner Reed worked for Life magazine from 1953 to 1958. His photographs were also featured in national magazines such as Fortune and Time, as well as in Vermont Life and other regional publications. This exhibition of Reed's work is divided into sections that reflect significant areas of his oeuvre: photo essays, artistic work, scenes of urban and rural life, children, portraits and character studies, and images best described as "telling moments." Key themes emerge in this overview of Reed's work, including the contrast between rural and urban life, the person-to-person directness of American politics, the evolving notion of "the famous," awareness of environmental issues, and an affection for "old New England" as an ideal way of life. The exhibition draws from the Verner Reed Archive, donated to Historic New England by Verner and Deborah Reed.
Draft Horse Plow Match
When: Saturday, April 26, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: : free to Historic New England members, $6 nonmember adults, $4 children
Teams of draft horses and mules from throughout New England participate in plowing competitions and demonstrations as part of this thirteenth annual event. Watch the shearing of our resident sheep, and see how the wool is washed, carded, and spun into yarn. Plant a seed in the children’s garden (you can check on your plants over the summer). Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, farm animals, blacksmithing demonstrations, children’s crafts and games. Listen to New England fiddle music performed by E. J. Ouelette or watch a puppet show by Martha Dana.
A Tour of American Architecture
When: Saturday, April 26, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Tour the Langdon House from the basement to the third floor and see why George Washington noted that among Portsmouth homes “Col. Langdon's may be esteemed the first.” Visitors will observe how the house was constructed and what materials were used. The tour will examine the high Georgian style of the main house and the uniquely American style of the Colonial Revival addition designed by McKim, Mead and White in 1905. This is a rare opportunity to see the construction methods used to unite these two styles. Refreshments will be served following the tour.
This event is Sold Out!
Walking Tour of the West End's Man-Made Land
When: Wednesday, April 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 256
Admission: $8 Historic New England members, $16 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Nancy S. Seasholes, historian and author of Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston and Walking Tours of Boston's Made Land, leads a tour of the man-made land in Boston's West End, the neighborhood surrounding the Otis House Museum. The tour explores where and why land was added to the West End, and visits Massachusetts General Hospital, the former Charles Street Jail, and Charlesbank Park among other sites. The tour starts at the Otis House Museum and ends at the Science Park T station.
MAY:
Spring Herb Sale
When: Thursday, May 1- Sunday, May 4 and Saturday, May 10 - Sunday, May 11, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: free
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a visit to the annual herb sale at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses, which features thousands of naturally grown culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herbs. Scented geraniums, herbal topiaries, pottery, and garden gifts are also available, and the horticultural staff is on hand to offer expert advice.
Helen Clay Frick, Bittersweet Heiress
When: Thursday, May 1, 6:30 - 7:45 p.m.
Where: Otis House Museum, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 254
Admission: free
In 1919, thirty-one-year-old Helen Clay Frick inherited $38 million from her father Henry Clay Frick, becoming the richest unmarried woman in America. Author Martha Frick Symington Sanger, presents a multifaceted portrait of
a complex, often misunderstood yet indomitable humanitarian and cultural force in twentieth-century America. A reception and book signing follow the lecture.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, May 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 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. This tour is offered every Saturday through October. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
At Home in the Georgian Period (1715 - 1780)
When: Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28, and June 4, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext. 254
Admission: $50 Historic New England members, $95 non members (includes Historic New England membership)
Please note: Registration required
Environment, politics, climate, religion, and material culture shaped the patternsof life developed in the early American colonies. In this mini-course, explore the
many influences of the Georgian period:
Topics include:
May 7; Historical Overview of the Georgian Period, Christopher L. Pastore, PhD. candidate, UNH in American history
May 14; Architecture, Joseph Cornish, senior stewardship manager, Historic New England
May 21; Furniture, Nancy Carlisle, curator, Historic New England
May 28; Interior Finishes and Decorative Arts, Elizabeth Garrett Widmer, writer and scholar
June 4; Special tours of the Governor John Langdon House (1784) and the Warner House (1716).
Where Beacon Hill Began
When: Thursday, May 8, 6:00 - 7:30p.m.
Where: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Newbury Street, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-227-3957, ext 254
Admission: Free Historic New England and NEHGS members, $10 nonmembers
Discover the history and the families of Beacon Hill with New England Historic Genealogical Society and Historic New England. In a three-part illustrated lecture, Christopher C. Child, genealogist of the Newbury Street Press; Scott C. Steward, NEHGS director of publications; and John Winthrop Sears, former MDC commissioner and Beacon Hill resident, will discuss "The Changing Landscape from 1625," "nineteenth century Boston Brahmin" and "Beacon Hill Today." This dynamic program will present the historical context of Beacon Hill's physical transformation, the nineteenth century migration of families to the hill and its establishment as Boston's elite residential neighborhood, as well as perspectives on Beacon Hill in the twenty-first century. This program also includes admission to one of Historic New England's Beacon Hill Walking Tours, which run every Saturday, May - October.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, May 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 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. This tour is offered every Saturday through October. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Sheep Shearing Day
When: Saturday, May 10, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Watson Farm, Jamestown, R.I.
Phone: 401-423-0005
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $5 per car for nonmembers
Celebrate Spring at Historic New England's Watson Farm at the annual Sheep Shearing Day. Watch the farm flock be shorn by local shearers and visit with the baby lambs. View the farm's herd of Heritage Red Devon Cattle and enjoy a scenic hike around the 265-acre farm located on Narragansett Bay.
Plant Sale and Open House
When: Saturday, May 10, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Phone: 401-295-1030
Admission: free
Join us at Casey Farm's kick-off event for the summer season. A variety of organic plants are available for sale, including unusual and old-fashioned varieties of annual and perennial flowers, heirloom vegetables, and culinary herbs. Free tours of the museum and grounds and many family activities.
The American Resting Place
When: Thursday, May 15, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass.
Phone: 617-547-7105 ext. 1945
Admission: free
Cultural historian Marilyn Yalom discusses her new book The American Resting Place: 400 Years of History through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds, and offers a unique glimpse into American history by sharing examples of burial grounds, cemeteries, and funeral customs from different regions of the country and over the course of the past 400 years.
Yalom and her son, photographer Reid S. Yalom, visited hundreds of cemeteries while developing book, following a coast-to-coast and north-to-south trajectory that mirrors the vast historic pattern of American immigration.
This lecture is co-sponsored by The Boston Athenaeum, Historic New England, Massachusetts Historical Society and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Walking Tour of the Pierce Neighborhood
When: Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Pierce House, Dorchester, Mass.
Phone: 617-288-6041
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $5 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Examine the changing face of the Pierce House neighborhood in the nineteenth century and the Pierce family’s role in the neighborhood’s development. The tour covers the boundaries of the property owned by Lewis Pierce (1786-1874), including nine houses built by the Pierce family, as well as a number of houses that typify Dorchester residential architecture.
The Power of the Press
When: Wednesdays, May 21, June 18, August 13 and September 17, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers, $40 for the series
Please note: Registration recommended
Henry Chandler Bowens’ weekly New York periodical, The Independent, began publication in December 1848. From its first edition The Independent grappled with the essential issues of the day. This series of lectures and readings from The Independent explores the critical issues and events from 1848-1858, including the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding Kansas, Bleeding Sumner, Dred Scott and the Panic of 1857. Presenters include Historic New England staff and guest speakers.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, May 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 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. This tour is offered every Saturday through October. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays, May 17 through October 25, 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.
A Sailor’s Life for Me
When: Saturday, May 17, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Rain Date: Sunday, May 18)
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $6 non-members, $4 children
Celebrate the arrival of spring by exploring the early maritime history at Hamilton House. Did you know that Hamilton House was once the site of South Berwick’s town landing? Or that ships were built on the shores of the Salmon Falls River and merchant vessels anchored in front of the house? Join us for a fun family festival with activities that explore our local maritime heritage. Sing a sea chantey and learn about the life of a sailor with maritime interpreter and performer, David Peloquin. Make a “sailor's valentine” or try your hand at soap scrimshaw. Take a tour of the grounds and imagine yourself in Hamilton's shoes. Refreshments are for sale.
Tourist in Your Hometown
When: Sunday, May 18, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Dole-Little House, Newbury, Mass., and Rocky Hill Meeting House, Amesbury, Mass.
Phone: 978-462-2634
Admission: free
Enjoy special house tours of select properties. Tour the c. 1715 Dole-Little House, one of Newbury's architectural gems and the magnificent 1785 Rocky Hill Meeting House in Amesbury.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, May 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 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. This tour is offered every Saturday through October. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Studies in American Folk Art; Hooked Rugs
When: Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $25 Historic New England members, $35 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Cogswell’s Grant, the summer home of premier folk art collectors Bertam K. and Nina Fletcher Little, is a treasury of the delightful objects they collected for more than fifty years. The Littles influenced generations of curators and other collectors, and their taste came to define the country look. Every room in the house is filled with paintings, carvings, boxes, ceramics, textiles, and other furnishings, lovingly arranged to be enjoyed as part of the family’s daily life. The selection of objects and the groupings reflect the Littles’ scholarship, always leavened with their light-hearted sense of humor.
Join us for a series of lectures and house tours that provide an in-depth study of this collection. Light refreshments and a tour of the house with the guest speaker follow lectures.
Jessie Turbayne is an internationally recognized authority on hooked rugs and the author of seven books valued by collectors and hooked rug afficionados. Jessie has conserved and restored antique hooked rugs for more than thirty-five years and has preserved many of the hooked rugs at Historic New England's house museums, including some in the collections at Cogswell's Grant and Beauport. Light refreshments included.
Perennial Sale
When: Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, June 1, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Lyman Estate Greenhouses, Waltham, Mass.
Phone: 781-891-4882, ext. 244
Admission: free
This sale offers hundreds of varieties of perennials, both new to the market and old time favorites. Let our gardening experts help you choose the right plants for your garden, whether in sun or shade.
Bert and Nina Little: Favorite Things
When: Saturday, May 31, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $10 Historic New England members, $18 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
This special tour highlights the favorite objects of renowned American folk art collectors Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little. The tour examines rarely seen objects inside cupboards, cabinets, and drawers. Visitors also have the rare opportunity to see treasures stored up in the attic, which is not usually open to the public.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, May 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 p.m. on the Friday before the tour.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. This tour is offered every Saturday through October. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
JUNE:
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays through October 25, 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 local artisanal food producers. Special events run throughout the season, including visits by chefs, children’s activities, artisan/craft days, and an heirloom tomato tasting. Rain or shine.
Thursdays at Twilight
When: Thursday, June 5, 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 see how electric light of the early twentieth century transforms a Federal-era house. Selections from Phillips family home movies provide a glimpse of how the family lived in the house, entertained, and where they traveled in their leisure time. Light refreshments served.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, June 6, 8:00 - 9:30 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.
This program is offered every Friday June through October.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 7, 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 p.m. on Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Annual Plant Sale
When: Saturday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Marrett House, Standish, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: free
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 ‘30s. Visitors can choose plants directly from the Marrett House holding garden and enjoy free tours of the house. Built in 1789, Marrett House was occupied by one family for over one hundred and fifty years. Rooms showcase the treasured possessions of the family as they chose to cherish and display them, including fine pewter, furniture, ceramics, and textiles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Visitors hear the stories of this family and their friends as they enjoyed and sought to preserve this very special place.
Create a Card
When: Sunday, June 8, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Garden, Lincoln, Mass.
Phone: 781-259-8098
Admission: free with DeCordova's annual Art in the Park festival admission
Just in time for Father’s Day, stop by the free craft area to create your own unique card for Dad or other friends and family using markers, construction paper, glitter, pipe cleaners, and more. Be inspired by cards made for Walter Gropius on his 70th birthday.
Vintage Baseball Double-Header
When: Sunday, June 8, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 baseball against regional clubs, using both 1861 and 1886 rules. These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching; a ball bounced once and caught is an out and no gloves allowed. 1886 rules are similar, but allow for overhand pitching. Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Grass field seating: bring blankets and lawn chairs, no reserved seating. Weather permitting, please call.
Sarah Orne Jewett Walking Tour
When: Wednesday, June 11, 1:00 – 2:30 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 required
Celebrate the life and works of Sarah Orne Jewett with a walking tour of her former haunts. Explore downtown South Berwick and imagine what life was like during Sarah's lifetime, with stops at places Jewett family members knew and frequented.
Landscape and Garden Tour
When: Wednesday, June 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: free Garden & Landscape members, $8 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 Piscataqua 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 that surround Hamilton House and how Wetzel and his gardeners maintain the beautiful formal gardens.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, June 13, 8:00 - 9:30 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.
This program is offered every Friday June through October.
The Way They Were Tour
When: Saturday, June 14, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.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 of 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.
Burial Ground Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 14, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Hamilton House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Admission: free Garden & Landscape members, $8 Historic New England members, $12 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery during an exploration of two burial grounds near Hamilton House. First, visit the small Goodwin family cemetery to learn about the family and the history of family cemeteries in New England. Then, continue on to the Oldfields Burial Ground to view the graves of the Jonathan Hamilton and his wife. Spend time here exploring the evolution of grave markers from angels to urns and how these reflected changing attitudes about death and the memorializing of loved ones.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 14, 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 p.m. on Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Coastal Farming Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 14, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.
Phone: 978-768-3632
Admission: $5 Garden and Landscape members, $8 Historic New England members, $14 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Join us for a walking tour that explores Cogswell’s Grant as a working farm from the seventeenth century to present day. Though the last owners, Bertram and Nina Fletcher Little, purchased the property as a summer home and filled the eighteenth-century farmhouse with their wonderful collection of folk art, they continued to operate the farm and benefited from its produce year–round. Walk through the fields and to the marsh, while discussing the rich history of the families that lived and farmed here and how coastal farming has evolved over nearly four centuries.
Program in New England Studies
When: Monday, June 16 through Saturday, June 21
Where: * Various Locations *
Phone: (617) 227-3957, ext. 246
Admission: $1,350. Includes lectures, admissions, guided tours, transportation, daily breakfast
Please note: Registration required.
An intensive week–long course of lectures, behind-the-scene tours, workshops, and trips to house museums and private homes. 2008 participants will be visiting properties in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: Wednesday, June 18, 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 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.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, June 20, 8:00 - 9:30 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.
This program is offered every Friday June through October.
Hosta Sale
When: Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22, 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.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 21, 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 p.m. on Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Cape Ann Garden Tour
When: Saturday, June 21, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $25 advance tickets, $30 day of tour. Details below.
Please note: Registration required
Stroll through twelve unique gardens scattered throughout Cape Ann. At Beauport, guides are on hand to discuss the history of the landscape, its evolution, and current restoration. Tickets are available at www.sargenthouse.org.
Jazz Brunch
When: Sunday, June 22, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Phone: 603-436-3205
Admission: $20 Historic New England members, $30 non-members
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.
Connecticut Historic Gardens Day
When: Sunday, June 22, 1:00 –3:00 p.m., tours at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: free
Enjoy a visit to the Roseland Cottage garden as part of Connecticut Historic Gardens Day. Learn about the boxwood restoration project, as well as the famous Fourth of July garden parties given by Henry Bowen in the late 1800s. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. The museum is open for tours for the regular admission price of $8. House tour is free to Historic New England members.
The Power of the Press
When: Wednesdays, June 18, July 16, August 13, September 17, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.
Phone: 860-928-4074
Admission: free to Historic New England members, $10 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Henry Chandler Bowens’ weekly New York periodical, The Independent, began publication in December 1848. From its first edition The Independent grappled with the essential issues of the day. This series of lectures and readings from The Independent explores the critical issues and events from 1848-1858, including the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding Kansas, Bleeding Sumner, Dred Scott and the Panic of 1857. Presenters include Historic New England staff and guest speakers.
Twilight Tour
When: Thursday, June 26, 7:30- 9:30 p.m.
Where: Beauport, 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 as it transforms at twilight and 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.
Walk With Washington
When: Thursday, June 26, 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 when George Washington 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 Gov. John Langdon House.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, June 27, 8:00 - 9:30 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.
This program is offered every Friday June through October
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, June 14, 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 p.m. on Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Standish Day
When: Saturday, June 28; sale from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., tours from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Marrett House, Standish, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: free
Members of the Wildridge Garden Club and Historic New England staff sell strawberries and strawberry items during the Standish Day parade, which passes in front of the 1789 Marrett House. Free tours of the home are offered immediately after the parade and on the hour, with the last tour starting at 2:00 p.m.
Occupied by one family for over one hundred and fifty years, Marrett House showcases the treasured possessions of the family, including fine pewter, furniture, ceramics, and textiles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Visitors hear the stories of this family and their friends as they enjoyed and sought to preserve this very special place.
Secret Staircase Children’s Tea
When: Saturday, June 28, seatings from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: See below for details
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy a children’s tea, with crafts, on the terrace of Beauport, overlooking the Gloucester Harbor. Afterwards, explore the magic and hidden treasures of Beauport, including a climb up the secret staircase. Children ages 7 – 14 are welcome with an accompanying adult.
Children (ages 7- 14): $12 Historic New England members, $17 nonmembers;
Adults: $18 Historic New England members, $23 nonmembers
South Berwick Strawberry Festival
When: Saturday, June 28, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, Me.
Phone: 207-384-2454
Please note: free
The South Berwick Strawberry Festival is a great Maine tradition. Festival-goers enjoy a day of musical performances, children's games, craft and fine art vendors, and 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.
Lectures on the Lawn - Life in Nineteenth Century America
When: Sundays, June 29 and July 20, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: $5 Historic New England members, $10 non-members
Please note: Registration recommended
Dr. Jennifer Pustz, historian at Historic New England, presents Voices from the Back Stairs, the story of the servants at Castle Tucker. Who were they? What were their lives like in this house on the coast of Maine? These men and women were an essential part of Castle Tucker’s boarding house period, helping Mollie Tucker welcome, house, feed, and entertain paying guests in the summers between 1890 and 1900. Come hear their stories.
The July program features popular historian and author Jack Larkin, chief historian and museum scholar at Old Sturbridge Village. Mr. Larkin’s latest book is Where We Lived: Exploring the Places We Once Called Home. The American Home from 1790 to 1840. The lecture is followed by a Q&A session and refreshments.
This program is sponsored by the Maine Antiques Dealers Association
www.maineantiques.org
JULY:
Harborfest Walking Tours
When: Tuesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 6; 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 for information or visit www.BostonHarborfest.com.
Coastal Growers Market
When: Saturdays through October 25, 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.
Fireworks over Gloucester Harbor
When: Thursday, July 3, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Beauport, Gloucester, Mass.
Phone: 978-283-0800
Admission: $9 Historic New England members, $18 nonmembers
Please note: Registration required
Enjoy Gloucester’s fireworks from the terrace and lawn of Beauport. Bring blankets, chairs, and picnics. The house is open for abridged tours on the half-hour. Adults only, please.
Thursdays at Twilight
When: Thursday, July 3, 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 see how electric light of the early twentieth century transforms a Federal-era house. Selections from Phillips family home movies provide a glimpse of how the family lived in the house, entertained, and where they traveled in their leisure time. Light refreshments served.
Fourth of July Celebration
When: Friday, 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 Roseland Cottage. Historic flags used by Henry Bowen during his July Fourth celebrations (1870-1895), including the twenty-nine-foot flag flown for the visit of President Benjamin Harrison in 1889, are on display. The day also features family activities and a special appearance by Ulysses S. Grant.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, July 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 p.m. Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Sundays in the Garden Concert Series
When: Sundays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, 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
Sundays in the Garden Concert Series has become a long-standing summer tradition, offering some of the seacoast's most popular musical performers in one of its loveliest settings. Hamilton House's graceful gardens overlooking the Salmon Falls River provide the perfect setting for this series of late-afternoon performances. Concert goers are encouraged to bring a blanket, chairs, and their picnic baskets. In case of rain, concerts are held in the garden cottage.
An Evening at Gropius
When: Friday, July 11, 8:00 - 9:30 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.
This program is offered every Friday June through October
Kites at Castle Tucker
When: Saturday, July 12, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Rain Date: Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Where: Castle Tucker, Wiscasset, Me.
Phone: 207-882-7169
Admission: free. Tours at regular rates.
The field at Castle Tucker, overlooking the beautiful Sheepscot River and Wiscasset Harbor, will be a scene of color and merriment as families and kite enthusiasts converge in an airy celebration of joy. A professional kite flyer is on hand to offer tips; face painting, hot dogs, and popcorn for kids of all ages are available.
Beacon Hill Walking Tour
When: Saturday, July 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 p.m. Friday.
Historic Beacon Hill was developed in a burst of prosperity following the American Revolution. In the elegantly furnished rooms of the Otis House, witness the fashionable lifestyles of the wealthy, c. 1800. After touring the house, visit Beacon Hill's historic tree-lined streets, Louisburg Square with its elegant mansions, and the narrow alleys and humbler dwellings on the North Slope. Group walking tours are also available; call for information.
Nooks and Crannies Tour
When: Wednesday, July 16, 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.
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