Historic New England wins a $30,000 grant to expand outdoor programming at Casey Farm in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. The funding supports the expansion of outdoor markets and youth education programs. Casey Farm will add two holiday markets, in November and December, and reconfigure some of its youth education programs to work outdoors. The two holiday […]

The 2020 Historic New England Book Prize goes to The Atlas of Boston History edited by Nancy S. Seasholes. Historic New England also selected two Honor Books for recognition this year: Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places by Christopher Wigren of Preservation Connecticut and The Paintings of J.O.J. Frost: An American Story by Bethe Lee […]

Historic New England is delighted to present Artful Stories, an online experience that explores regional stories told through art. Artful Stories reflects what it is about New England – its architecture, landscapes, townscapes, and people – that imbues the region with a unique sense of place. The paintings, selected from our extensive collection, date from […]

Ben Haavik, Historic New England’s team leader for property care, was approved for a peer-reviewed Professional Associate membership by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). The AIC Membership Committee felt that Ben’s professional experience showed “a commitment to furthering the work of conservation in accordance with AIC’s mission.” Sharing preservation expertise Haavik regularly presents in […]

The Westover-Bacon-Potts House (c. 1744) and outbuildings in Egremont, Massachusetts, is the latest property protected through Historic New England’s Preservation Easement Program. This easement represents an important partnership between Historic New England, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Egremont Historical Commission, and the nonprofit property owner, Greenagers, which engages teens in environmental conservation work. The buildings […]

The National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program recently awarded a $165,000 grant to Historic New England for Hamilton House in South Berwick, Maine. This award, which must be matched 100 percent, will fund a Historic New England Preservation and Resiliency project at Hamilton House. The project focuses on replacing the roof, conserving windows, repointing […]

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House in Gloucester, Mass., was the summer home of one of America’s first professional interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. This portrait, currently on display in our online preview for Artful Stories: Paintings from Historic New England, shows Sleeper in his late twenties. The year after this was painted he purchased land in […]

This summer Historic New England did extensive exterior painting at Governor John Langdon House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Crews made a significant transformation by painting the front facade of this illustrious National Historic Landmark and an additional five elevations on the McKim, Mead, & White extension at the back of the house. The project also […]

Many industry experts say travelers are staying closer to home this year and are looking to visit nearby destinations. History in your hometown Did you know that within a thirty mile radius of Boston, Historic New England offers you a chance to tour some very distinctive historic houses or visit some lovely landscapes? The nearby […]

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” The importance of USPS in our communities For more than 225 years the United States Postal Service (USPS) has connected people and communities with one another. The post office serves as the conduit for […]

Richard Haynes Jr., a former artist-in-residence at Historic New England’s Governor John Langdon House in Portsmouth, N.H., discusses his artistic process while creating his portrait of Cyrus Bruce. The Creative Process Haynes was the artist-in-residence at Langdon House during the summer of 2018 when he created a portrait of Cyrus Bruce. Bruce, a formerly enslaved […]

Archive invites comparison of nineteenth and twenty-first century Boston transportation woes For months there has been speculation about the effects the pandemic will have on public transportation in Greater Boston. Transportation organizations are determining how to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, how to manage rush hour, and whether public transportation in Boston will […]