Last November, a group of eighth graders in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, stood around a small stone marker and said a name out loud: Tamar. They wanted her remembered not as a name in a legal record, or solely as an enslaved woman, but as someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone’s friend. In the ceremony they designed […]
For Pride Month, we asked Nicole Skarbek, Director of Private Events at Historic New England, to reflect on a part of our work that is deeply personal, yet often less visible in conversations about inclusion and belonging. While our storytelling frequently centers on public programs, exhibitions, and new research, Historic New England’s commitment to creating […]
For nearly a century, Guillow’s has been building model airplanes out of balsa wood, by hand. Founded in Wakefield, Massachusetts, in 1926 by World War I naval aviator Paul K. Guillow, the company began with aviation-themed card games and toy planes and gliders. Through decades of Aviation shifts—from the rise of plastic kits to modern […]
On June 25-26, 2026, the Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife will gather at Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, in an event that marks the fiftieth anniversary of this important institution in the study of the region’s history and material culture. And while the Seminar looks back over its long history—including its half-century of collaboration with Historic […]
Photographic negatives capture extraordinary levels of detail, preserving moments, places, and people with remarkable depth. They are also among the most physically fragile materials in an archive, usually requiring specialized handling and equipment to view. Preserving photographic negatives is paramount because they are the original capture; they possess more detail, sharpness and depth than their […]
In spring 1775, Samuel Quincy prepared to set sail for England. A son of the eminent Boston merchant Colonel Josiah Quincy, Samuel was a Harvard graduate, an accomplished lawyer, and a friend of John Adams. Wealthy and renowned, the Quincy family was known throughout the Boston area for their involvement in politics and ardent support […]
Every historic site has a story—and so do the people who care for them. Meet Dan Santos, Southern New England Regional Site Administrator at Historic New England. He has been with the organization for almost nineteen years, and manages Arnold House in Lincoln, Rhode Island; Clemence-Irons House in Johnston, Rhode Island; and Winslow Crocker House in Yarmouth […]
Every historic site has a story—and so do the people who care for them. Meet Peggy Konitzky, Midcoast Maine Site Manager at Historic New England. She has been with the organization for twenty years and manages Bowman House, Castle Tucker, Marrett House, and Nickels-Sortwell House. When Peggy isn’t doing research, managing guides, and planning programs, she enjoys reading and […]
Built on the banks of the York River in York Harbor, Maine, Historic New England’s Sayward-Wheeler House (ca. 1718) is highly vulnerable to severe storms and climate hazards. The property has been impacted by intensifying precipitation patterns and sea-level rise, and we recently obtained an environmental risk assessment and recommendations for nature-based resiliency adaptations at […]
Every historic site has a story—and so do the people who care for them. Meet Melissa Kershaw, Regional Site Administrator for Northern New England at Historic New England. She has been with the organization for four years and manages our New Hampshire sites: Barrett House, Gilman Garrison House, Jackson House, Langdon House, and Rundlet-May House. When Melissa isn’t welcoming visitors to our museums, she enjoys making art and exploring hidden gems […]
Sustaining Our Past, written by Historic New England’s Director of Sustainability Joie Grandbois, explores Historic New England’s climate action efforts and highlights how we’re adapting historic sites to meet the challenges of a changing environment. Through project updates, partnerships, community engagement—and the occasional reflection on sustainability in our communities and our daily lives—Joie shares how […]
Every historic site has a story—and so do the people who care for them. Meet Sheila Spalding, Newbury Site Manager at Historic New England. She has been with the organization for one year (in July!) and manages Dole-Little House, Coffin House, Swett-Illsley House, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, and Rocky Hill Meeting House. When Sheila isn’t juggling logistics, she enjoys gardening and scouring antique shops for random curiosities. Tell us a little […]
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