What’s the first image that comes to mind when you think of good preservation? Most people probably picture a historic building they know and love, with intact architectural features and a beautifully restored and well-maintained exterior. Preservation we can see always has an immediate impact on our experience of a historic site and lingers in […]
Sitting on an open desk in a small bedroom at Marrett House in Standish, Maine, is a brochure for the White Star Line’s “twin-screw steamer” fleet, including the Cymric, which sailed from Liverpool to Boston on October 23, 1907. This little piece of ephemera gives us a peek into the lives of the fiercely intelligent, […]
Nestled along a picturesque stretch of Route 1A, Casey Farm in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is one of Historic New England’s most-visited properties, welcoming families, school groups, and nature lovers year-round. But for many visitors, especially those arriving by foot, bike, or public transit, a major challenge loomed: safely crossing the busy Boston Neck Road. […]
In this month’s installment of Behind the Exhibition, Curator of Collections Erica Lome explores the provenance of one of the most significant items in Historic New England’s collections: A teapot that will be on view in Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution, opening May 15, 2026, at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts, […]
Summer 2025 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Historic New England magazine. Over the past quarter-century, it has become a trusted source for engaging, well-researched stories about the region’s architecture, material culture, and diverse communities. Like the organization it represents, the magazine affirms the power of storytelling in shaping our collective sense of place and identity. The print […]
To help mark the occasion of Historic New England’s 115th anniversary in 2025, we are sharing some of our favorite collection stories from Historic New England magazine—which turns twenty-five this year. This month, we revisit a quintessential New England archetype: the Maine inn. This drawing by a young architect working for Wheelwright & Haven depicts the Islesboro […]
Historic New England’s Nickels-Sortwell House in Wiscasset, Maine, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the region’s finest Federal-style houses. A shipping magnate’s mansion that became a hotel, and a hotel that became an early twentieth-century summer home, its story mirrors social and economic changes in coastal Maine across two centuries. Visitors navigate these […]
Each year, Historic New England awards small grants to one small or mid-sized nonprofit in each New England state to support community preservation projects. With this year’s grant cycle now open, we’re republishing a 2024 blog post highlighting the program and encouraging organizations to learn more and explore recent grantees whose work embodies its mission. […]
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 […]
To help mark the occasion of Historic New England’s 115th anniversary in 2025, we are sharing some of our favorite collection stories from Historic New England magazine—which turns twenty-five this year. This month, learn about the detective work that uncovered the story of an artist behind a striking advertisement for “piazza furniture.” This large colored drawing signed “Eleanor […]
Elizabeth DeWolfe is a historian whose work explores how women navigate power, identity, and social constraints. DeWolfe describes herself a “researcher of ordinary women’s extraordinary lives,” and her award-winning books—Alias Agnes, The Murder of Mary Bean and Other Stories, and Shaking the Faith—reflect her commitment to giving voice to those consigned to the margins of […]
This is the first post in a new series, Behind the Exhibition, where our curators pull back the curtain on their creative process to share how our exhibitions are made, from early research and object selection to storytelling and design decisions. This month, Curator of Collections Erica Lome talks about the quilt top that inspired the […]
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