Group Tours at Hamilton House (c. 1785)
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Romancing the past
A National Historic Landmark
In the early twentieth century Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter Elise used this c. 1785 house overlooking the Salmon Falls River as their Colonial Revival summer retreat. They created a lavish garden, commissioned whimsical murals in the dining room and parlor, and filled the house with the antique furnishings, handcrafted items, and decorative objects on view today.
Visit this picturesque landmark and experience the early twentieth-century romance of owning a country house away from the pollution and noise of the era’s growing cities.
Location:
40 Vaughan’s Lane, South Berwick, Maine
207-384-2454
- June 1 to October 15, Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- All group tours must be scheduled by appointment. In addition to open days, group tours may be scheduled at times the museum is closed to the public.
Specialty Tours
We are happy to work with you to customize your experience.
- Guided House Tour: Enjoy an approximately one-hour guided tour; please allow one and a half hours for your visit.
- House and Garden Tour: On this ninety-minute tour, after touring the house, visit the garden to learn about its design and plantings.
- Sarah Orne Jewett and the Tysons: Visit both Hamilton House and nearby Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum for a day’s outing. Learn about the friendship between Sarah Orne Jewett and the Tyson family and their roles in preserving Hamilton House. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Hamilton House or visit one of the local restaurants in South Berwick.
Tour Details
- Up to 12 visitors can tour the house with each guide; generally we can accommodate up to 50 visitors in the house in one hour. Accommodations can be made for larger groups.
- Please note that the tour requires a considerable amount of standing and climbing stairs. If members of your group need special assistance, please let the museum know in advance.
Cost:
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- Receptive tour operator rates available upon request.
- The tour leader and bus driver are welcome to a complimentary tour with the group.
- A non-refundable deposit based on your maximum number is due upon booking. The outstanding balance must be paid when the group arrives on-site for the tour.
- Please call two weeks in advance to confirm a guaranteed number of visitors.
Nearby Attractions:
- A variety of local restaurants in South Berwick include: Engrain, Early Bird Cafe, Oddfellows Tavern, Asia Cafe, and Fogarty’s Restaurant.
- Visit the nearby town of York, Maine, with quaint shops, several dining options, and beaches.
- Visit another Historic New England property nearby. Package discounts available.
- Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum and Visitor Center, South Berwick – Author Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) spent much of her life in this 1774 Georgian house, owned by her family since 1819, even using it as an inspiration for her novel Deephaven. A Visitor Center next door—a Greek Revival home where Sarah Orne Jewett lived as a child—features rotating exhibitions with an emphasis on regional art.
Amenities:
- Two restrooms located on the grounds.
- A visitor center in the Garden Cottage.
- Lush perennial gardens and spacious grounds overlooking the Salmon Falls River.
- Plenty of on-site parking is available for both cars and buses.
Please Remember:
- Food and drink are prohibited in the museum.
- Touching, leaning, or sitting on the objects is prohibited.
- Cell phones should be silenced prior to your tour.
- Your group will stay with the tour guide for the entire tour.
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