Join us for a full day Conference on Newburyport and the China Trade, 1844-2024: Commerce, Diplomacy, and the Arts in the Years of the Dragon.

Newburyport is forever linked with China through diplomacy and trade.

In 1843, Caleb Cushing of Newburyport resigned from the U.S. Congress to become America’s first commissioner to China. He arrived in China with four American warships, laden with gifts including revolvers, a telescope, and an encyclopedia, and used both threats and flattery to achieve his ends. The subsequent 1844 Treaty of Wanghia, named for the village where it was signed, was the first treaty between the U.S. and China. It was one more way in which Newburyport and the China Trade were inextricably linked.

Join foreign policy experts, award-winning authors, master craftsmen, art specialists, and more as we explore the links between Newburyport and the China Trade, then and now. Presenters will include Eric Jay Dolin, author of When America Met China, and Dane Morrison, author of True Yankees: The South Seas & the Discovery of American Identity, along with art, shipbuilding, and modern China experts to evaluate the impact of the China Trade on various aspects of our community, our nation, and the world.

Sessions include:

• When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail

• Newburyport's Caleb Cushing, The Treaty of Wanghia, and the birth of Sino-American Diplomacy

• Postcards from the Pearl River: Chinese Export Painting and Decorative Arts in the 18th and 19th Centuries

• Vessels of the China Trade — Types and Technology

• Panel: Modern China: Education, Foreign Policy and Lasting Legacies of the China Trade

Optional, limited-space "field trips" (registration required, conference attendees only):

• Napier Ship Model Studio Tour - Visit the studio/workshop of Rob Napier, a ship model professional engaged in building and repairing models for individuals and institutions. Rob’s original models are created on a broad groundwork of documentation found in the historical, photographic, and artistic records. His work has won awards at national and regional competitions, and he has judged numerous ship modeling events. 3:45-4:45, $10/person (conference attendees only).

• Private Tour of the Phillips Library and Hawkes Collection Center - Join Jennifer Hornsby (Reference and Access Services Librarian) and Dana Gee (Technical Services Librarian) for a tour of the Peabody Essex Museum's Phillips Library and its home facility, the James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes Collection Center. This 120,000-square-foot facility provides state-of-the-art preservation, protection, and care of PEM’s extensive collection of art and culture–including the Phillips Library's reading room, digitization lab, and stacks. Come take a look behind-the-scenes! 3:30-4:30, free (conference attendees only).

• Newburyport Relics of the China Trade: Behind-the-scenes at the Custom House Maritime Museum - Join curator Kevin MacDonald for a special tour of the rich collection of art, artifacts, and documents that speak to Newburyport's engagement in the China Trade. This year, the CHMM celebrates it's 50th year. When it opened in 1975, the Museum of Old Newbury loaned, and then gifted, over a thousand items which were foundational in the CHMM's ability to tell the maritime story of Newburyport. The majority of these artifacts are on display and many pertain to the China Trade. A new exhibit presents and interpretes these objects, souvenirs of a time past when clipper ships raced across the oceans. 3:45-4:45, $10/person (conference attendees only).

This full-day event includes lunch and is hosted by The Governor's Academy.

Tickets are $45 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $60 for non-members

Please visit https://www.newburyhistory.org/membership or call 978-462-2681 today for more information or to become a member!

What better time than twilight in October to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through the historic Oak Hill Cemetery. To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight.

Join noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native, for a nighttime stroll through the historic 1842 Oak Hill Cemetery, final resting place of shipwrecked sailors, sea captains and merchants, architects and photographers, writers and poets, silversmiths and newspaper editors, and adventurers who travelled to the California gold rush.

Tickets are $10 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $20 for non-members

What better time than twilight in October to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through the historic Highland Cemetery. To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight.

Join noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native for a nighttime stroll through the historic 1800 Highland Cemetery. From the graves of Newburyport’s Black residents to daring Revolutionary War privateers, accomplished artists, brave Civil War nurses, and ordinary Newburyporters, learn about people whose lives were recorded in stone.

Tickets are $10 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $20 for non-members

What better time than twilight in October to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through the historic Old Hill Burying Ground. To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight.

Wander through Newburyport’s historic 1729 Old Hill Burying Ground with noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native. Meet Revolutionary War heroes, captains and merchants of Old Newbury, and even a “cool, cool cat” in a stroll around this hilly graveyard. Old Hill boasts some of the most ornate early tombstone decoration in New England. From recently rediscovered graves of Black Newburyporters to the mausoleums of Newburyport’s merchant families, Old Hill Burying Ground looks down on the city from its perch above Bartlet Mall.

Tickets are $10 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $20 for non-members

What better time than twilight in October to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through this historic First Parish Burying Ground, final resting place of some of Old Newbury's first European settlers?

To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight. Join Museum of Old Newbury executive director Bethany Groff Dorau for a nighttime stroll through the historic First Parish Burying Ground, established in 1646. Hear tales of murder, witchcraft, courage, and romance, and visit some of the oldest marked graves in Essex County.

Tickets are $10 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $20 for non-members

Join us for an exciting evening at the New Acquisitions for Old Newbury event! This is your chance to connect with fellow members and celebrate our organization's achievements over the past year.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:30, we will gather for a reception at 98 High Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 to reconnect with friends and neighbors who share our passion for preserving the rich history of the Newburys.

Please note: This event is free for members, but registration is required as space is somewhat limited. Please reserve your place by registering here.

During this in-person event, following a brief business meeting, you will have the opportunity to view highlights of the past year's acquisitions. Learn the story of John Burke's talismanic "Masterpiece" cane. View an extraordinary collection of historic Plum Island images captured on glass plate negatives, and learn about a rare marsh painting by Lilian Wescott Hale. Hear an extremely rare contemporary account of the flamboyant Lord Timothy Dexter. Find out why a stump may be the most interesting acquisition of the year, mourn the tragic loss of young father Samuel Lunt during the Civil War, and so much more!

Don't miss out on this special event! Join us at New Acquisitions for Old Newbury and be part of our mission to preserve and celebrate the history of our remarkable community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

Maven: from the Yiddish meyvn, a maven is an expert, literally, one who understands.

Enjoy an evening of music in the Cushing House Garden with two members of the Museum of Old Newbury family, who also happen to be extraordinarily talented vocalists.

Meg Groff, best known for her sultry jazz vocals is the daughter of executive director Bethany Groff Dorau. Ella Suchecki, a celebrated singer/songwriter, is also the visitor services assistant at the Museum. These two rising stars will fill the evening with song, with the support of the superb Chuck Walker Trio, for one night only before Ella leaves to complete her studies at Salve Regina University.

This event is a fundraiser for the intern program at the Museum of Old Newbury. Your ticket includes delicious appetizers and desserts, one token for a signature event cocktail, wine, or fresh, local Ipswich Ale (additional beverages available), and first-floor walk-through evening tours of the 1808 National Historic Landmark Cushing House.

Early access tickets are available for current members of the Museum of Old Newbury.

Museum of Old Newbury members: $50, future members: $75 (includes discounted individual membership - please contact us here to upgrade to other membership tiers).

Rain or shine – limited seating – feel free to bring a chair.

Not able to attend but would like to make a donation? Select the donation option on the ticket page, call us at 978-462-2681, or visit our website here.

About the Museum Intern Program: Every year at the Museum of Old Newbury, we have talented, hard-working young people who join us, some for several years at a time. We receive partial funding for two interns. This year, we have six amazing students, from high-schoolers to graduate students, bringing energy and fun and baked goods to our busy office. Please consider a donation to support the interns at the Museum of Old Newbury, so we can keep these learning opportunities accessible to all.

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

Join the Museum of Old Newbury for a day-long exploration of the myriad links between Newbury(port) and Old York, Maine.

Begin the day at the Cushing House with a snack and a special introduction by executive director Bethany Groff Dorau to the many Newbury families who settled in York, Maine. Dorau is a relative of Newbury-born Shubael Dummer, York's first parish minister, whose violent death in 1692 rocked the colonies, and York-born Samuel Moody (1725 -1790) , the first schoolmaster at Newbury's Governor's Academy.

Get a close-up look at the Revolutionary War artifacts studied this summer by post-graduate interns Sam and Noah Clewley as we prepare for a deep dive into the loyalist world of Jonathan Sayward.

Travel (carpooling encouraged) to the Old York Historical Society, where we will be treated to a special behind-the-scenes tour with Research Center Director Peggy Wishart, followed by special tours of the National Historic Landmark 1656 Old Gaol, the 1750 Jefferds Tavern, an exploration of the 1692 Candlemas Raid, and more.

After lunch in York, we will have an exclusive, private tour of the c.1718 Sayward-Wheeler House. Learn about the lives of the free and enslaved people who lived here as the dramatic events of the American Revolutionary War unfolded around them.

$50, Museum of Old Newbury members only. Limit two tickets per member.

You can join the museum at https://www.newburyhistory.org/membership

If you are unsure if your membership is current, please call the office at 978-462-2681 or email info@newburyhistory.org.

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

Join us for Ablaze! A Fiery Walking History of Newburyport's Famous Conflagrations, a downtown walking tour, beginning at the Museum of Old Newbury, on Sat Aug 03 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Local historian and author Ghlee Woodworth will walk us through the history of the fires, famous and infamous, that shaped the landscape of downtown Newburyport and changed our community forever.

Learn about fire buckets, fire brigades, fire societies, and firehouses, and see how the devastating Fire of 1811 led to an architectural revolution. Visit the site where the Yankee Homecoming 1983 battalion of fire trucks saved a neighborhood, and mourn the (relatively) recent loss of a community landmark. End the tour with a visit through the Museum of Old Newbury for a special look at objects and archival records assosciated with fire-fighting and the history of fires in the past.

Tickets are $10 for museum members; $20 for non-members

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday July 21
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday July 14
Sunday July 21
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday July 7
Sunday July 14
Sunday July 21
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

The Museum of Old Newbury and First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist will host an in-person community reading of Frederick Douglass's impassioned 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Lend your voice to this powerful participatory event.

We will gather near the Garrison statue in Brown Square, Newburyport. Seating is limited - please bring a chair or blanket to the reading.

The reading will be followed by a discussion led by project scholar and community activist and educator Eddie Carson.

This program is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In case of inclement weather, the reading will happen on the same date & time at a nearby indoor location. Registrants will be notified of any change in location.

About Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was born in 1818 and escaped from slavery in Maryland in 1838. He lived for many years in Massachusetts and at one time worked for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. He delivered the Fourth of July speech on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. The most celebrated orator of his day, Douglass’ powerful language, resolute denunciations of slavery, and forceful examination of the Constitution challenge us to think about the histories we tell, the values they teach, and if our actions match our aspirations.

The speech being read can be found here: https://www.newburyhistory.org/frederick-douglass-speech-medium

Made possible with support from:

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday June 2
Sunday June 23
Sunday July 7
Sunday July 14
Sunday July 21
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

The Museum of Old Newbury invites you to enjoy this year's Garden Tour on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 & 9, 2024. You'll enjoy access to the best we have to offer, from urban pocket gardens to larger, more formal landscapes.

The 45th Old Newbury Garden Tour occurs rain or shine. It is an inspiration for those ranging from professionals seriously interested in garden design and horticulture to enthusiasts who simply love beautiful gardens.

Tickets are $25 members, $40 non-members; your ticket is good for one or both days.

Tickets can also be purchased in-person at 98 High St., Newburyport during the event.

Start at 98 High Street to pick up your garden tour guide, or use the digital guide that you'll receive by email a week before the event!

Membership has its privileges! Become a new member of the Museum of Old Newbury! Save $10 on one ticket or up to $30 on two! Purchase your membership and tickets together online for additional savings (see combo tickets).

New in 2024: Save $30 off a Contributor membership and two tickets! This membership level, our most popular, includes membership in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. This gives you free entry into more than 1,000 museums, including the Peabody Essex and Cape Ann Museum. Go to narmassociation.org to see the list of participating museums.

If you wish to become a higher-level or business member with additional discounts and privileges, please contact the office before purchasing your ticket.

With thanks to our sponsors, Bentley's Real Estate, New England Home Magazine, and Harborside Printing.

The Museum of Old Newbury invites you to enjoy this year's Garden Tour on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 & 9, 2024. You'll enjoy access to the best we have to offer, from urban pocket gardens to larger, more formal landscapes.

The 45th Old Newbury Garden Tour occurs rain or shine. It is an inspiration for those ranging from professionals seriously interested in garden design and horticulture to enthusiasts who simply love beautiful gardens.

Tickets are $25 members, $40 non-members; your ticket is good for one or both days.

Tickets can also be purchased in-person at 98 High St., Newburyport during the event.

Start at 98 High Street to pick up your garden tour guide, or use the digital guide that you'll receive by email a week before the event!

Membership has its privileges! Become a new member of the Museum of Old Newbury! Save $10 on one ticket or up to $30 on two! Purchase your membership and tickets together online for additional savings (see combo tickets).

New in 2024: Save $30 off a Contributor membership and two tickets! This membership level, our most popular, includes membership in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. This gives you free entry into more than 1,000 museums, including the Peabody Essex and Cape Ann Museum. Go to narmassociation.org to see the list of participating museums.

If you wish to become a higher-level or business member with additional discounts and privileges, please contact the office before purchasing your ticket.

With thanks to our sponsors, Bentley's Real Estate, New England Home Magazine, and Harborside Printing.

Architectural styles, like clothing, come into fashion for functional, aesthetic, economic and social reasons. Over time homeowners renovate, enhance, and adapt to reflect changing times and fashions.

Join us for a walking tour of Newburyport’s architectural styles from the 18th and 19th centuries as found along High Street and the neighborhood near the Museum of Old Newbury. Learn to distinguish prevalent styles, note changes that have occurred over time, and determine what questions to ask about historic houses.

This approximately 90-minute walk allows ample time to walk and talk with your knowledgeable guide and other participants. Together we will walk through time using the lens of Newburyport’s fashionable old houses!

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven terrain and bring a water bottle. In case of extreme weather, this event will be an illustrated talk at the Museum of Old Newbury.

Architectural Walking Tours are currently scheduled for
Sunday June 2
Sunday June 23
Sunday July 7
Sunday July 14
Sunday July 21
Sunday August 11
Sunday August 18
Sunday September 8
Sunday September 22.

During the Georgian, Regency and Victorian Eras strict social restrictions kept couples from opportunities for interaction and flirtation. A gentleman had to write a poem to declare his love for a woman. Romantic access during this dance of courtship was difficult so clever women resorted to using their fashion accessories to convey messages of interest and admiration…without saying a word!

Join MOON Costume Historian Lois Valeo for another Fashion Night Out. Enjoy an illustrated talk about this intriguing secret language. Wonderful pieces from our Collection will be on display. Learn how stylish women used parasols, fans, and handkerchiefs to transmit their secret desires…without saying a word!

Free for members of the Museum of Old Newbury; $10 General Admission

Join us on at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 for an encore presentation of one of the most popular lectures at last year's Great Marsh Symposium. Refreshments will be served prior to the talk.

Splendor in the Grass: Art Inspired by the Great Marsh

Have you ever stopped to admire the singular beauty of the landform we live so close to, known as the Great Marsh? You are not alone. Beginning in the early 19th century, artists set up their easels and recorded the marsh in every cast of light, every type of atmospheric condition, and every season. This presentation will cover over 150 years of painters and photographers working in and around the Marsh, highlighting the work of 20 artists, including Fitz Henry Lane, Martin Johnson Heade, and Arthur Wesley Dow. In the process, examples of several important art movements that influenced artists of the period will be illustrated.

Monica Reuss is an independent appraiser of American paintings and prints dating from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. She has over 25 years of experience, having graduated from the Sotheby’s American Arts Course, then working at Northeast Auctions by Ronald Bourgeault in Portsmouth, NH, as the Fine Arts specialist responsible for research, cataloging, and appraisals. Monica is a member of the Museum of Old Newbury’s Board of Directors and Collections Committee and a member of the Appraisers Association of America, holding certification in American paintings.

Free for members of the Museum of Old Newbury; $10 for non-members.

Title image credits: Arthur Wesley Dow (1857-1922), The Blue Dragon (view from the artist’s studio), Collection of the Ipswich Museum; Agnes Augusta Bartlett Brown (1847-1932), Sunset over the Marshes, Collection of the Museum of Old Newbury

Join the Museum of Old Newbury for a tasting and talk on the beverage that flowed through the taverns and trade of Newbury(port) - RUM!

Did you know that Caldwell’s Newburyport Rum was produced along the waterfront for 171 years (with a short break during Prohibition)? The rum business boomed in Newbury(port) in the 18th century, with ships arriving from the West Indies with cargoes of molasses to be distilled into potent, inexpensive New England rum.

And we drank almost as much as we made - about three pints of rum per adult male per week in the 1770's, and British attempts to regulate and tax this beverage helped to stoke the flames of revolution!

Join executive director Bethany Dorau for an illustrated talk and tasting on the history of rum in 18th century Newbury(port). Learn the language of punch bowls and check out the bar tab from Newburyport's Wolfe Tavern on the eve of Revolution. Learn how the production and distribution of rum changed over time, and how westward expansion signalled the end of the rule of rum. Explore attempts to outlaw "demon rum," long before Prohibition, and head home with recipes for rum cocktails from some of the area's best bartenders!

$10 for members of the Museum of Old Newbury; $20 for non-members.

Join the Museum of Old Newbury for a tasting and talk on the beverage that flowed through the taverns and trade of Newbury(port) - RUM!

Did you know that Caldwell’s Newburyport Rum was produced along the waterfront for 171 years (with a short break during Prohibition)? The rum business boomed in Newbury(port) in the 18th century, with ships arriving from the West Indies with cargoes of molasses to be distilled into potent, inexpensive New England rum.

And we drank almost as much as we made - about three pints of rum per adult male per week in the 1770's, and British attempts to regulate and tax this beverage helped to stoke the flames of revolution!

Join executive director Bethany Dorau for an illustrated talk and tasting on the history of rum in 18th century Newbury(port). Learn the language of punch bowls and check out the bar tab from Newburyport's Wolfe Tavern on the eve of Revolution. Learn how the production and distribution of rum changed over time, and how westward expansion signalled the end of the rule of rum. Explore attempts to outlaw "demon rum," long before Prohibition, and head home with recipes for rum cocktails from some of the area's best bartenders!

$10 for members of the Museum of Old Newbury; $20 for non-members.

Ice Ship to Calcutta: Captain Pritchard and the Ultimate Ephemera
In partnership with the Lowell's Boat Shop Winter Speaker Series, join us for the tragic tale of Captain Pritchard aboard the Elcano.

Join us at the Museum of Old Newbury for an unforgettable evening on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024 at 7:00 PM.

On June 15, 2023, the Museum of Old Newbury purchased a slate tablet from an auction in Cincinnati, Ohio, a notebook-paper sized piece of thin stone, double-sided and framed in walnut. Notes kept on slate were ephemeral. Slates were used to keep the "rough log", and they were erased after the notes were copied down into the ship's official log.

This slate deck log became, accidentally, a permanent record of the last moments of a man’s life, and revealed a gripping story of love, loss, murder, and bicycling in the Himalayas. Intrigued? Come hear the whole wild story and see this piece of ultimate ephemera for yourself.

The story of the Elcano has been revealed through a series of partnerships. Lowell's Boat Shop executive director Graham McKay and MOON director Bethany Groff Dorau worked together to decipher the deck log, while the Custom House Maritime Museum lent a copy of a journal that revealed another Pritchard - the Captain's wife Emily - as she made her way to Calcutta and home again.

Join us for a Dark and Stormy evening with maritime-themed refreshments. Free for members of Lowell's Boat Shop and the Museum of Old Newbury; $10 for non-members.

Craving some lush spring blooms in the middle of winter? Join us for an illustrated romp through the gardens of the Old Newbury Garden Tour with photographer Bob Watts. Watts is the creator of the popular "Come for a Walk With Me" social media series and board member/volunteer with the Museum of Old Newbury.

For the past 45 years, the Museum of Old Newbury has offered Garden Tour participants the chance to be inspired and delighted by the exquisite gardens in our community, and for the past three years, Bob Watts has been there to capture these gardens and the stories behind them on (digital) film.

Enjoy flower-themed refreshments and special discounts on tickets to our 45th Annual Old Newbury Garden Tour as Watts takes us on a wander through gardens past, interweaving photography tips and stories from the field with a selection of over 200 beautiful flower and garden images. Gardens featured on the 2000 and 2001 Garden Tours will be the evening's focus.

Come for a winter Garden Tour walk with us!

Free for members of the Museum of Old Newbury; $10 for non-members.

"Mad, is he? Then I hope he will bite some of my other generals."
King George II on James Wolfe - 1759

James Wolfe was a bold, young British officer who led Newbury men (and others) into battle on Quebec's Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759. His death at the moment of victory became legend, and Wolfe a martyr to the cause of British supremacy in North America.

How Wolfe's name and reputation survived Newburyport's patriot fervor during the Revolutionary War, emblazoned proudly on the tavern and hotel that were local institutions, is a story of loyalty, courage, and grief told through images, documents, and artifacts in the collection of the Museum of Old Newbury.

James Wolfe was born in January, 1727. We will explore his legacy with a brief illustrated history and celebrate with cake, punch, and a performance of the haunting lament General Wolfe on the fife.

What better time than Winter Solstice to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through historic Oak Hill Cemetery on the longest night of the year?

To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight. Join noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native, and Museum of Old Newbury executive director Bethany Groff Dorau for a nighttime stroll through the historic 1842 Oak Hill Cemetery, final resting place of shipwrecked sailors, sea captains and merchants, architects and photographers, writers and poets, silversmiths and newspaper editors, and adventurers who travelled to the California gold rush. We will visit several Ebenezers, though none of them Scrooges, and toast the longest night with hot cider and good cheer.

$10 for Museum of Old Newbury Members
$20 General Admission

Kerri Greenidge, a professor at Tufts University, will give a talk entitled "Go Forth and Enlighten Your Brethren! Black New England, William Lloyd Garrison, and the Legacy of Radical Abolition" in this, the fourth annual lecture sponsored by the Friends of William Lloyd Garrison. The annual lecture marks the birthday of the abolitionist and newspaper editor who was born in Newburyport. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Greenidge, the Tufts University Mellon associate professor in the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, also co-directs the African American Trail Project and Tufts’ Slavery, Colonialism, and Their Legacies Project.

"The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in An American Family" was recently listed as a best book of the year by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Boston Globe. It was the 2023 semi-finalist for the Stone Book Award from the Museum of African American History in Boston, and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from Phi Beta Kappa. “The Grimkes” was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Award, in addition to the J. Anthony Lukas Award. Greenidge’s writings have appeared in the Massachusetts Historical Review, the Radical History Review, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, and the Guardian.

Her previous book, “Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter,” won the 2020 Mark Lynton History Prize, among other awards.

To highlight the week, the Newburyport Public Library will provide a Recommended Reading list of books available for adults and children relating to Garrison, the abolitionist movement and racial justice.

The Garrison Lecture is made possible by support of the Newburyport Preservation Trust and grants from the Mass Humanities Expand Massachusetts Stories program and Newburyport Trust Fund Commission and a donation from Newburyport Bank. This event is sponsored by the Friends of William Lloyd Garrison with media support from the Museum of Old Newbury.