The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is delighted to introduce a brand-new lecture series launching this summer. The Society’s beautiful Hedge House Carriage Barn has been opened up as a space for events and gatherings, creating a historic new setting for programs that explore local history, preservation, collections, and culture. For the first Carriage Barn Lecture Series, the Society is pleased to host four outstanding local historians, archivists, curators, and scholars.

All lectures will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Hedge House Carriage Barn, 126 Water Street, Plymouth.

Thursday, July 9, 4:00 p.m. “Plymouth and South Shore Women at Sea”

While much is known about the major male figures of local maritime history, very little has been said of the local women who made sea voyages during this period. Join Carolyn Ravenscroft, Archivist and Historian of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, to learn about her ongoing project to uncover the identities and stories of women from Plymouth, Duxbury, and Kingston who sailed aboard merchant vessels from 1809 to 1890. Using manuscript collections, vital records, census records, and secondary sources, Ravenscroft has found the stories of numerous women who went to sea.

Thursday, July 23, 4:00 p.m. “Preserving Plymouth: A Municipal Approach to Preservation”

In this illustrated lecture, Plymouth Town Archivist Connor Anderson will explore the many ways municipal preservation happens behind the scenes—from archives, historic records, and rare images to historic districts, town-owned historic structures, and long-term planning. Drawing on examples from Plymouth’s own collections and preservation initiatives, this talk will offer an inside look at how the Town is working to protect its historic resources and public memory for future generations.

Thursday, August 6, 4:00 p.m. “Conservation Cautionary Tales from English Museums”

Christopher Powell, Collections Manager at the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, will explore the contrast between housekeeping and conservation housekeeping, or preventative conservation, within the historic environment. Although both approaches have merit, each is vastly different when applied to a specific situation. Drawing on examples from London museums, public spaces, and English country houses, this talk will offer insights into costly and preventable disasters that can occur when the line between these methodologies becomes blurred.

Thursday, August 20, 4:00 p.m. “The Sea Took Its Due: Plymouth and the Perils of Whaling”

In this talk, Dr. Patrick Browne, Executive Director of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, will explore a dramatic but often overlooked chapter in Plymouth’s maritime history. Though overshadowed by Nantucket and New Bedford, Plymouth built a respectable whaling fleet that completed roughly sixty voyages over twenty-five years, bringing home thousands of barrels of whale oil before a sudden run of disasters in the 1840s brought the industry to an end. Browne will examine the rise, achievements, dangers, and decline of Plymouth whaling, an enterprise where ambition, profit, and tragedy met on the open sea.

To purchase tickets, visit plymouthantiquarian.org/events.

For more information, please visit the Plymouth Antiquarian Society website or contact the Society at info@plymouthantiquarian.org.

The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum are pleased to continue their partnership in offering a free public tour series of Plymouth’s historic Burial Hill for 2026. Held on the first Saturday of each month (except January), these thematic tours explore the rich and evolving history of Plymouth through the generations. Tours are free and start promptly at 1 pm. Meet at the top of the hill.

This year’s series explores the theme of Independency and the People of Plymouth, examining how Plymouth men and women in 1776—and across generations—challenged authority and shaped their own paths in the decades surrounding the American Revolution. See below for the full schedule and roster of speakers.

Severe weather may cancel some tours. Stay up to date with us on our Facebook pages, and visit pilgrimhall.org or plymouthantiquarian.org for more information on the continuing Burial Hill tour series.

Our textile conservators and volunteers continue work on the Inventory Reconciliation Project and, while the process remains complex and painstaking, we are making meaningful progress in ensuring the long-term care and preservation of PAS’s historic textiles.

At the same time, we are thrilled to be opening up the collection to the public in new ways. The Society is pleased to present a special series of Historic Clothing Parlor Talks this season—offering rare glimpses into some of the most exquisite and seldom-seen garments in our collection. These exhibits provide an opportunity not only to admire these beautifully preserved pieces but also to learn about their craftsmanship, construction, and the fascinating stories of the individuals who wore them.

The talks will be held at 2:00 p.m. on select Tuesdays at the Hedge House Museum on Water Street. Each program will feature a focused exhibit of historic items, paired with expert commentary and discussion.

2025 Parlor Talk Schedule:

• May 13 – Clothing of the Revolutionary Era
  Join our exceptional textile conservators, Renee Walker-Tuttle and Katy O’Donnell, for a deep dive into stellar examples of clothing from the Revolutionary War era. Discover how these garments were made, who wore them, and what they reveal about life in early America.
• July 8 – Dresses of the 1920s
  Explore the glamour and innovation of Jazz Age fashion through examples that reveal the social changes and expressive styles of the Roaring Twenties.
• August 12 – Military Uniforms across Time
  View an array of military garments spanning generations, including rare Civil War pieces recently stabilized and conserved through our current project.
• October 7 – Mourning Needlework and Accessories
  Discover the material culture of grief and remembrance, from embroidered mourning pieces to period accessories steeped in symbolism and sentiment.

Tickets are on sale now for the May 13th program! Go to plymouthantiquarian.org/events. Don’t miss this chance to gain a richer appreciation for one of PAS’s most extraordinary collections.

The Plymouth Antiquarian Society invites the public to explore the region’s Revolutionary heritage through two engaging events on Saturday, April 26. These programs offer a unique opportunity to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of America’s fight for independence and to explore the pivotal role Plymouth and the South Shore played in the nation’s founding.

The day begins with the South Shore History Symposium: The South Shore and the War for Independence, held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Plymouth. Presented by Back Roads of the South Shore, a consortium of regional historical organizations, the symposium features six distinguished speakers sharing new perspectives on Revolutionary War-era stories from across the South Shore. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for registration and refreshments with presentations running from 9:20 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $20 and includes all sessions and light refreshments. Tickets may be purchased online at plymouthantiquarian.org/events/sshs2025, by emailing info@plymouthantiquarian.org, or by mailing a check to the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, P.O. Box 3773, Plymouth, MA 02361 by April 21.

At 2:00 p.m., the focus shifts to the Spooner House Museum for Liberty and Tea at the Spooner House, a special program that invites visitors to step into the world of pre-Revolutionary Plymouth. Guests will sample historic teas—including varieties famously tossed into Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party—and an herbal “Liberty tea” favored by Patriots in protest. The event also features a pop-up exhibit of rarely displayed Revolutionary-era artifacts from the Society’s collections and guided tours of the Spooner House, home to one of Plymouth’s most influential patriots—Ephraim Spooner. Admission is $12 per person or $8 for PAS members.

Together, these two events offer a compelling and immersive experience for anyone interested in Revolutionary history. For more information or to register, contact the Plymouth Antiquarian Society at info@plymouthantiquarian.org.

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The Plymouth Antiquarian Society (PAS) is currently accepting applications for free scholarships to attend a week-long children’s summer educational program at the 1677 Harlow Old Fort House, a historic Pilgrim-era homestead located at 119 Sandwich Street, Plymouth. The scholarship contest is open to children ages 8 through 12, and is funded by donations from Society members. The Antiquarian Society is a non-profit organization that owns and operates three historic house museums in Plymouth, including the 17th-century Harlow House.

Successful applicants will attend a week’s session of “Exploring Plymouth’s History” for children ages 8 to 12 at the Harlow House, held Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., July 14 through 18, 2025. Through this hands-on, inquiry-based summer program, young history enthusiasts will be introduced to the clothing, food, crafts, and customs of 17th century English colonists and later Plymouth residents. Participants will play period games and practice traditional crafts including weaving and candle-making. They will also tour all three of the Antiquarian Society’s historic houses. The program will conclude with a research presentation by the participants, who will each receive a membership in the Junior Antiquarian Society to encourage ongoing engagement with the local past.

Tuition for the camp is normally $150 per child for the general public and $125 for members of PAS but this fee will be waived for scholarship awardees.

To apply, children must write a brief description (50 to 100 words) explaining “what history means to them.” This might be something they have learned about or found interesting about the past, whether from family traditions, school, reading, or other sources. Essays should be submitted with an application form completed by their parent or guardian. Deadline for submissions is June 1. Applications will be evaluated by the quality and creativity of the written essay. Winning submissions will be announced in mid-June. For more information, or to receive application materials, contact the Plymouth Antiquarian Society at (508) 746-0012 or e-mail info@plymouthantiquarian.org.

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This past November, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society welcomed two esteemed textile conservators, Katy O’Donnell of KWO Textiles and Renee Walker-Tuttle of ConText LLC, to the Hedge House for a preliminary assessment of our remarkable historic clothing collection. Spanning over a century of acquisitions, this collection reflects the lives and stories of generations past. The conservators’ visit marks the first step in an ambitious effort to better preserve and exhibit these artifacts, with a comprehensive inventory reconciliation planned as a priority for 2025.

During their visit, the conservators conducted a detailed examination of storage spaces and cataloging practices. They assessed the cubic footage of storage areas, noted item types and quantities—from hats to shoes to garments—and identified potential risks such as environmental factors and pest vulnerabilities. Their initial recommendations include improvements to climate control, lighting, and safety measures, aligning with national conservation standards.

Beyond their on-site work, the conservators will provide PAS with a strategic roadmap for collection care and management. This plan will address improved storage solutions, workspace needs for cataloging textiles, and strategies for potential deaccessioning of duplicate or non-mission-aligned items. They will also share resources such as grant opportunities and connections to museum storage experts to help PAS implement these recommendations.

This project is essential for the long-term preservation of our historic clothing collection, one of PAS’s most significant cultural assets. By addressing current challenges and planning for future growth, including hiring a part-time Collections Manager, we are ensuring these artifacts can continue to educate and inspire. The inventory reconciliation in 2025 will be transformative, helping us better understand our collection and opening new opportunities for public engagement through exhibitions and educational programs. This initiative represents an exciting new chapter for PAS as we safeguard these irreplaceable pieces of history for generations to come.