Information
Landmark: Old Colony History MuseumCity: Taunton
Country: USA Massachusetts
Continent: North America
Old Colony History Museum, Taunton, USA Massachusetts, North America
Overview
You’ll find the historic Colony History Museum at 66 Church Green in Taunton, Massachusetts, a stately brick landmark that stands as one of southeastern Massachusetts’s leading historical institutions, subsequently the museum, run by the classical Colony Historical Society-founded in 1853-works to preserve and share the vibrant history of the region once called the heritage Colony, where the first Plymouth settlers built their homes among salt marshes and pine woods.🏛️ The Building The museum is housed in the former Bristol Academy, a stately Italianate-style building constructed in 1852.🏛️ The museum sits inside the aged Bristol Academy, a dignified Italianate building of warm stone that’s stood since 1852, in turn richard Upjohn, one of the 19th century’s most celebrated American architects, gave the structure its classical proportions, rounded arch windows, and ornamental brackets tucked beneath broad eaves-signature touches of the Italianate style.The building is a slice of architectural history, its stone doorway worn smooth by decades of hands, and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.🧭 Mission and Scope The museum’s primary mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of the timeworn Colony region, which includes modern-day Bristol County and surrounding areas, therefore it stands on Church Green, a historic district where some of Taunton’s oldest, most graceful buildings rise in weathered brick and stone.🗂️ Collections and Exhibits OCHM holds over 13,000 artifacts in its permanent collection.The museum’s mission is to gather, safeguard, and share the story of the vintage Colony region, from the harbors of modern-day Bristol County to the quiet towns that border it, likewise it covers everything from the pre‑colonial era to today, offering resources for historians, genealogists, students, teachers, and even curious tourists who pause to read a weathered plaque.🗂️ Collections and Exhibits: OCHM’s permanent collection holds more than 13,000 artifacts, from worn leather boots to polished brass instruments.The collection ranges across many eras and styles, from period furniture and gleaming silver by Taunton’s Reed & Barton to hand‑crafted ceramics and pieces made right here in town, as a result textiles and clothing ranging from 18th-century gowns to 20th-century jackets, plus military uniforms with gleaming brass buttons and matching accessories.Militaria: weapons, medals, and keepsakes from America’s wars, from the crack of muskets in the Revolutionary War to the steel helmets of World War II, in turn household and trade tools-artifacts from everyday chores and local industry-once shaped life in southeastern Massachusetts, from worn wooden handles to rusted iron hinges.Portraits and photographs-paintings in rich oils, crisp daguerreotypes, and faded prints-capture the faces of well-known local figures and families.🖼️ Notable Exhibitions Some of the museum’s exhibitions rotate throughout the year, while others are semi-permanent, likewise manuscripts and ephemera-letters smudged with ink, hand‑drawn maps, family trees, yellowed newspapers, ancient school papers, and worn business ledgers.I think, You’ll also find a research library and archive devoted to genealogy and local history, with shelves of ancient family records and weathered town maps, after that this resource proves especially useful when you’re digging into family roots or exploring how a town’s mills and markets shaped its history.🖼️ Notable Exhibitions You’ll find some shows changing with the seasons, while a few remain in venue year-round, like the quiet gallery of vintage photographs.🧒 Education and Public Programs The museum is actively involved in educational outreach and public programming: Guided Daily Tours : Offered at 12 PM, these docent-led walkthroughs provide visitors with context and background for the exhibits.One highlight is “Reed & Barton: Building the Silver City,” an exhibit that brings to life Taunton’s long history with silver, centered on the world‑famous Reed & Barton Company, where polished trays once gleamed under factory lights, what’s more colonial Life and Early Settlement – Explore worn leather boots, hand-forged tools, and weathered maps that bring the story of southeastern Massachusetts’ first settlers to life.Military Through the Ages – Showcasing how local men and women shaped national conflicts, with worn uniforms, gleaming rifles, and stories told in their own words, equally important fashion meets function in this showcase of historic garments, each piece revealing shifting tastes, evolving technology, and the social rules of its time-a silk collar frayed at the edges hints at decades of wear.🎉 Annual Events and Community Involvement The museum plays a key role in organizing community-wide events such as: Liberty & Union Festival – Held each October, this festival commemorates the raising of the “Taunton Flag” in 1774, a bold pre-Revolutionary War statement of colonial resistance.🧒 Education and Public Programs The museum runs lively educational outreach and public events, including guided daily tours at noon, where a docent leads visitors through the galleries, pausing to share the stories behind each piece, moreover your ticket covers it-no extra charge.🕰️ Visiting Information Hours : Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays.Group tours, led by a curator and booked in advance, dive into themes like women’s history, Taunton’s part in the Revolution, or the grit of its industrial past, in turn the museum regularly brings in speakers for lively talks, hands-on workshops, and engaging discussions about the region’s history-sometimes even passing around aged maps you can unfold and study.Family and youth activities range from free family days and school field trips to hands-on exhibits for kids and lively colonial life demonstrations, where you might hear the crack of a blacksmith’s hammer.🎉 Annual Events and Community Involvement The museum brings the community together each year with celebrations like the Liberty & Union Festival, held every October, where the crisp autumn air carries the story of the 1774 raising of the “Taunton Flag,” a daring act of resistance before the Revolution.🧭 Location and Setting The museum is located in the center of Taunton’s historic Church Green district, which includes the First Parish Church, the Taunton Public Library, and is within walking distance of Taunton Green, the city’s central square, consequently the flag, stitched with the bold words “Liberty and Union,” was among the very first revolutionary banners to rise against British rule.Seasonal Holiday Events – True to Taunton’s reputation as “The Christmas City,” the museum joins in the town’s holiday celebrations, from festive tours to streets lined with twinkling lights.🕰️ You can visit Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m, simultaneously to 4 p.m, when the doors swing open to welcome you; they stay shut on Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays.Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, and free for kids under 12, simultaneously the museum also joins Blue Star Museums and NARM, and you can even check out a library pass for free or discounted entry.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-06
