Wenham Museum
Located outside of Boston in the small, historic North Shore community of Wenham, the Wenham Museum is dedicated to preserving the culture and history of both childhood and domestic life. Filled with nostalgia, pop culture memorabilia, historic artifacts and an enduring legacy of preserving sentimental objects for future generations, the Wenham Museum is a national treasure.
The composite of historical eras adds to the museum’s charm. Walk into the historic house museum and tour over three centuries of domestic life from 16th-century furnishings to 20th-century artifacts and more. Take a guided tour of the house and learn how people used what we consider artifacts in their daily lives. Visit the museum proper to see large donated and loaned collections ranging from pop culture collectibles to era-specific toys, model trains, fashion, photography, and even a large collection of porcelain dolls.
The museum supports continuing education on a number of topics even as they encourage children to embrace their youth, energy, and imagination. Exhibits, both temporary and permanent, range in topics from the Disney film Frozen, teaching children about the history of ice harvesting in New England, to Love, Shirley Temple, an exhibit featuring memorabilia from the actress’s personal archives. View the 5,000 porcelain dolls donated to the museum, play in the hands-on Family Discovery Gallery, and explore history in the Pickering Library.
The Wenham Museum supports the public with exclusive programs, events, and special days including Military History Days with war reenactments, Patton Archive tours, and more. Children are invited to experience fun like Victorian children, playing with 19th-century toys and dressing up in the era’s fashion.
Come by the Wenham Museum and rediscover the magic of childhood, learn about the perseverance of history, and the importance of preserving the past for future generations.