Honoring Heroes: A Veterans Day Celebration
2025-11-11 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us this Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, as we open our doors for a special day of remembrance and appreciation. Though the museum is usually closed on Tuesdays, this Veterans Day we’ll be open with meaningful, family-friendly programming throughout the day to honor those who have served.
Featured Activities
🔹 Military History Exhibits
Explore stories of service and sacrifice through exhibits highlighting General George S. Patton and Major General Patton IV. These rarely seen treasures from the museum’s collection will be brought out by our archivists for this special day.
🔹 “World War I: Lessons and Legacies” Poster Exhibition
Discover how the Great War reshaped America—from women’s suffrage and the Great Migration to advances in medicine and technology—in this thought-provoking Smithsonian poster exhibition.
🔹 Reading of Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Join us for a special reading of Jeff Gottesfeld’s moving children’s book (ages 7–10), honoring the dedication and discipline of the sentinels who protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
🔹 Outdoor Display of Restored Vintage U.S. Army Trucks
Step outside to see an impressive lineup of restored U.S. Army troop transport trucks, generously provided by the organizers of Military Service Day at the Patton Homestead (weather permitting).
🔹 Rock N’ Rumble
Experience the uplifting power of music with Rock N’ Rumble, a program that helps veterans and service members find connection and healing through empathy, positivity, and the shared language of music.
Free admission for veterans and active military families.
Wenham Museum gratefully acknowledges event sponsor George J. Molignano Charitable Trust, and Military Service Day at Patton Homestead (Hamilton, MA, 7/18/2026) for the generous contribution of Restored vintage U.S. Army troop trucks and Rock N’ Rumble.
Download the event flyer >>

Stitches & Stories
2025-11-12 10:00 - 10:30
Wrap yourself in stories! Each week we’ll read a children’s book and explore a quilt or another object from the museum’s collection to bring the story to life.
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Amelia Earhart: Beyond the Skies
2025-11-12 14:00 - 15:00
Most people know Amelia Earhart as the trailblazing pilot who vanished over the Pacific in 1937 — her plane still missing to this day. In this program for adults, Dr. Margie Arnold explores Earhart’s remarkable life beyond aviation, from her work as a Boston social worker and engagement to a Marblehead man, to her advocacy for women’s rights and her ventures into fashion and design. Join us to discover how Amelia Earhart’s determination and vision helped her defy expectations and inspire generations to dream boldly.
Don’t miss this fascinating talk—perfect for history lovers!
Afternoon Enrichment Series • Included with general museum admission • Ages: Adults • Registration not required
About Dr. Margie Arnold:
Dr. Margie Arnold has retired from a thirty-year career in higher education as a faculty member and as an academic administrator. Margie has published two textbooks, published over twenty articles and delivered over one hundred professional presentations during her time in higher education.
Margie has been a longtime advocate for Amelia Earhart’s life and legacy and gives complimentary talks about the famous aviator. Last year, she led a community project to re-dedicate a plaque in honor of Amelia Earhart in Medford, MA. She has been interviewed on the national podcast “Chasing Earhart” which reaches over 10,000 listeners, and earlier this year served as the keynote speaker at the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Luncheon for the New England Ninety-Nines. Most recently she presented at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, KS and at the International Women’s Pilot’s Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.

Arts & Making
2025-11-13 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-20 10:00 - 10:30
Get creative with Art’s Cool! Join us for hands-on crafts, open-ended projects, and sensory art fun. Kids can let their imaginations run wild while building fine motor skills and expressing themselves through art.
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

M is for Museum & P is for Playdate
2025-11-14 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-12-12 09:30 - 11:30
Join us the 2nd Friday of the month for our M is for Museum/P is for Playdate program! Each month, we read a story, then do a related craft or activity.
These programs have been designed to address MA curriculum standards for Pre-K in Reading and Literature, Science, Personal and Social Development and Peer Relationships.
PROGRAM DETAILS
2nd Friday of the Month
9:30 a.m. ages 18 months-2.9 years
10:30 a.m. ages 2.9 years+
Included with Admission
Free for Members
Free for Residents of Hamilton, Wenham, Manchester & Essex with advanced registration through Early Childhood Partners

Sponsored by Early Childhood Partners via Mass. Department of Early Education & Care and the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District.

Dance & Movement
2025-11-19 10:00 - 10:30
Drop-in for dance & movement with the Little Gym and start your day with joy, creativity, and fun!
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Finding Mingo: Slavery’s Legacy
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:00
Finding Mingo: Slavery’s Legacy in a New England Town
Dr. Elizabeth Matelski uncovers the history behind the legend of Robin Mingo, a formerly enslaved man whose name lives on at a popular Beverly beach. Drawing on local archives and centuries of mythmaking, this talk explores how the story of Mingo reveals New England’s hidden ties to slavery, freedom, and racial memory.
Rather than a tale of shame or obscurity, Mingo’s life offers a powerful testament to resilience, belonging, and the need to confront the past in the very landscapes we inhabit today.
Don’t miss this fascinating talk—perfect for history lovers!
Included with general museum admission • Ages: Adults • Registration not required
About Dr. Elizabeth Matelski:
Elizabeth Matelski, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of History at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts where she teaches classes on race, gender, and sexuality in American history. Matelski received her AB from Ripon College and her PhD from Loyola University Chicago. In addition to teaching American history, she also created Endicott’s Public History concentration. Matelski is a past director of two NEH summer institutes about the Salem Witch Trials. Her current research is centered on Robin Mingo, a formerly enslaved Black man who lived in Beverly in the 1700s.

Music Time
2025-11-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-28 10:00 - 10:30
Sing, clap, and groove with musicians from the Music Connection in this joyful, play-based music program for young children. Each week features different songs, rhythm games, and musical stories designed to spark creativity and movement.
Included with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Closing Early for Thanksgiving
2025-11-26 09:00 - 13:00
Special Thanksgiving Hours
We’re grateful for our community and look forward to welcoming you this holiday season! Please note our special hours around Thanksgiving:
Wednesday, November 26: Open at 9 AM, closing early at 1 PM
Thursday, November 27: CLOSED
Friday, November 28: Open 9 AM to 4 PM
Saturday, November 29: Open 9 AM to 4 PM
Sunday, November 30: Open 9 AM to 4 PM

Dance & Movement
2025-11-26 10:00 - 10:30
Drop-in for dance & movement with the Little Gym! Kids laugh, leap, and learn in every class—discovering confidence and joy that lasts a lifetime. That’s what we call Serious Fun!
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Closed for Thanksgiving
2025-11-27

Thanksgiving Hours
2025-11-28 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-29 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-30 09:00 - 16:00

Signing & Singing
2025-12-03 10:00 - 10:30
Sing, sign, and shine! Kids explore holiday songs and American Sign Language in this playful drop-in program—building communication skills, confidence, and joy along the way!
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

First Wednesdays
2025-12-03 16:00 - 18:00
We’re open late!
Visit Wenham Museum on the first Wednesday of the month and enjoy extended evening hours and free admission from 4 to 6 PM! Bring the whole family and explore our beloved model train gallery, vintage toy collections, and hands-on history exhibits after school or work. It’s a perfect midweek museum adventure!

Holiday Candlelight Tour
2025-12-03 16:30 - 18:00
Step back in time as you explore one of the nation’s earliest homes by the warm glow of candlelight. On this 30-minute guided tour of the 17th-century Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House, you’ll enjoy festive decorations, hear stories of yesterday, and discover the rooms where generations once celebrated the holiday season. For these special evenings, the upstairs—rarely opened to visitors—will welcome you with holiday charm.
This experience is designed for all ages to enjoy, bringing the warmth and wonder of the holidays to life.
Tours at 4:30 & 5:30 PM
Tickets: $5 per person
PRE-REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED.
Register for 4:30 PM tour here >>
Register for 5:30 PM tour here >>

This event is part of First Wednesdays at Wenham Museum, with extended hours and free admission after 4 PM.

Arts & Making
2025-12-04 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-11 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-18 10:00 - 10:30
Get creative with Art’s Cool! Join us for hands-on holiday crafts, open-ended projects, and festive sensory art fun. Kids can let their imaginations run wild while building fine motor skills and expressing themselves through art.
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
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This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Music Time
2025-12-05 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-19 10:00 - 10:30
Sing, clap, and groove with musicians from the Music Connection in this joyful, play-based music program for young children. Each week in December features festive songs, rhythm games, and musical stories designed to celebrate the season and spark creativity and movement.
Included with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
________
This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

The 18th-Century Coromandel Chest
2025-12-05 14:00 - 15:00
Join us for a fascinating look at one of the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House’s most exquisite treasures — an 18th-century Coromandel chest located on the home’s second floor. Speaker Emily Pearce, Executive Director of Schooner Adventure in Gloucester, MA, will explore the artistry, history, and global craftsmanship behind this remarkable piece of lacquerwork furniture.
Following the talk, attendees are invited upstairs for a special viewing of the Coromandel Chest — a rare opportunity to see this intricate masterpiece up close.
Afternoon Enrichment Series for Adults • Included with general museum admission • Registration not required
Accessibility note: The second floor of the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House can only be reached by stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

Dance & Movement
2025-12-10 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-17 10:00 - 10:30
Celebrate the season with festive dance & movement with the Little Gym! Kids laugh, leap, and learn in every class—discovering confidence and joy that lasts a lifetime. That’s what we call Serious Fun!
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required
________
This event is part of Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.

Holiday Ornament Build
2025-12-10 13:00 - 16:00
School’s out early — come to Wenham Museum for a festive afternoon of hands-on fun! Kids and their grown-ups can drop in between 1 and 4 PM to build colorful, brick-style holiday ornaments (compatible with LEGO®) to take home and enjoy all season long.
🎟️ $10 per ornament for members │$12 per ornament for nonmembers
📋Sign up when you arrive │ Museum admission required
✨ Best for kids ages 5 and up.

Holidays in the Village
2025-12-13 12:00 - 16:00
Celebrate the Season in Downtown Wenham!
Savor the charm of Wenham’s historic downtown as you enjoy festive shopping and holiday cheer. Celebrate the season — and support your local community!

Download the flyer

*** 12 – 4 PM ***
Irresistibles
4 Monument Street, Wenham | (978) 468-7247
Nazir’s Fine Jewelry
135 Main Street, Wenham | (978) 468-6366
Salon Volition
154 Main Street, Wenham | (978) 335-6587
Wenham Museum
132 Main Street, Wenham | (978) 468-2377

*** 1 – 5 PM ***
Vin Fromage
152 Main Street, Wenham | (978) 468-1315
