Wenham Museum

Thanksgiving Hours
2025-11-28 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
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

Closed for Thanksgiving
2025-11-27

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.

Closing Early for Thanksgiving
2025-11-26 09:00 - 13:00

Music Time
2025-11-21 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.

Arts & Making
2025-11-20 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-13 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.

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.

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.

M is for Museum & P is for Playdate
2025-11-14 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.

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.

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.

Honoring Heroes: A Veterans Day Celebration
2025-11-11 09:00 - 16:00
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 >>

Mornings at the Museum
2025-11-07 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-06 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 10:30
Join us for Mornings at the Museum—a fun, enriching way for little ones and their caregivers to start the day! Each session features a playful drop-in program designed especially for children under 5.
We rotate activities across topics such as:
Hands-On History & Play: Step into the past with interactive play inspired by real museum objects.
Arts & Making: Hands-on crafts, open-ended projects, and sensory art activities.
Movement & Music: Sing, dance, and play your way through rhythm and motion.
Literacy & Language: Build early literacy through stories, rhymes, and interactive reading fun.
STEM & Discovery: Explore science, nature, and problem-solving through playful experiments.
Discover something new every week at Mornings at the Museum—and make memories that last a lifetime! Bring your little one to play, learn, and grow through joyful, play-based museum fun!
Plan your visit.
Free with general museum admission • Ages 0–5 • No registration required

Candlelight Tour
2025-11-05 16:30 - 17:00
Candlelight Tour of the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House
Step back in time as you explore one of the nation’s earliest homes by the flickering glow of candlelight. On this 30-minute guided tour of the 17th-century Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House, you’ll hear stories of yesterday—some curious, some mysterious—as you explore the rooms where generations once lived. For these special evenings, the upstairs—rarely opened to visitors—will creak open its doors.
While the shadows may be spooky enough to spark the imagination, this experience is designed for all ages to enjoy.
Wednesday, October 1 and Wednesday, November 5 at 4:30 PM
Tickets: $5 per person │Pre-registration not required
This event is part of First Wednesdays at Wenham Museum, with extended hours and free admission after 4 PM. Learn more >>

First Wednesdays
2025-11-05 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!
PLUS: Visitors on November 5 will enjoy an opening celebration for our new exhibit, Step Right Up: Let’s Go to the Circus!, where imagination takes center stage! Learn more about our exhibits >>

Moving & Grooving
2025-10-31 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-24 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-17 10:00 - 10:30
Drop-in for dance & movement with Bosoma School of Dance and start your day with joy, creativity, and fun! Little ones and their caregivers will explore rhythm, imagination, and self-expression through playful movement. No experience required—just come ready to move and groove!
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.

Happy Halloween!
2025-10-31 09:00 - 13:00
🎃 Halloween Fun! 👻
Join us on Halloween morning from 9 AM to 1 PM for a spooktacular start to your day! You’re invited to enjoy a special Halloween-themed Moving & Grooving program—filled with music, dancing, and plenty of festive fun for little ones.
Costumes are encouraged, so bring your tiny ghosts, goblins, and superheroes for a morning of giggles, movement, and festive play at the museum!
Please note the museum will be closing early on Halloween:
OCTOBER 31st HOURS
Open 9 AM to 1 PM

First Steps in Music
2025-10-30 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-23 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-16 10:00 - 10:30
Drawing on a rich repertoire of folk songs and rhymes, this 30-minute class is designed to nurture “tuneful, beat-ful, artful” children and to lay the foundation for a life-long love of music. Children and their caregivers will be tapping, clapping, singing, and dancing with Ms. Rachael from start to finish — and you might even leave with some new favorite songs and games to add to your family’s repertoire!
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.

Baby's First Halloween
2025-10-29 09:00 - 12:00
🎃 Baby’s First Halloween! 🎃
Bring your little pumpkins for a morning of fall fun, giggles, and the cutest costumes in town!
This not-so-spooky celebration is packed with festive activities made just for little ones and their caregivers:
✨ Adorable photo sessions with cozy fall backdrops📚 Storytimes at 9:30 & 11:30 AM with seasonal tales💃 Moving & Grooving dance program at 10 AM🎨 Hands-on Halloween crafts🌟 Sensory play stations🎭 A too-cute-to-miss costume parade!
🔍 Interactive exhibits to explore together
Costumes are encouraged—let’s make this Halloween one to remember! 🍁👻
Free for members • Included with admission • Registration not required

Yoga & Storytime
2025-10-22 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 10:30
Stretch, wiggle, and imagine together! In this playful program for children under 5 and their caregivers, stories come alive through gentle yoga poses and silly movement. Together with Ms. Christine you’ll giggle, wiggle, and imagine your way through adventures big and small. No mats or experience needed—just bring your sense of wonder!
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.

Give Back Night at 15 Walnut
2025-10-20 17:00 - 21:00
Dine out for a great cause with Give Back Night! Enjoy dinner at 15 Walnut Tavern + Kitchen in Hamilton, MA, and help support Wenham Museum. 10% of all dine-in dinner sales on Monday, October 20 will be donated to the museum — so bring your family, your friends, and your appetite for community spirit!

Make an Impact
2025-10-20 08:00 - 2025-12-31 23:00
Help Preserve Our Stories for the Next Generation
Every object, photograph, and story in Wenham Museum holds a piece of our shared history. From the beloved model train gallery to the historic dolls, textiles, and photographs in our collection, each object tells a story that connects us to the past.
With your support, we can continue preserving these treasures — and the stories they tell — so that future generations can learn, imagine, and be inspired.
Why Your Gift Matters

For Children: Open a window into the past that sparks curiosity, imagination, and a love of learning.

For Families: Support meaningful, hands-on experiences that celebrate our New England traditions

For the Community: Preserve the cultural treasures and heritage that connect generations and keep history alive.

Make your gift now to help us care for our collections, support exhibitions and educational programs, and ensure the museum remains a vibrant resource for generations to come.
Join Us in Preserving History
Together, we can preserve our stories and inspire generations. Every gift makes a difference.
