Old
Colony Historical Society
Tour
Programs and Activities
The Old Colony Historical
Society features a vast and varied collection of artifacts telling the story of
the Taunton, Massachusetts region’s rich history. Highlights include displays of fine silver,
military items, Native American artifacts, furniture, cast iron stoves, toys,
and portraits. The Society is housed in
an 1852 Italianate-style brick schoolhouse designed by nationally known
architect Richard Upjohn.
Tours led by knowledgeable
guides are offered to visitors year-round, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 –
4:00. Please note that the Society is
closed on holidays and Saturdays preceding Monday
holidays. Groups under 10 in number who
do not have special requests for other activities need not make an
appointment. We can tailor your tour to
your interests and time schedule.
Generally, tours are about one hour long.
Our building is handicapped
accessible to the first floor. A video
tour including the upper floor of the museum is available for viewing on the
first floor.
We are available to bring our
slide programs to your group if you are unable to visit. Please follow this link to the
list of topics.
Group
For group tours, appointments
can be made by contacting the Society, and a confirmation will be returned to
the tour organizer. Please contact the
Society at least one month in advance.
We offer guided tours and can offer “open house” style tours for larger
numbers. We recommend that groups plan
on at least one hour for their visit.
Group tour fees during our
regular open hours (Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00) are $4 for adults, $2 for
seniors (65+) and children 12-18, free for Old Colony Historical Society
members and children under 12 years old.
If you wish to combine a
guided tour with a slide talk or another presentation by our staff, please follow this link to see
the topics, and consult the staff about additional fees.
Student Age
Guided children’s tours point out items of special interest,
such as toys and dolls, an 1875 bicycle, and silver medals awarded to school
children.
For children of all ages, different Treasure Hunt activity
handouts are available. Children may
explore the museum, searching for objects using the clues on the handout. Of course, a prize is awarded upon completing
the Treasure Hunt.
For the elementary school level, including Scout groups, the
Touch-It Collection Activity allows children to pick up and examine a number of
antique household objects. The children
then guess their uses, leading into a discussion of what everyday life was like
in centuries past. An illustrated talk about childhood from 1870-1920 or about the American
Revolution may be presented at the Society or at schools or other halls.
For middle school or high school students, an interactive slide
talk called “How Taunton Has Changed” lets students see how our community has
developed over time and why it is worth preserving.
For students at the college or postgraduate level, or for museum
colleagues, other workshops or lectures may be requested on topics taken from
local history to the practices of the museum and library professions.
Group tour fees during our regular
open hours (Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00) are generally free for student
age groups. Please contact the Society
at least one month in advance, and for information on visiting outside of the
regular open hours.
Please contact:
Jane Hennedy, Director
Old Colony Historical Society
66 Church Green
508-822-1622
OldColony@oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org