ipswich museum

This museum actually consists of three different properties. You can tour one, or all three. The tours are given by volunteers. We had Marilyn, who was informative and pleasant and moved at our pace. The largest house, and the one that houses the gift shop and special exhibit room, is a mansion owned by traders. It is filled with fascinating artifacts from a trader's life, mainly from China. There is also a large exhibit here devoted to a local artist who taught painting. Across the street, they have moved a home from the late 1600's. It is very large, and full of great old furnishings and a wonderful clock. There are several spinning and weaving implements. The gardens are quite spectacular, and laid out according to old plans. Right on the street is a reproduction (thatched with the help of Plimouth Plantation workers) of a 1657 single room home that was made by the community out of charity for a resident whose home burned, killing his infant child. This is a fascinating story, and a great example of what the early settlers had (and what they didn't have--more than one glass window!). The gift shop has a nice selection of items made locally and themed to the homes and exhibits. We spent almost two hours here, and found it well worth the admission price. One of the staff volunteered to look up some family history information for us while we were on our tour. This was a great place, and well worth our time.

What one should do when researching the history of this area...I am sorry I didn’t stay longer. I was in a rush to get to other places that weren’t near as interesting.

The first of my family in the US came to Ipswich ca. 1640, so this was a nice look into my family's past. I espceially appreciated the recreation of a house from the early settlement period. Life was not easy then. There is also a tour of a First Period house across the street and the main building is (ca. early 1800s) houses the main collection and is typical of the post-Revolution period, showing the wealth soem found in trade. There's also a part of the museum devoted to lace crafting, which was a household craft in Ipswich for many years unlil industrialization. A couple of rooms are devoted to the artist colony that sprung up arounf the turn of the 20th century. Note that there's not much for kids here. They would likely be bored. Good for history buffs, however. The tour gude was really helpful. Make sure you get a tour.

Perhaps being a native New Englander I may have expected so much more than I received in the way of information. Give it a try and let me know how you enjoyed your visit to the Museum.

I love touring old homes. Admission includes a tour of the Whipple House, an example of a first period home. Ipswich is known for it's lace making past, and this home had samples of original lace and how it was made. There were old tools and home items. I also love the small reproduction of a house that shows what the first colonists lived in. It was smaller than my shed and a whole family would live in it. Very interesting.