Milton, MA – April 28, 2023 –
The Forbes House Museum, at 215 Adams Street, welcomes visitors to its new exhibition, “Our Favorite Things,” opening May 13.
Milton residents and many other museum friends selected a range of art and artifacts that will be on display throughout the house, illustrating the wide appeal of the museum’s collections. Community participants and their choices include:
Sen. Walter F. Timilty, Massachusetts state senator from the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth district, chose the U.S. flag on display in the second floor Lincoln Room as representative of our 16th president’s enduring legacy. “President Lincoln saved the Union, and rid our nation of the scourge of slavery.”
Sara Truog, assistant director and head of children’s services at the Milton Public Library, selected a bedroom reclining chair, once considered a luxury item for relaxing. “As someone who loves to read, I can think of no better spot to curl up than a comfortable seat near a sunny window.” The woven extension chair, with cushions stuffed with straw, was one of six purchased in China.
Local author Stephen Puleo chose the Forbes family bible. Handwritten notes found in the bible provided important details for Puleo as he researched his 2020 book Voyage of Mercy, about Robert Bennet Forbes and his 1847 foreign aid mission to Ireland aboard the USS Jamestown.
“What better way to connect history to the present than by asking people in the community to share what they think deserves a closer look and why?” said Heidi Vaughan, the museum’s executive director. “We learn something about our neighbors and are encouraged to appreciate items in the collections in new ways.”
The museum’s permanent collections include Chinese export porcelain, paintings and furniture, Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia, and artifacts from the humanitarian voyage to Cork, Ireland.
The museum is open for tours Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11 am and 2 pm. Admission is free for members and $12 for nonmembers, with discounts for seniors, students and Card to Culture cardholders.
Also on Saturday, May 13, 12-4 pm, the museum is hosting “Local Voices” in partnership with the Eustis Estate and Wakefield Arboretum. This collaborative project will highlight individuals who played significant roles in shaping the history of each site, as well as the larger Milton community.
In addition, the museum will feature artwork by 2023 Lincoln Contest winners, and essay and art contest winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony. Visitors can enjoy refreshments during the family-friendly event and an outdoor Story Walk featuring excerpts from the letters and stories of Forbes family members.
Tickets for the May 13 event, covering all three Milton sites, are $20/person, $15/member, and free for children under 18. To purchase tickets, visit:
About the Forbes House Museum:
Inspired by the Forbes family legacy of entrepreneurship, social action and philanthropy, the Forbes House Museum fosters discourse around civic engagement and cultural awareness. Built in 1833, the Greek Revival home at 215 Adams Street in Milton has been a museum since 1964 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966.
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