Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution

Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution&nbsp;brings together material from Historic New England’s vast permanent collection of objects and archival materials to explore the multifaceted history of the American Revolution as it played out in New England. These objects tell the stories of everyday people whose lives were linked by the shared experience of revolution. This exhibition engages with the memories and mythologies embedded in this collection, calling attention to how we remember the American Revolution and reckon with its legacy.&nbsp;Myth and Memory&nbsp;spotlights the deeply personal experiences of individuals, families, and communities caught up in extraordinary circumstances, organized around the themes of Resistance, Loyalty, Liberty, and Memory. This intimacy invites audiences to consider what it was like to live through these historic events and to contribute in small and not-so-small ways to the shaping of a new nation.

Historic New England's Eustis Estate

Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival

The 44th Annual Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be held on September 12, 2026, and features the work of nearly 100 artisans, including painting, pottery, photography, jewelry, food wares, glass, fiber art, metalworking, woodworking, clothing, and much more. Visitors enjoy live musical entertainment, food vendors, and Codman Estate tours. The event is rain or shine! HNE Members and children under 12 Free Nonmembers $5 Accessibility Considerations: The festival takes place outdoors and may involve walking over uneven terrain. Parking is available. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

Codman Estate

Fall Orchid Sale

Browse hundreds of orchids for sale, including rare and hard-to-find varieties. Enjoy the vibrant colors and shapes of Cattleyas, Laelias, Oncidiums, Paphiopedilums, Phalaenopsis, and more. These beautiful plants thrive in many home environments. Need help? Our staff are happy to offer expert advice. Historic New England members receive a 10% discount. Please call (617) 994-5913 for more information.

Lyman Estate Greenhouses

Eustis Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Market

Join us for the 7th Annual Eustis Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Market on September 27, 2026. This open air market features a variety of regional craftspeople selling unique, handmade work in a wide range of mediums. This event is rain or shine! HNE Members and children under 12 Free Accessibility Considerations: The festival takes place outdoors and may involve walking over uneven terrain. Parking is available. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

Eustis Estate

6th Annual Eustis Estate Arts and Crafts Market

6th Annual Eustis Estate Arts &amp; Crafts Market! Explore this vibrant open-air market featuring more than 50 local artisans showcasing their unique, handmade creations. Browse a wide variety of work, including jewelry, painting, printmaking, woodworking, pottery, clothing, and more. Make a day of it—enjoy a self-guided visit to the Eustis Estate Museum before or after you shop! Rain or shine. Historic New England Members FREE and Nonmembers $5 Accessibility Considerations: The festival takes place outdoors and may involve walking over uneven terrain. Parking is available. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

43rd Annual Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival

Celebrate creativity at this beloved annual event, featuring the work of more than 70 New England artisans. Browse a wide variety of handcrafted goods, including paintings, woodworking, jewelry, photography, glass, clothing, metalwork, specialty foods, and more. Enjoy live entertainment, a lively food court, and guided tours of the Codman House museum’s first floor. Rain or shine. Historic New England Members FREE and Nonmembers $5 Accessibility Considerations: The festival takes place outdoors and may involve walking over uneven terrain. Parking is available, but it may be up to one-third of a mile from the admissions gate. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

Camellia Days at Lyman Estate Greenhouses

Experience the vibrant beauty of 100-year-old camellias in full bloom at the historic 1804 Lyman Estate Greenhouses, one of the oldest surviving greenhouses in the US. Soak up the tropical atmosphere, explore a piece of history, and enjoy a 10% discount on purchases as a Historic New England member. 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓! 𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅/𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒚𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔. Tuesday - Saturday February 18 - March 18 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are not required to see the camellias in bloom but are required for tours. Lyman Estate Greenhouses Tours:&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fshorturl.at%2FmF0oK%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR38doTv6YQ-yl2W6EAmwpM2eNYVmxQEBebewoIdTAlOBQG3ddn7f_jJW10_aem_aSyi5eAjj029lTDnTk9KlQ&amp;h=AT3gNhcpZ1joz1CA4Z0TK8X_yu9uo-gBxIKRooeKHzVuuk9YP3c_LqsxsmmiYyuRqdSLZjSE7YxXwDe4nJj-pIPvG8QkqPVQiOO9Ke4zFT8PGcVk2aFL-QB_1VKZ7h9NTdLxZDnUK1HyL9XrLw&amp;__tn__=q&amp;c[0]=AT0afItgaMZiHP9jKIgtsu-8eTU0Iag_ePh96KT74PagJ2h5MR5e8THduDUjuxOd_gj_BAeeHYNU9-tJd-zeDst10DtfVW7fbUiTqDh1STFDqHC_y1TiwhY5ogsX6M9hciezlrMDDHQerA6JHNWLC8Gq6CQoYONvq5yr2A">https://shorturl.at/mF0oK</a> Lyman Estate Museum Tours:&nbsp;<a href="https://shorturl.at/WYi0t?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1PRDsGj9Bzi5uOgEYL2o3OwdkMlHyw36n6tPicxFp7P0BG7VSKGRD6nTY_aem_NvCuYs2Qa8UpQQM-JIaRUw">https://shorturl.at/WYi0t</a> Please call (617) 994-5913 for more information or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FHistoricNewEngland.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1PRDsGj9Bzi5uOgEYL2o3OwdkMlHyw36n6tPicxFp7P0BG7VSKGRD6nTY_aem_NvCuYs2Qa8UpQQM-JIaRUw&amp;h=AT1y9_ddWX148T7bf9G3OZbuW7wUBNPl_uKueRUQyb6VinL_YcCQl86dOSYLoyx9ryLPsK3VR3eJt2gcHpOYQwbdKcFt9lpjoVinh7Is6uE6rPzhvHR7fiGmhYJvHuzei8JbllQDk-ijeAwGHQ&amp;__tn__=q&amp;c[0]=AT0afItgaMZiHP9jKIgtsu-8eTU0Iag_ePh96KT74PagJ2h5MR5e8THduDUjuxOd_gj_BAeeHYNU9-tJd-zeDst10DtfVW7fbUiTqDh1STFDqHC_y1TiwhY5ogsX6M9hciezlrMDDHQerA6JHNWLC8Gq6CQoYONvq5yr2A">HistoricNewEngland.org</a>&nbsp;See less

Love and Politics in the American Revolution

Held in the same ballroom where Abigail and John Adams danced as guests of the Lymans, join Historic New England for a riveting one-woman performance of American Portia: <a href="https://my.historicnewengland.org/19944/love-and-politics?">Abigail Smith Adams by local writer and performer Laura Rocklyn. </a> Experience Abigail’s memories of her inspiring relationship with John that began with playful love letters from a young lawyer sending kisses to his "Miss Adorable," and developed into the extraordinary partnership between two sharp and visionary political minds that helped to shape a young nation. The year is 1788. Abigail and John Adams have just returned from Europe, where John has served as an American envoy to France and then to England. When greeted with the news that the new United States' Constitution has finally been ratified and that the first Presidential election is at hand, Abigail looks back over her life at the center of the inspiring and challenging events that led to the creation of this new nation. Please call 617-994-5912 for more information.&nbsp;

Lyman Estate 

Houseplant and Begonia Sale

Visit Historic New England's <a href="https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/lyman-estate-greenhouses/?">Lyman Estate Greenhouse</a> for this exotic houseplant sale features begonias and semi-tropical plants. Browse the large selection of hard-to-find houseplants, along with succulents, cactus, citrus, gesneriads, flowering plants, terrarium plants, and striking foliage plants. Historic New England members save 10% on purchases. Please call 617-994-5913 for more information.&nbsp;

Christmas Tree Chipfest

Join Historic New England at <a href="https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/spencer-peirce-little-farm/?">Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm</a> to celebrate the end of the holiday season with our Christmas Tree Chipfest, a new event that highlights environmental sustainability.&nbsp; Support soil health and increase resilience against climate change by using the chipped trees for mulch or to restore coastal sand dunes. Spend the afternoon at the farm. Enjoying roasted s’mores, sipping and snacking on food and drinks from your favorite local vendors, and tours of the first floor of the 1690 manor house. Families can join in the fun with face painting and winter storytelling. Bring your undecorated Christmas tree to be chipped by our event partner, Black Earth Compost, and take home a bag of mulch as a memento of your contribution to sustainability. Ticket is for parking: $15 The event is rain or shine.

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

Virtual Program - Houseplants 101

Join Historic New England and Lynn Ackerman, the greenhouse manager at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses in Waltham, Massachusetts, for this virtual presentation. Lynn shares the best growing strategies for houseplants, plus tips on how to keep them plants healthy. You will learn the proper cultural conditions needed to have success growing your houseplants and which ones to choose for growing conditions in your home.&nbsp; Be ready to ask questions about your own houseplant to get a personalized answer during the question and answer segment. Mark your calendar for the Houseplant and Begonia Sale on Saturday, January 18, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Advance tickets required. Please call 617-994-6678 for more information. The link for the webinar will be included in the order confirmation for this program.

Lyman Estate

Gilded Glow Holiday Concert

Join Historic New England for a festive concert from The Harper and The Minstrel in the twinkling glow of the holiday lights in this Gilded Age mansion. This historically inspired performance of Medieval, Renaissance, and Celtic winter music is sung and played on a variety of traditional instruments including historical harps, recorders, viola da gamba, dulcimers, guitar, wooden flutes, and psaltery.&nbsp; The Harper and The Minstrel are Jay and Abby Michaels. This husband-and-wife musical duo has performed Medieval, Renaissance and Celtic music for more than twenty years.&nbsp; Doors open at 6:00 p.m. to explore the house and enjoy refreshments. The concert starts at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Please call 617-994-6600 for more information.&nbsp; Seating is limited. Advanced registration required.

Santa at the Eustis Estate

Santa Claus is coming to Historic New England's Eustis Estate! Visit the 1878 mansion house decorated for Christmas and take a photo with Santa from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Please call 617-994-6600 for more information. All children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Once you have selected your child tickets reserve your adult tickets from the link in the cart or HERE.This is a special program and no discounts apply. Children: $5; General Public: $20. Historic New England member adult tickets are free.

The Importance of Being Furnished: Four Bachelors at Home

The Importance of Being Furnished: Four Bachelors at Home delves into the evolution of American interior design by spotlighting four historic homes - Beauport-Sleeper-McCann House, Codman Estate, Gibson House, Pendleton House – and their creators. Opening June 21, the exhibition examines the role Ogden Codman Jr., Charles Hammond Gibson, Charles Leonard Pendleton, and Henry Davis Sleeper played in early twentieth-century preservation and interior design, highlighting an extraordinary range of furnishings, design work, and personal artifacts drawn from their homes. The homes featured in the exhibition, all of which are now museums open to the public, include:<ul><li><a href="https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/beauport-sleeper-mccann-house/" target="_blank">Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House</a>&nbsp;(1907), in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the eclectic masterpiece of interior decorator Henry Davis Sleeper (1878-1934);</li><li><a href="https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/codman-estate/" target="_blank">Codman Estate</a>&nbsp;(c. 1740) in Lincoln, Massachusetts, home to five generations of the Codman family and redecorated in its final incarnation by architect Ogden Codman, Jr. (1863-1951);</li><li><a href="https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/" target="_blank">Gibson House Museum</a>&nbsp;(1860) in Boston’s Back Bay, a row house preserved by its final owner, writer Charles Hammond Gibson, Jr. (1874-1954);</li><li><a href="https://risdmuseum.org/exhibitions-events/exhibitions/charles-pendleton-house" target="_blank">Pendleton House</a>&nbsp;(1906) at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, built to replicate the Federal-era home of collector Charles Leonard Pendleton (1846-1904).</li></ul>The Importance of Being Furnished: Four Bachelors at Home&nbsp;is on view from June 21 to October 27, 2024 at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Mass. The Eustis Estate is open from Friday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lyman Estate Landscape Tour

Join Historic New England for a walk through the rolling wooded paths and garden trails of the Lyman Estate. This site was home to pleasure grounds, formal gardens, a pond system, woodlands, and a working farm for more than four generations of the Lyman family. Peek into the land’s former uses with stories of flora, fauna, and the individuals who cared for them. Historic New England $15; Nonmember $25. Please call 617-994-6672 for more information. Tour will meet at the front door of the mansion. This outdoor tour involves traversing uneven surfaces and some stairs for 90 minutes. It will run rain or shine. The greenhouses, one of the oldest surviving complexes in the country, will be open 9:30-4:00 and participants can visit before or after the tour.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

historicnewengland

Experiences