Ring in the Season

Kick off the holiday season with some musical cheer. Join Griff Gall and members of the the Back Bay Ringers to experience the magic of handbell ringing. Drop by the Nichols House Museum to see, hear, and play handbells during this free, family-friendly event. You can also view our seasonal exhibit about Margaret (Nichols) Shurcliff’s bell ringing and check out our museum shop for unique gifts.&nbsp; The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Nichols House Museum

Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour 

Explore the Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour with the Nichols House Museum. You'll have the rare opportunity to experience a select group of remarkable private residences at their festive best. Each year, the tour showcases outstanding examples of historic preservation, as well as creative modern interpretations and adaptations in a broad range of architectural and interior design styles throughout Beacon Hill. Our community partner this year is the William Hickling Prescott House, headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Nichols House Museum will also be open for self-guided tours for guests to experience historically inspired holiday traditions. There will be a reception following the tour. With performances by the Back Bay Ringers, it will be a day full of music and cheer.  This year, we are kicking off the festivities early with our Eggnog Pre-Party on December 5th!

Candlelight Tours

Experience the Nichols House Museum by (electric) candlelight on one of our evening tours. Each room is bedecked with trimming inspired by Nichols family traditions and turn of the 20th century styles. We’ll share seasonal stories and a few special items will be on display, including a loan of historic clothing from the collection of the The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Before or after the tour, enjoy a warm drink and check out our shop for a curated collection of unique gifts. The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Transform the World with Beauty

​“I determined to do no less than to transform the world with Beauty.” –William Morris, designer and craftsman Morris’ ideas about beauty, the role of the artisan, and the value of the handcrafted were influential for a generation of artists at the turn of the 20th century. Among those inspired by Morris and his peers in the Arts and Crafts movement were Rose and Margaret Nichols. Artworks at the Nichols House reveal their achievements in woodworking and textiles, while letters and memoirs tell of their experiences learning pottery, leatherwork, basketry, and more. They were not simply object makers. They also utilized their skills to improve the world around them, and took the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement into other areas of their lives. Take a close look at objects Rose and Margaret created and discover how they aimed to transform the world. The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Creation, Evolution, Preservation: The Metamorphosis of 55 Mount Vernon Street

This architecture-focused tour covers the entire history of 55 Mount Vernon Street, from its construction in 1804, through the Nichols family’s residency, to the museum era. Visitors will take an in-depth look at the structure, identifying changes made over time, including going behind the scenes to explore a few rarely visited areas of the building. 55 Mount Vernon Street was built as part of the Mount Vernon Proprietors' development of the South Slope of Beacon Hill. The design is attributed to Charles Bulfinch, Boston’s star architect of the day. Commissioned by one of the proprietors as a home for his daughter, his descendants owned the home until 1885, when it was sold to the Nichols family. The eldest Nichols daughter, Rose, inherited the house in the 1930s and later willed it to be a museum. It has been open to the public since 1961.

Nichols House Museum Free Open House

Stop by the Nichols House Museum for a free open house. We’ll be sharing stories of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. You can also shop Women’s Suffrage themed products and more in our store. View the museum at your own pace and be inspired by the Nichols sisters’ civic engagement!

"Honest, Neat & Capable": Staff Stories from 55 Mount Vernon St

In 1895, a small notice ran in the&nbsp;Boston Evening Transcript: “A lady wishes to find a place for a Swedish cook: honest, neat &amp; capable. Inquire at 55 Mt Vernon St.” Who was that cook? What was her life like? And what was life like for the other staff members, primarily women, who lived and worked at 55 Mount Vernon Street at the turn of the 20th century? On this museum tour, we’ll examine the Nichols House from the perspective of the people whose job it was to care for the home and the family who employed them. We’ll share specific biographies of a number of employees, fitting their time in service into their broader life story. We will also explore a few areas of the building not usually on view. The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Craftswoman and Collector

Rose Standish Nichols was a textile artist, stitching throughout her life. Profoundly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement ideal that we should surround ourselves with beautiful handcrafted objects, Rose embroidered items she used everyday, bringing color and ornamentation to her domestic spaces. She was also a collector, acquiring historic textiles that informed her work and enlivened her home. Dress and Textile Historian Elizabeth Weisblatt will lead a focused look at highlights of the Nichols House Museum textile collection, featuring items both created and collected by Rose Nichols. The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Arts and Crafts pieces created by members of the Nichols family.

Free Summer Open House at the Nichols House Museum

To celebrate summer, we’re hosting a free open house. Stop by the Nichols House, check out our summer exhibit, and explore the museum at your own pace! The Nichols House Museum on Boston's historic Beacon Hill was home to an early 20th-century family of artists and social activists. Preserved as a museum by Rose Standish Nichols, a pioneering woman landscape architect, the house is furnished with an original collection, including sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Rose Standish Nichols: Garden Architect

One of the country’s earliest professional garden designers,&nbsp;Rose Standish Nichols&nbsp;created over 70 gardens. Working at the turn of the 20th Century, she&nbsp;aimed for “harmonious discord” in her historically inspired gardens. She also authored three books of garden history, as well as numerous articles about landscapes and design. On this museum tour, we'll explore the home Rose curated to be a museum, learn about her career, and experience her aesthetic sense.

Uncovering Stories: A Conversation with Frances McNamara & Joanne Riley

Join us for a conversation about sharing the stories of Bostonians touched by the 1919 Boston Police Strike with Frances McNamara, author of historical mysteries, and Joanne Riley of UMass Boston’s Joseph P. Healey Library. Frances McNamara's new book, Three-Decker Murder in a Nutshell, is set in late 1919, in the aftermath of the infamous Boston Police Strike. Joanne Riley was a director of the <a href="https://www.bpstrike1919.org/" target="_blank">1919 Police Strike Project</a>, which seeks to preserve the life stories of the real-life strikers. Frances and Joanne will chat with us about writing historical fiction, conducting local history research, and 1919 Boston.&nbsp; Enjoy a conversation with Frances and Joanne, plus pick up your signed copy of Frances’ new book. Attendees also have the option to briefly tour the Nichols House Museum before the program to get in the 1919 spirit.

Enrico Caruso - His Songs by Mark Milhofer

Internationally celebrated tenor Mark Milhofer and pianist Marco Scolastra pay homage to one of the most famous singers of all time with a recital of songs written by and for Enrico Caruso. The concert takes place in the intimate surroundings of the Harvard Musical Association, 57A Chestnut Street, Beacon Hill, Boston. A lively cocktail reception will follow. The concert will be Milhofer's first performance in New England, following his Carnegie Hall debut on February 21st.

Harvard Musical Association

Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour

Explore the Beacon Hill Holiday House Tour with the Nichols House Museum. You'll have the rare opportunity to experience a select group of remarkable private residences at their festive best. Each year, the tour showcases outstanding examples of historic preservation, as well as creative modern interpretations and adaptations in a broad range of architectural and interior design styles throughout Beacon Hill. Our community partner this year is the William Hickling Prescott House, headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Nichols House Museum will be open for self-guided tours for guests to experience historically inspired holiday traditions. There will be a reception following the tour. With strolling carolers and solo piano performances, it will be a day full of music and cheer.  This year, we are kicking off the festivities early with our Eggnog Pre-Party on December 6th!

Beacon Hill

Remember the Ladies, Women’s History Walking Tour

Discuss some of the dynamic thinkers and writers of American history- women who were essential to Boston over the last 400 years. Join us for a two-hour tour through historic Boston in celebration of Women’s History Month! Meet famous and lesser-known women like Abigail Adams and Kitty Knox through their inspirational stories. Stops include the Massachusetts State House, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, more. The last stop on the tour includes a small reception at the Nichols House Museum. Registrants will receive the meeting address located in downtown Boston.  $25 for members and those on a tighter budget, $30 general ticket, $35 supporter ticket Guiding this tour is Ellen Mooradian, an unabashed history nerd and owner of <a href="https://bostonbyellen.com/">Boston by Ellen</a>. Did she major in history while at Boston University? No! She majored in Communications, which might explain her engaging, energetic style of storytelling. Ellen has been a tour guide in Boston since 2015, including volunteering at the Nichols House Museum. Ellen has also worked at the historic Trinity Church and with cruise ships, Context Travel, and Airbnb Experiences.

Registrants will receive the meeting address located in downtown Boston. 

Women of the Nichols House Museum Tour

It’s Women’s History Month and we’re here to celebrate! Learn about the ambitious Nichols sisters, renown women artists, and domestic staff who made an impact at 55 Mount Vernon. Tour the 19th-century Beacon Hill townhouse then enjoy tea and treats afterwards.  Tour and reception last approximately one hour. The Museum is across three floors with no elevator. Advanced registration is required. $22 general admission; $18 member.  About the Nichols House: In 1885, Elizabeth Nichols and Dr. Arthur Nichols purchased this 1804 townhouse where their three daughters matured into designers, writers, and social activists. They employed live-in domestic staff who also occupied the home. Rose Standish Nichols later inherited the property and decided it would become a museum, featuring a collection of fine and decorative art as well as everyday objects, upon her death in 1960.

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 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

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.