Daily events are subject to change.
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s rural New England town! While you are visiting, stop by our numerous households and see what kind of winter activities kept families busy. Our trades will be active as well, from needlework to working at the potter’s wheel, we use the winter to hone our hand skills. See the farmers industriously preparing for the spring season, and of course, our farm animals always enjoy a visitor too. Enjoy your visit!
Farm
10:00 a.m. Meet the Calf
(at the Freeman Farm, Building #36).
Performances
10:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. A Guided Tour of the Salem Towne House: Tour the home of a prosperous farmer with a costumed educator (in the Salem Towne House, Building #16).
11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Meet a 19th Century Midwife: Childbirth in the 1830s (in the Salem Towne House Lower Kitchen, Building #16).
1:00 p.m. A Reading of Early New England Poetry: Poems by Longfellow, Thoreau, & other (in the Richardson House, Building #13).
Music Performances
10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Musical Highlights, the Rocking Melodeon: Listen to a selection of songs on one of the most unusual instruments of the 19th century. Learn about the people that would have played on this instrument, and how it works
(at the Richardson House, Building #13).
11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Historical Woodwinds: Learn about common woodwind instruments from the Village period. With a flute & clarinet, listen to a selection of historical songs performed on period instruments (at the Fitch House, Building #21).
Trades
Tin Shop (Building #15) Experience our tinners creating authentic reproductions of household items made from tinned sheet iron.
Cabinetmaking Shop (Building #8) Period cabinetmakers made a wide variety of wares including tables, chairs, chests and other case furniture. Explore this trade shop, and learn more about the tools and techniques used by nineteenth century woodworkers.
Households
Fitch House (Building #21) Winter was a wonderful time to eat in the early 1830s, with the year’s harvest packed away in root cellars, dairies full of cheese and butter and fresh meat kept safe in cold homes. Visit to see a demonstration of winter cooking in front of an open fire.
Community
Asa Knight Store (Building #11) Country stores brought in goods from all over the world, through seaports like Boston and Providence. They also bought locally produced goods such as butter, cheese, and handwork for sale in those urban commercial centers.
Thompson Bank (Building #20) Country banks provided short-term business loans to merchants, prosperous farmers, and manufacturers.
The Carryall (weather permitting)
We offer a horse-drawn carryall ride included with the price of admission. From 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. you can board in front of the Bullard Tavern (#3) or in front of the Blacksmith Shop (#39) for a ride around the Countryside.
Dining & Shopping
Bullard Café (Building #3) (on the Ground Floor)
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. A variety of lunch options and beverages.
Miner Grant Store & Bake Shop (Building #19)
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Stop in to buy our famous chocolate chip cookies, Joe Frogger cookies, and treats. Shop for Village-made wares, heirloom seeds, historical children’s toys and gifts, too!
Ox & Yoke Mercantile (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Take home a traditional rural New England treasure or locally made gift. Village-made crafts and kits, home décor, books, and more await!
The Environmental Point of View
Woodland Walk (#47) A short hike along Pogus Brook to a wooded viewing platform.
Pasture Walk (#49) Takes you to the top of Powder House Hill, offering views of the pastured landscape.
River Walk (#50) Best views of the Wight Dam and a peaceful setting to enjoy the Quinebaug River.
Please note all walks are open but are not maintained.
Icy conditions may be present.
New England on Parade
Learn about the long history of parades in this region, and their many purposes. Visit both of the exhibitions’ locations in the Visitor Center (#2C), and Armed & Equipped Militia Exhibit (#26).
Old Sturbridge Village’s new exhibit
Needle and Thread: The Art and Skill of Clothing an Early 19th Century Family highlights the responsibilities held by rural New England housewives in constructing new garments, patching, mending, and darning worn items, and repurposing old items into new wardrobes. The exhibit features over a dozen garments and accessories, along with other textile and clothing objects from the Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collections (in the Dennison Building, #28).
Upcoming Events
Celtic Celebration – March 18th, 2023
Join us as we celebrate their cultural heritage through music, dance, storytelling, and poetry!
Women’s History Weekend – March 25 & 26, 2023
Join us as we acknowledge and celebrate extraordinary and everyday women in the early 19th century. Learn how they ran their households, managing clothing construction, cooking, laundry, gardening, and more.