Daily events are subject to change.
Daily Activities
10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. A Guided Tour of the Salem
Towne House: Tour the home of a prosperous farmer
with a costumed educator
(in front of the Salem Towne House, Building #15).
12:30 p.m. Phrenology: The Science of the Mind:
Learn about the hot new “science” of the 1830s
(in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
2:30 p.m. A Dentist Comes to Town: Hear about the tools and practices of dentistry in the 1830s from a role character
(in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
3:30 Waterpower: A Walking Tour: Stroll around the Mill Neighborhood and learn how people modified the landscape to harness the energy of falling water
(begins in front of the Gristmill, Building #40).
Music Performances
1:00 p.m. Ballroom Etiquette: Learn about the forms of ceremony or decorum used in the entertainment of dancing during the 1830s (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
2:00 p.m. Dancing School: Learn to leap or move with measured steps in the style of an 1830s dancing master (at the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
Households
Small House (Building #4) Costumed interpreters are here to help you understand the past as it relates to the present. Make this your first stop to say “good day” and orient yourself to our 1830s Village.
Fitch House (Building #20) Spring is exciting for everyone, farmers’ and mechanics’ families alike! Stop by here to see how a non-farming family might change how they feed their family as the weather continues to warm.
Trades
Cabinetmaking Shop (Building #7) 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.
Cooper Shop (Building #35) Coopers make round wooden containers including pails, tubs, and barrels for their neighbors.
Community
Asa Knight Store (Building #10) 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.
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 behind the Bullard Tavern (#3) or in front of the Blacksmith Shop (#37) about every 20 minutes for a ride around the Mill Pond.
Dining & Shopping
Bullard Café (Building #3) (on the Ground Floor)
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. A variety of lunch options and beverages.
Miner Grant Store & Bake Shop (Building #18)
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 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. – 5:30 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 (#44) A short hike along Pogus Brook to a wooded viewing platform.
Pasture Walk (#46) Takes you to the top of Powder House Hill, offering views of the pastured landscape.
River Walk (#47) Best views of the Wight Dam and a peaceful setting to enjoy the Quinebaug River.
Exhibitions
For the Purpose of Illumination: This new exhibit draws upon OSV’s large collection of lighting devices and prompts us to examine the impact that artificial lighting had in the early 19th century and continues to have on our lives today (in the Countryside Gallery, Building #38).
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 (#2G), and Armed & Equipped Militia Exhibit (#25).
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, #27).