Daily events are subject to change.
Friday, September 15, 2023
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s rural New England town! Summer is an exciting time here. See if you can spot snapdragons, zinnias, and phlox in bloom. See our artisans making handcrafted items from iron, tin plate, clay, leather, and wood. Watch as food is being prepared by an open hearth with the remains of last year’s harvest. Our farmers and gardeners are tending to the gardens and seasonal chores, and of course, our farm animals always enjoy a visitor too. Enjoy your visit!
Daily Activities
10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. A Guided Tour of the Salem
Towne House: Tour a prosperous farmer’s home with a costumed educator (meets in the hallway of the Salem Towne House, Building #15).
11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. The Importance of the 14th Amendment: The history behind the amendment
(in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #6).
11:00 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. Read Me a Story: A story from our country’s history (in the Richardson House, Building #12).
11:30 a.m. “I Want a Little More Learning”: The story of Prudence Crandall and her school for Black girls (in the District School, Building #31).
12:00 p.m. An Excerpt From a Letter By 19th Century Activist Sarah Grimke: Her thoughts on women speaking publicly (in the Richardson House, Building #12).
1:30 p.m. How a Town Becomes a Town: Learn about the origins of New England towns (in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #6).
2:00 p.m. The Origin of Constitution Day: Why understanding our Constitution is fundamental to our democracy (in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #6).
Music Performances
10:30 a.m. Parlor Music: Listen to a selection of parlor songs (at the Fitch House, Building #20).
11:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Unusual New England Instruments: Listen to and learn about a selection of the more unusual instruments used during the Village period (at the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
3:30 p.m. Musical Highlights, the “Hurdy Gurdy”:
Listen to this strange and unusual instrument
(at the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
Gardens
11:30 a.m. A Tour of the Herb Garden: Dye Plants: In the early 19th century plants were the principal dye source for coloring wool, cotton, linen, and silk. Learn about a variety of these plants from the exotic to common garden plants and those gathered from the wild (at the Herb Garden, #30).
2:00 p.m. A Tour of the Herb Garden: Seasonal Plants: Come join a member of our horticulture team for an Herb Garden tour highlighting plants with exceptional seasonal interest in September. Learn how to grow, care-for, and design with these show stopping beauties (at the Herb Garden, #30).
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.
Trades
Printing Office (Building #17) Small printing offices often worked for publishers in Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, printing and binding books for sale anywhere in New England. They often also did smaller printing jobs for local people.
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, historical children’s toys and gifts, too!
Ox & Yoke Café (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Featuring scrumptious sweet and savory baked goods made right on-site, along with freshly ground coffee, beer and wine, maple water, and more.
Enjoy pies, focaccia, cheesecake, or a “flight” of cookies!
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!
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).
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 Sturbrige Village Museum Collection
(in the Dennison Building, #27).