Cushing House Museum Tours

Explore the 1808 Cushing House, Newburyport's only National Historic Landmark! Enjoy a docent-led tour of the twenty-one room Federal mansion, brimming with thousands of artifacts. After the tour, spend some time in our library and archives to research your family tree or perhaps the history of your own home.

Members and children under 5: Free. Adults: $7. Students: $2.

Newburyport Lost...Changes Revealed Through Photographs

Learn about the architectural changes in Newburyport over time during a narrated photo-documentary, featuring vintage and modern day photographs. Join HSON curator Jay S. Williamson and architect Linda Miller for a stimulating, and often surprising, look at our city's evolution. Light refreshments follow the program. Presented in cooperation with the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

$8. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Firehouse Center.

Town and Country

Explore town and country life after the American Revolution at two National Historic Landmarks. Tour the elegant town house and peaceful country estate of merchants who had made a fortune in Newburyport's maritime trade. Presented in cooperation with Historic New England.

$10 adults, $8 seniors. Joint tickets available at each site.

New Visions - The Thirtieth Annual Garden Tour, Plant Sale, and Gilded Horse Shop

Visit fifteen exceptional private gardens in Newburyport, Newbury and Byfield during one of the area's largest garden tours. Find that special plant for your own garden as well as unique antique and collectibles at the Cushing House Museum "Gilded Horse Shop."

$20. After June 1, $25 and $20 for those over 65. Tickets available at the Cushing House Museum and local garden shops. Click http://www.newburyportgardentour.com for further details or call 978.462.2681.

Yachting on the Merrimack River

Spend an evening enjoying the waterfront at the American Yacht Club learning about the history of the club and yachting on the Merrimack with Past Commodore Clif Robinson. Chowder will follow the presentation.

$10. Reservations are required. Call the Cushing House at 978.462.2681 for reservations. Space is limited. Attendance is limited to members of the Historical Society of Old Newbury or the American Yacht Club.

Yankee Homecoming

Celebrate Yankee Homecoming with a free tour of the Cushing House Museum, Newburyport’s only National Historic Landmark. Following your tour, be sure to check out our fabulous used book sale. Finally, commemorate your visit by having a hand-cut silhouette made by artist Carol Lebeaux.

Tours: Free. Silhouettes: $33, additional copies $12. Call the Cushing House Museum at 978.462.2681 for silhouette reservations.

Maritime Mansions at Twilight

The 1808 Cushing House and the 1690 Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm stand within two and a half miles of one another but each have their own tales to tell of Newburyport's maritime heyday. Waterside merchants raced around the world, "growing their fleets" of trading vessels and then retired to "Old Town" as gentleman farmers. Tour the Cushing House, then proceed to Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm for a candlelight tour and refreshments.

$10. Space is limited. Reservations are required. Call 800.742.5306 or visit www.escapesnorth.com/maritime_mansions for reservations.

An Evening Harbor Tour

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to view the visiting tall ship Friendship from the water! Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres aboard the Prince of Whales as well as a presentation by Emily Murphy of the National Park Service.

Annual Meeting

Trails and Sails

Join Jay S. Williamson, HSON curator, for a special historic tour of Newburyport. Call the Cushing House Museum at 978.462.2681 for details.

Historical Importance of Freemasonry in Newburyport

Explore the Temple and see for yourself why the imposing lodge room was saved with the assistance of the Community Preservation Association. Jon Williamson, Worshipful Master of St. John's Lodge, will discuss the role of Newburyport's Freemasons in the city's history. Dinner will be available at 6 pm.

Members of the Historical Society of Old Newbury will be guests of honor at St. John's Lodge for a unique presentation on the history of Newburyport Masonry. Those attending will bear witness to Newburyport's Masonic heritage and their time honored traditions as well as the York Rite marching in with full public regalia.

Please accept the generous invitation of the brothers of St. John's Lodge to join them before the presentation in the banquet hall for a New England Harvest dinner with roast pork, potatoes, applesauce, vegetables, and apple pie.

Admission to the 7:45 program is free. Dinner at 7:00 is $15 per person.

Reservations required. Dinner reservations must be made by Tuesday, September 29.

Please call 978.462.2681 to reserve your space.

Treasures & Travels 2009

Find that special antique or an exciting vacation opportunity during an evening of spirited bidding at our fourth annual auction.

Live Auction Catalog [PDF, 5.6MB]

Silent Auction Catalog [PDF, 3.8MB]

Mark your calendars for October 24, 2009 - you don't want to miss the Treasures and Travels 2009 dinner and auction. Continuing our tradition of past years, the auction includes a number of wonderful vacation opportunities and services. A sampling of the auction lots includes: Red Sox tickets; four roundtrip American Airlines tickets for travel within the continental U.S.; a day of handyman services; a New York City apartment stay; vacation stays in Maine and Cape Cod; antiques and art appraisals; a series of seasonal cocktail parties; three days of interior painting; catamaran and sailboat trips; and dinner at the home of collectors and antiques dealers Joan Brownstein and Peter Eaton. The "treasures" portion of the auction has been specially designed to include items that will be welcome additions to any home - historic or contemporary - and will appeal to bidders of all ages. Among the notable items are more than a dozen oriental rugs including a room-sized antique Herez, a caneware pitcher from the collection of the late Nina Fletcher Little, and a wide array of silver and ceramics. As you can see, there is something for everyone! The auction preview will be held at the Cushing House (98 High Street) on Friday, October 23 from 10 AM to 3 PM and left bids will be accepted.

Purchase your tickets by calling 978.462.2681 by September 30 and pay only $55 - a $15 decrease from last year. From October 1 on, tickets will be $60. The ticket price includes the auction preview party, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and dessert. Cash bar.

The Art of Small Talk

Are you dreading the upcoming holiday parties? Does the thought of meeting new people make you nervous? Conquer your fears and learn the art of small talk in an interactive workshop led by nationally recognized etiquette expert Jodi R. R. Smith. The workshop will be conducted in a party format with live music. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served.

Ticket details to be announced.

Cushing House Museum Holiday Tours