The Amherst History Museum is located at 67 Amity Street in Amherst, Massachusetts. Beginning on Saturday, May 20, the Museum will be open on Saturdays, from 11AM to 3PM, and by appointment.
The Amherst History Museum opened in 1916 and is governed by the Amherst Historical Society, which was founded in 1899. Housed in the 1750-era Simeon Strong House, the Amherst History Museum takes visitors Won a journey from the town’s colonial past, through its industrial age and into the computer-driven present. The Museum is filled with decorative arts, paintings, household implements, agricultural tools and other pieces of history from the nearly three hundred years since Amherst was settled.
The 2023 season at the Strong House brings a fresh look at our founder, Mabel Loomis Todd with ‘The Magnificent Life & Art of Mabel Loomis Todd.’ This exhibit explores Todd’s work as a nature writer, painter, conservationist, lecturer, and the editor of Emily Dickinson’s poetry.


The AHS 'Groom Tree'
Art on the Lawn:
Call for artists
This year the Amherst History Museum invites local artists and crafters to sell their creations on the lawn of the museum on four Saturdays during our 2023 season. We are seeking artists who work in both traditional, indigenous, historical, and/or contemporary mediums, including fiber, painting, basket-making, spinning, drawing, jewelry, metal, pottery, photography, printmaking, woodworking and paper arts.
All 2-D and 3-D artists in the Amherst region are eligible to participate. We would like each show to reflect the diversity of artists in our region. We encourage artists and crafters of all identities to consider applying.
Art on the Lawn will be held on the following Saturdays: June 10, July 8, September 9, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Amherst Historical Society: Upcoming Events
Old Growth Forest Walking Tour
Old Growth Forest Walking Tour
Did you know that the Town of Amherst has an old growth forest in its midst? Did you know that this old growth forest is home to a Black Birch that is among the largest trees of that species in Massachusetts? This October, the Amherst History Museum is offering two hikes to look at and talk about...
Lydia Maria Child
Lydia Maria Child
Lydia Maria Child (1802 - 1880) was a true heroine of the abolitionist movement; she gave up a promising career and her standing in society to battle slavery.
Arts on the Lawn October 14
Arts on the Lawn October 14
Art on the Lawn at the Amherst History Museum takes place on the second Saturday of June, July, September and October; June 10, July 8, September 9 and October 14. Artists and crafters will be set up on the lawn of the museum from 11:00am to 3:00pm when the museum is open for visitors.
A glimpse into the Amherst History Museum’s permanent collection:
AHS UPDATES
History of Tan Brook on Sept 22
Tan Brook is a little-known stream that flows right under Triangle Street and Kendrick Park. It originates from the small lake next to Wildwood Cemetery, and emerges at McClellan Street with a quiet...
History of the Wachusett Reservoir
In 1897, the Nashua River above the town of Clinton, Mass was impounded by the Wachusett Dam; 4,380 acres were flooded in the towns of Boylston, West Boylston, Clinton, and Sterling. Work was...
Planes in America
Because of Amherst's connection with the manufacture of carpenters' planes in the 19th century -- see the Nutting and Kellogg planemakers -- I was intrigued by this display, seen on a recent trip to...
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Fricke
Become a volunteer
‘History Bites’–Highlights from past seasons

19th Century Spiritualism
Robert Cox – Director of Special Collections at UMass
Dec. 21, 2018
Memory Lands: Native American Perspectives on King Philip’s War
Dr Christine DeLucia
Jan 30, 2020
Native American Stone Structures
Dr Curtiss Hoffman
March 26, 2021
From Arkham to Amherst
George Naughton
April 21, 2017

The AHS Bookstore
Help support the Amherst Historical Society! Shop our online store for books that highlight the history of Amherst. Titles include:
- Amherst A to Z by Elizabeth M. Sharpe
- Amherst and Hadley Through the Seasons by Daniel Lombardi
- Harvesting History by Sheila Rainford and Ruth Owen Jones
- History of the Black Population of Amherst 1728-1870 by James Avery Smith
- The Letters of Lathrop & Pomeroy by Lucy Whitelaw Rexford
- The Writing Master, by Kitty Burns Florey