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.

Painting detail from ‘The Magnificent Life & Art of Mabel Loomis Todd’ currently at the Amherst History Museum.
Groom's tree

The AHS 'Groom Tree'

Last year, the Town’s Department of Public Works and the Historical Society together received an Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grant to sustain the Groom Tree for years to come. As part of the grant, a fund to support the ongoing care and maintenance of the tree has been established. Help us preserve the history and stories of our community. Make a donation to help us continue to care for the 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

01
October

Old Growth Forest Walking Tour

Old Growth Forest Walking Tour

October 1, 202310:00 am - 12:00 pm General

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...

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06
October

Lydia Maria Child

Lydia Maria Child

October 6, 202312:00 pm - 1:00 pm Zoom History Bites Lunchtime Lecture Series

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.

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14
October

Arts on the Lawn October 14

Arts on the Lawn October 14

October 14, 202311:00 am - 3:00 pm Simeon Strong House General

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.

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Dancers at the museum
RR station

A glimpse into the Amherst History Museum’s permanent collection:

Rudge High Wheel Cycle

Rudge High Wheel Cycle (Manufactured 1870-1888). High wheel cycles were popular with young, middle-class men of the late 19th century for their speed- the bigger the wheel, the faster the cycle could go. A high wheel of this size could reach a speed of nearly 30 mph! This particular cycle was a gift from Amherst mechanic Edward Thompson to his son Herbert in 1881. High wheels were considered hazardous to the health of their riders- both because their instability (even a small rock or bump could cause the rider to fly over the handlebars and suffer a ‘header’) and physicians worry that the jarring of the hard rubber tires on unpaved roads would damage male organs.

Mabel Loomis Todd embroidered dress

This unique late-19th century dress once belonged to Mabel Loomis Todd, and was donated to the Amherst Historical Society by her daughter. Purple velvet and old gold silk, with hand-embroidered pansies, created in 1890. Look at the detail on those flowers! Unfortunately, the dress is now too fragile to be displayed as it would have been worn.

Infant's Linen Cap

This fine linen infant cap is the oldest textile in our collection. The crown and side stripes are constructed of bobbin lace, a type of lace created by braiding and twisting thread held in place with pins set into a lace pillow. Take a look at the fine lacework- at the time, even the clothing of infants and small children often featured beautiful, delicate lacework. A piece of clothing like this would be passed down and reused over multiple generations of children.

Doll's Tea Set

Doll’s teaset (c. early 18th century, France). This porcelain doll’s teaset belonged to Sarah Dickerman Swift of New Haven, Connecticut. It was donated to the Amherst Historical Society in 1975 by her granddaughter, Helen Mitchell.

Paint Set

This 19th century paint set belonged to Mabel Loomis Todd, the woman responsible for editing and publishing the work of Emily Dickinson, as well as an artist and author in her own right. Todd authored books and articles, and travelled around the US on a professional lecture tour giving lectures on a wide range of topics, including Emily Dickinson, New England history, and astronomy. A prolific artist and writer, Todd continued creating and traveling until just shortly before her death. Mabel died in 1932 while camping in Maine..

conch shell

If you lived in what would become Amherst in the 18th century, this conch shell would have called you to the meetinghouse to worship. “Blowing the kunk,” as it was known, was an appointed job in the community, and the man responsible for blowing this kunk also swept out the meetinghouse and received for his troubles $3 a year.

miniature straw hat

This miniature straw hat (c. December 17th, 1907) was created by the Hills Hat Factory in Amherst, MA, as a show piece for display to prospective customers. It is marked with the initials of Fannie Marilla (Davis) Pierce.

Emily Dickinson's dress

This 19th century wrapper is the only surviving dress known to have been worn by Emily Dickinson. After her death, it was passed on to a cousin and later came to the collection of the Amherst Historical Society. Its design is typical for a house dress of the 1870s-1880s; it is almost entirely machine sewn, and was made sturdy to weather frequent washings.

old and new nails

An 18th century rosehead nail from the Simeon Strong House, displayed next to its modern counterpart. As explained by Steve DeWolf, carpenter who specializes in repairing Pioneer Valley historic homes, this nail would have been forged by hand, the head created by striking the metal bar when it was hot. It was pulled from the side of the Strong House during restoration work.

AHS UPDATES

History of Tan Brook on Sept 22

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...

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Planes in America

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...

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Amherst Juneteenth Observance at the Amherst History Museum on Saturday June 18, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Fricke

Become a volunteer

Find out how you can help. The Amherst Historical Society depends on the support of the community. We are currently looking for gardeners, educators, fundraisers, and more. Contact us for more information.

‘History Bites’–Highlights from past seasons

spiritualism gathering

19th Century Spiritualism

Robert Cox – Director of Special Collections at UMass

Dec. 21, 2018

Stone Prayers book

Native American Stone Structures

Dr Curtiss Hoffman

March 26, 2021

Town sign Arkham

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