Dear *{{First Name}}*,
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our 173rd Annual Meeting last week. It was a great chance to look back on a strong 2025 full of engaging exhibits, school visits, and community programs, and to share what’s ahead, including some exciting plans to improve our outdoor spaces.
We were especially glad to recognize our amazing volunteers, who make so much of what we do possible. We also had the honor of presenting the Ernest & Roberta Gebelein Memorial Scholarship to Denise Cole. This scholarship is funded by Bristol County Savings Bank and honors Ernest Gebelein, a longtime OCHM board member and former Chairman of the Bank’s Board of Directors, along with his wife Roberta, a dedicated educator and volunteer. We’re thrilled to support Denise as she begins her studies in Library & Information Science at Simmons University this fall.
The evening also marked the opening of our newest exhibit, Decorative Arts, which is now on view. If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, we hope you’ll stop by soon. And you can learn more about how it came to be on our blog.
Looking ahead to May, we’ve got a lot coming up. New programs, special events, and our fundraiser on May 7, which is going to be so much fun!
We’d love to see you here.
Thanks, as always, for being part of the Old Colony History Museum community. We truly couldn’t do this without you.
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Katie MacDonald
OCHM Executive Director
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Coming Up: Back In Time: 1926
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We are so excited for May 7!
Our next fundraising event, Back In Time: 1926, is just around the corner. This special evening brings history to life while supporting the museum’s exhibitions, programs, and preservation work. It is going to be so much fun–great atmosphere, great community, and a chance to directly support the work we do every day.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to OCHM, it’s a fun and meaningful way to be part of our mission. We hope you’ll join us.
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From Art Deco to Decorative Arts
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A 1920s Moment, a Century Later at the Old Colony History Museum
by Katie MacDonald
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The OCHM’s latest blog post explores how the 1925 Paris Exhibition sparked a global shift in design that still shapes how museums interpret everyday objects. Read the full story to see how a 1920s moment continues to resonate through the collections—and thinking—of the Old Colony History Museum.
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As part of our continued efforts to simplify your experience, we’re standardizing event pricing to ensure greater clarity and consistency across our programs.
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Revolution in Motion: One Day, Three Great Events
May 16
Registration Required
Join the Old Colony History Museum and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) – Robert Treat Paine Chapter as we pay tribute to Taunton’s signer of the Declaration of Independence and kick off our celebration of 250 years of American independence.
Event Schedule
11:00 am – Revolutionary Walking Tour
1:00 pm & 1:30 pm – Gallery Talk with Curator Bronson Michaud
2:00 pm – Guest Lecture: From Slaves to Soldiers, with local historian and reenactor Jason Roomes
This event is supported by the Creative SouthCoast Initiative Fund of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.
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The OCHM is proud to offer free public programs, continuing our long tradition of providing accessible history and learning for all.
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Lecture: Benjamin Franklin and the Invention of American Science
May 21, 5:30 pm
Registration Required
Science belongs to the world. So why did Benjamin Franklin and his peers think that the United States was the best at it? This talk explores how Franklin and early American scientists defined science as a fundamentally American activity and helped the United States become a scientific powerhouse.
Paul Rubinson is Professor of History at Bridgewater State University. He has written books on scientists and nuclear weapons and is the author of American Scientists and Human Rights from the Early Republic to the Cold War, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.
Join us in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary as we explore the local stories of the Old Colony that helped shape the nation.
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The OCHM is proud to offer free public programs, continuing our long tradition of providing accessible history and learning for all.
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Memorial Day Weekend Closure Notice
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Please note that the museum will be closed on Saturday May 23, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming you back during our regular hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.
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Highlight Tours
- Audio Tours
- Scavenger Hunts
- Group Visits
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1926: In Style
Opens May 1
Opening May 1, 1926: In Style explores the fashion that defined a bold new era of self-expression. As part of our 100 Years on Church Green celebration, the exhibit highlights the looks, stories, and social shifts shaping style a century ago.
Located on the museum’s second floor, this exhibit is included with regular admission.
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Our thanks to Taunton Community Access & Media (TCAM TV) for recording our programs throughout the year. Explore our growing library anytime on our website.
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Explore our searchable online collections database, where you can browse objects, photographs, and documents from OCHM’s holdings anytime, anywhere.
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Explore the Reed & Barton Virtual Archive, a centralized online resource connecting historic business records, designs, and collections from Reed & Barton’s 1824–2015 Taunton factory.
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Explore Taunton on Atlascope, an interactive online map that lets you layer historic maps over today’s streets to see how the city and its neighborhoods have changed.
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How YOU can support local history
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Memberships are affordable, impactful, and make you part of a growing community passionate about the past. Scroll to the bottom of this message to check your current membership status and consider joining today!
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Every contribution, no matter the size, strengthens the impact of our museum and preserves it for the future.
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We’re grateful to our Corporate Sponsors for their generous support. Their commitment helps us preserve the past, offer dynamic programs, and keep the museum welcoming and accessible to our community. To view our Corporate Sponsors—or learn how your business can support the Old Colony History Museum—visit oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org/sponsor.
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