The Old Colony History Museum is home to an extensive collection of regional objects and archives and a research library specializing in local history and genealogy. It’s parent organization, the Old Colony Historical Society, was founded on May 4, 1853, making it one of New England’s oldest historical societies.
We are open year-round Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4, and offer many exciting exhibitions, activities, programs, research opportunities and, most importantly, an inspiring setting for visitors from around the block and around the world.
The mission of the Old Colony History Museum is to collect, preserve and exhibit the history of the region of southeastern Massachusetts once known as the Old Colony. Second, through a vigorous program of outreach and education, we aspire to interpret the area’s history in ways that are accessible, inclusive and meaningful to local residents and visitors.
The term “Old Colony” refers to that area of southeastern Massachusetts that was once contained within the Plymouth Colony. Home to humans for at least 10,000 years before Europeans settled the area in 1620, the land today encompasses Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable counties. Bounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, the Old Colony was richly endowed with well-protected harbors and a river system that made trading, and later industry, profitable. The Old Colony existed as a separate entity until its merger with the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.
66 Church Green
Taunton, MA 02780