Visiting the Hamilton House in Maine allows guests to step into history and immerse themselves in what it was like to live during those historic times. View the beautiful architecture, the antique furnishings and the perfectly manicured gardens all lovingly cared for and in amazing shape.
Built in 1785 in South Berwick, Maine overlooking the Salmon Falls river, the house was originally occupied by Jonathan Hamilton, a well-known shipping merchant, and then by Emily and Elise (her stepdaughter) Tyson.
History
The furnishings in the home are from the era that the Tysons lived there, when they purchased the home in 1898. The Tysons used the home as a rural, summer retreat and designed and renovated it in the Colonial Revival style. The property was left to the historic society of New England in 1949, but it was not restored and turned into a museum in 1987. Restorations are ongoing. The house was featured in the magazine House Beautiful in 1929. Those photographs are accessible on their website.
Permanent Exhibits
Wallpaper murals - Prevalent in the home are murals that have been hand painted over the home's wallpaper. Commissioned by the Emily and Elise Tyson after their visit to Italy in 1095, the mural was painted by George Fernald and included scenes of Roman ruins as well as Renaissance influenced grottos and waterfalls. Mostly green and blue in color and blending the indoor decor with the outdoor scenes found in the mural, the sense of whimsy here continues to be a theme throughout the rest of the home. The artist returned to the home in 1907 for another commissioned mural, this time focusing on the local Piscataqua region.
Colored glass - There are many pieces of colored glass around the home as well. Many of the glass pieces were created by Sandwich Glass, a company out of Cape Cod. The pieces are often color coordinated by room (blues and whites in the guest bedroom and green in the drawing room). One piece to keep a special eye out for is the dolphin candlesticks, molded in two parts out of vaselin colored transparent glass.
Decorative rugs - Many of the pieces on the property were sought out by the Tyson's because they were made or manufactured by women. As part of this collection are a variety of hooked rugs that appear all over the home. Their origins are often unknown, but each are unique and beautiful.
All visits to the Hamilton House include a guided tour to be sure that guests do not miss out on any of the historic details. The tour also involves the outside landscaping of the home, as gardening was a passion of the Tysons. The perennial garden, with its marble fountain and an adorable garden cottage that looks out over the river, has been a favorite of many guests.
Guests should be advised that, as this is a historic home, it is not wheelchair accessible. However, guests confined in wheelchairs can still tour the first floor. Guests with other disabilities should call ahead as many disabilities can be worked with so that everyone is able to enjoy the house as equally as possibly.
Educational Opportunities
There are many educational opportunities hosted both on site and at the other related historic sites. Varying based on grade level (kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd -5th grade/middle school, etc.). Visit the website to find out which tour or program fits best with the guidelines for the class planning on visiting. Programs can be scheduled online through the website or by calling for additional information. Choose from programs based on colonial history/times, the local environment, architecture and more. There is a cost involved, but it will depend on the program, the number of students. There may also be either a minimum or a maximum number of students allowed on the premises, make sure to check when scheduling and provide an accurate estimate of expected number of students. The time involved may also vary based on program and if any materials are needed. There may also be space for classes to picnic on grounds.
Shopping
While at the house, visitors should make sure to stop by the museum shop which, although small, offers a variety of souvenirs such as books related to the history of the house as well as other local history, gardening items and other small gift items. Make sure to support the organization and check it out.
Hamilton House, 40 Vaughan's Lane, South Berwick, ME, 03908, Phone: 207-384-2454, website, Map
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