Bidwell House Museum Opens Season with Martha Washington Performance| 10:55AM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
MONTEREY, Mass.— The Bidwell House Museum will commence its 35th season with a performance centered on Martha Washington on Saturday, May 17, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The opening program, titled "A Personal Conversation in Mrs. Washington’s Bedchamber," will feature Sandy Spector portraying Martha Washington as she prepares for her day. This interactive program will include Mrs. Washington sharing information about her family and the impact of current events involving her husband on her family and the developing nation.
Sandy Spector is a historian, researcher, and interpreter based in Boston. She has been involved in Revolutionary War reenactments since 2000 and has been portraying Martha Washington for the past decade in various locations, including National Park Service sites such as Washington’s Headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., Valley Forge, and Newburgh, NY. She also presents for museums, schools, libraries, and historical societies and is currently writing a book about Martha Washington from her perspective.
Following the performance, refreshments will be available to mark the season opening. While house tours will not be conducted on this day, the gardens and grounds will be accessible to visitors. Tickets for the event are free for museum members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required through the museum’s website at https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/a-personal-conversation-in-mrs-washingtons-bedchamber/. Seating is limited.
The museum will officially open for guided tours on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. These small-group tours will last approximately one hour and will cover the house's architecture, the history of the Bidwell family and their connection to Monterey, information about 18th-century New England household items and decor, and a tour of the first and second floors. The museum is accessible, and a video tour of the second floor is available for visitors unable to use stairs. Tours are by appointment only, must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, and will be offered on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 413-528-6888 or emailing bidwellhm2@gmail.com. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and under.
Since 2023, the Bidwell House Museum has participated in the Card to Culture program, offering free admission for house tours to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders, and member pricing for events. This initiative is supported by the Mass Cultural Council in collaboration with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s MassWIC, and the Massachusetts Health Connector.
The Bidwell House Museum is also a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, providing NARM members with free admission for house tours at participating institutions. Additionally, the museum offers free admission for house tours to members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA).
The Bidwell House Museum is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of early American home life and the Berkshire landscape.
The museum grounds, encompassing 194 acres of woods, fields, historic stonewalls, and trails, are open year-round at no charge. Trail maps are available on the museum's front porch and website at https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/trails/.
The Bidwell House Museum is located at 100 Art School Road in Monterey, Massachusetts. For more information about programs, call 413-528-6888 or visit www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.
|
