Amherst History Museum

Amherst History Museum Our mission is to connect people to the Town of Amherst, its history and its culture. We do that for Amherst. To fulfill our mission, we need your help.

For five generations, Amherst residents have donated pieces of their lives to the Historical Society. We hold these pieces in trust, and aim to discover the heart of Amherst's history. In order to reinterpret the past, the "old documents and objects" need to be preserved and made available for study. Understanding community history fosters civic pride and this valued institution serves us all. We

depend entirely on private donations and volunteer efforts for maintenance of our extensive collections, the Simeon Strong House (c. 1750, one of the oldest in Amherst) and its grounds, and for support of our educational and outreach activities. Our mission is to connect you to the town of Amherst, its history and its culture.

On view now at the Amherst History Center! And join us next week for an opening reception to celebrate this new exhibit...
06/18/2026

On view now at the Amherst History Center! And join us next week for an opening reception to celebrate this new exhibit telling the story of the community during the Revolution. Amherst Downtown MA250 Amherst Cultural Council Mass Cultural Council Town of Amherst, MA Official

As the Amherst Regional High School Class of 2026 gets ready to graduate, check out this school song published in 1922! ...
06/02/2026

As the Amherst Regional High School Class of 2026 gets ready to graduate, check out this school song published in 1922! While ARHS may not have an official school song any more, we are sure the sentiment remains: “Amherst here’s to you. Highest in learning, proudest in sports, we praise thy name anew!” Congratulations Class of 2026🎓🎓🎓

The Amherst’s History Center will closed today, Saturday, May 30th. We are getting the space ready for our coming exhib...
05/30/2026

The Amherst’s History Center will closed today, Saturday, May 30th. We are getting the space ready for our coming exhibition “In Defense of our Just Rights & Privileges: Amherst in the Revolution.” Stay tuned for more updates!

May 29th is the birth anniversary of the 35th President John F. Kennedy President Kennedy visited Amherst College in Oct...
05/29/2026

May 29th is the birth anniversary of the 35th President John F. Kennedy President Kennedy visited Amherst College in October 1963 and while on campus, among other things, he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Robert Frost library less than a month later, he was assassinated in Dallas.

Congratulations to the Hampshire College Class of 2026! Amherst Historical Society wishes you all the best after graduti...
05/16/2026

Congratulations to the Hampshire College Class of 2026!

Amherst Historical Society wishes you all the best after gradution. We are all celebrating your accomplishments this weekend, and hope that you remember that Amherst will always be home!

Congratulations to the UMass Amherst Class of 2026! We wish you all the best after gradution. Remember that Amherst will...
05/15/2026

Congratulations to the UMass Amherst Class of 2026!

We wish you all the best after gradution. Remember that Amherst will always be home, and that we at the Amherst Historical Society are thankful for all of your contributions to this wonderful town.

Go U!

“A piece of pie between meals” to celebrate Apple Pie Day. This photo shows a young boy enjoying a piece of pie. While n...
05/13/2026

“A piece of pie between meals” to celebrate Apple Pie Day.

This photo shows a young boy enjoying a piece of pie. While not dated, the photographer is known to be Clifton Johnson, who lived from 1865 to 1940.

Will you be having a piece of apple pie today as well?

📸Photo courtesy of the Jones Library Special Collections

Thursday, May 14, the Amherst History Center will host a public reception for our temporary exhibit: A Wider Lens. The e...
05/12/2026

Thursday, May 14, the Amherst History Center will host a public reception for our temporary exhibit: A Wider Lens.

The exhibit is a collaboration between Amherst Regional High School students and Amherst-area elders, and tells stories about intergenerational connections and histories in the town of Amherst.

We invite everyone to come see this unique exhibit and engage with the Amherst community on May 14 from 6-7. The event is free and open to the public!

This exhibit was funded by the Amherst Educational Foundation. We hope to see you on Thursday night!

On May 14, Georgia Barnhill, President of the Amherst Historical Society, will give a Museums à la Carte presentation at...
05/11/2026

On May 14, Georgia Barnhill, President of the Amherst Historical Society, will give a Museums à la Carte presentation at the Springfield Museums.

Her talk will be about Amherst Historical Society’s past exhibit, Cambodians in Amherst. She will give a history of the Khmer community in Amherst and discuss how the 2022 exhibit came to fruition.

Both online and in-person options are available if you are interested in this program!

May 14, 12:15-1:30 PM
Springfield Museums
21 Edwards St. Springfield, MA

Free for Springfield Museum Members
$4 for Nonmembers

See https://springfieldmuseums.org/program/cambodians-in-amherst-a-history-of-the-khmer-community/ for more information, we hope to see you there!

For Museum Monday, we are showing off an object from our collection. This is a porringer, a shallow bowl used for drinki...
05/11/2026

For Museum Monday, we are showing off an object from our collection.

This is a porringer, a shallow bowl used for drinking. Porringers were common in Colonial America, but the concept dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.

This example is made of pewter and about 20 centimeters wide and 4.8 centimeters tall.

Have you ever seen an object like this before?

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67 Amity Street
Amherst, MA
01002

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