The Gibson House Museum

06/20/2023

Thank you to the Garden Club of the Back Bay for sprucing up the museum with these beautiful flower arrangements! We are now ready for summer!

06/13/2023

We are excited to share that our Beacon Hill neighbor, the William Hickling Prescott House, is now open for public tours!
Our staff was recently invited to join a tour of Beacon Hill with Hub Town Tours, who have built a partnership with the NSCDA MA to lead tours of the Prescott House, while also offering tours of Beacon Hill and the Freedom Trail! The tour was a great way to not only celebrate the opening of another historic home to the public, but to get to learn more about the lesser known Civil War history of the neighborhood...which the Gibson family would have been witness to.

We highly recommend if you are looking for a way to celebrate Juneteenth, or if you simply want to learn more about the abolitionists of Beacon Hill, take a walking tour with Hub Town Tours! They also are leading tours of the Prescott House from Friday-Sunday, if you want a peek into another local historic home.

06/02/2023

Happy Pride Month! Special tours:
**Charlie Gibson's Q***r Boston**
Celebrate Pride and support the LGBTQ+ history of Boston with a special **30% discounted ticket** offered only during Pride Month! See below for dates and times.
Explore the Gibson House Museum and the gay subculture of early-twentieth-century Boston through Charlie Gibson's eyes on this interactive tour. The story of the Museum's founder is one of legacy and family history, of the fading grandeur of Victorian-era Boston, and of Boston's LGBTQ+ history.
Go to https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/events for tickets and details.
Tours Offered:
6/10: 4:00-5:00pm
6/24: 4:00-5:00pm

05/28/2023

Warren Gibson Winslow, nephew of Charles Hammond Gibson, lost his life 3 January 1944.

Winslow was an officer on the Bristol Class destroyer USS-Turner DD-648, captained by Commander Henry S. Wygant, Jr.; the ship was at anchor just outside the submarine net protecting New York Harbor, about 6 miles off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, when it suddenly exploded and sank with the loss of approximately 140 lives, including those of most of her officers-- the official cause of the explosion was listed as defective ammunition but it is believed that the Turner was hit by a German torpedo

05/25/2023

Philanthropic Preservations | Accidentally Wes Anderson

Thank you Matthew Dickey of the Boston Preservation Alliance for your terrific Preservation Month article in Accidentally Wes Anderson's newsletter about the Gibson House Museum.

Accidentally Wes Anderson Philanthropic Preservations Humble Humans

05/19/2023

Happy International Museum Day! I'm proud of the many museums and historical sites that enrich and serve the Third Suffolk District.

Revere Historical Society and Museum
Museum of Science, Boston
The West End Museum
The Gibson House Museum
Deane Winthrop House
Donald McKay House
The Paul Revere House
Old North Church & Historic Site
Old State House
Old South Meeting House
Pierce–Hichborn House
ICA Watershed
Veteran Association of the First Corps of Cadets and Museum
Nantucket Lightship/LV-112
The Sports Museum
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
Folk Americana Roots Hall Of Fame
New England Aquarium
Museum of African American History - Boston

05/17/2023

International Museum Day - International Council of Museums

This Thursday May 18 is International Museum Day, the purpose of which is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are a means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
For more information:

Each year since 1977, ICOM has organised International Museum Day, which represents a unique moment for the international museum community.

05/17/2023

**Pride Month: Charlie Gibson's Q***r Boston**
Celebrate Pride and support the LGBTQ+ history of Boston with a special **30% discounted ticket** offered only during Pride Month! See below for dates and times.

Explore the Gibson House Museum and the gay subculture of early-twentieth-century Boston through Charlie Gibson's eyes on this interactive tour. The story of the Museum's founder is one of legacy and family history, of the fading grandeur of Victorian-era Boston, and of Boston's LGBTQ+ history.

Go to https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/events for tickets and details.

Tours Offered:
6/1: 6:00-7:00pm
6/10: 4:00-5:00pm
6/24: 4:00-5:00pm

05/05/2023

May is Preservation Month. Pay us a visit!

05/02/2023

beaconhilltimes.com

Thank you Beacon Hill Times for your great coverage of our Benefit.

04/20/2023

Mayor Wu Announces Community Preservation Act Funding Allocated for 56 ProjectsTotaling More Than $40 Million

We are delighted to announce that we are the recipients of a $69K City of Boston CPA grant for some much-needed exterior repairs.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee (CPC) today announced the approval of 56 projects totaling over $40 million through the Community Preservation Act (CPA). Following the CPC's public hearing and Mayor Wu's recommendation, the proposed projects were approved by...

04/13/2023

Thanks to everyone who attended and supported our Annual Benefit on Tuesday night. We had a delightful evening “à la Belle Epoque!”

As the Museum’s primary fundraising event, the Benefit raises funds critical to maintaining the house and its collections, and providing educational programming to the public.

We’d like to say a special thanks to our corporate sponsors, Manzi Appraisers and Restoration and Ovation Data.

04/07/2023

It's not too late to buy raffle tickets for next Tuesday's Benefit. Sales end at noon on April 11. The prizes are great (tours, theater and concert tickets, wine. jewelry, gourmet items). Follow the link https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/raffle-items

04/07/2023

Thank you Garden Club of the Back Bay volunteers for our beautiful spring urns.

04/06/2023

Gibson House Museum’s Annual Benefit To Honor the French Library – The Boston Sun

https://thebostonsun.com/2023/04/06/gibson-house-museums-annual-benefit-to-honor-the-french-library/

Next Tuesday's Benefit is a big story in the Boston Sun.

News Gibson House Museum’s Annual Benefit To Honor the French Library by Dan Murphy • April 6, 2023 • 0 Comments At “À la Belle Époque,” the organization’s 26th annual benefit set for Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the St. Botolph Club at 199 Commonwealth Ave., the Gibson H...

04/06/2023

City Councilor Kenzie Bok to head Boston Housing Authority as city battles housing crisis - The Boston Globe

The Gibson House thanks Kenzie Bok for her support of the museum during her terms as our District City Councilor. We wish her all the best in her new important role.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Bok’s appointment Wednesday. Bok will start at the authority in May.

03/23/2023

Our interpretive team visited our friends at the Russell Museum at MGH yesterday. Did you know that Rosamond Gibson's grandfather, John Collins Warren, was the first doctor to perform an operation using anesthesia? That surgery took place in 1846 in the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital.

03/11/2023

Tickets to the Annual Benefit are now on sale!
"À la Belle Époque"
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, St. Botolph Club, Boston
6:00-9:00 p.m.

The Friends of the Gibson House Museum invite you to "À la Belle Époque,” a fun and festive party with a French theme. The evening includes drinks, a light supper, a raffle, and French music.
Tickets are $150 and may be purchased via https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/events
or by sending a check with the names of your guests to the Gibson House Museum, 137 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116.
Join us in honoring the French Library, our Back Bay neighbor, for its many years of providing high-quality French-language instruction and cultural programs that inspire our community. We recognize, too, the library’s dedication to preserving Boston’s architectural history with a recent renovation of its 1867 brownstone headquarters that sensitively balances future needs with a respect for the building’s original charm and character.
All proceeds will support the preservation and operation of the Gibson House Museum.
Festive attire, French flair optional!

03/02/2023

Interesting programs this month at Nichols House.

From the Nichols family and the staff they employed to visual depictions of women and the artists who painted them, the Nichols House is full of women's history! Celebrate Women's History Month with us through a special program, house tour, or membership month.

Depicted here is Nora (Burke) Hurley, resident at 55 Mount Vernon Street in 1910 as a "chambermaid". Photo courtesy of her family.

02/24/2023

This winter, we are surveying Charles H. Gibson, Jr.’s large print collection, some of which is in museum storage. This lithograph by Italian engraver Francesco Bartolozzi accompanied Charlie Gibson’s 1908 collection of self-published sonnets. Bartolozzi was a prolific 18th-century engraver and reproduced many royal and classical scenes in his work. The print is labeled in Charlie’s handwriting: “Original of Frontispiece in The Wounded Eros, 1908”.

02/04/2023

***Upcoming Specialty Tours:***

Upstairs, Downstairs: Domestic Service at the Gibson House.
*Thursday, Feb. 23, 3:00 p.m.
*Friday, Feb. 24, 3:00 p.m.

The World of Little Women
*Saturday, Feb. 25, 3:00 p.m.

Charlie Gibson's Q***r Boston
*Thursday, March 2, 6:00 p.m.

Follow this link to book:

01/23/2023

Specialty tour: Charles Gibson's Q***r Boston, Sunday January 29, 4 pm.
Explore the Gibson House and early-twentieth-century Boston through Charlie Gibson's eyes! The story of the museum's founder is one of legacy and family history; of the fading grandeur of Victorian-era Boston; and of the role gay men, like Charlie, had in the historic preservation movement. This unique specialty house tour is not to be missed!
Ticket link: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/306874/calendar/2023/01/?flow=468779&full-items=yes

01/17/2023

Announcing our virtual program on Tuesday Feb. 7, 7 pm, 'Sargent's Women' by author Donna Lucey in which she will explore the extraordinary lives of four women of the Gilded Age painted by high-society portraitist John Singer Sargent. Sign up at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/430135/calendar/2023/02/?flow=468779&full-items=yes

01/10/2023

John Norton Obituary - Boston, MA

We are sad to learn of the passing of John Norton who served for many years on the board of the Gibson House Museum, as well as playing an important role in many other organizations as his obituary details. His wry sense of humor and his practical financial sense are still missed.

Celebrate the life of John Norton, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of .

12/20/2022

Thank you Garden Club of the Back Bay for creating beautiful seasonal urns for us. Happy holidays, everyone!

12/17/2022

Image | Samuel Hammond residence, Somerset and Allston Streets, n.d. | ID: 4x51ht48c | Tufts Digital Library

Catherine Hammond Gibson’s father lived here. Photo by nephew,Samuel Hammond Russell, who owned 135 Beacon Street, the house next door to the Gibson House Museum.

Note: Reading Room Hours, M-F, 9 am - 3:45 pm. Some material may be stored offsite and require up to two business days for retrieval.

12/08/2022

This Saturday, December 10, 3 pm, **Special Tour: The World of Little Women at the Gibson House.**
The story of Little Women has long been associated with the holidays. Come revisit this beloved story through a lively specialty tour that explores the similarities--and the many differences--in the experiences of Jo March, Louisa May Alcott, and Charlie Gibson as nineteenth-century writers. In addition to exploring the shared worlds of these real and imagined characters, visitors will hear behind-the-scenes details about the filming of Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaptation of Little Women at the Gibson House.
https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/417433/calendar/2022/12/?flow=468779&full-items=yes

12/07/2022

The museum is now beautifully decorated for the holidays. Why not plan a visit?

12/02/2022

Please note that we will be closed for tours this Sunday Dec. 4 as we decorate the museum for the holidays. Come back and see us in our seasonal splendor! There is still availability for the Holiday Open House, Sunday December 18, 1-4 p.m. It is free but registration is required. https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/420426/calendar/2022/12/?flow=468779&full-items=yes

12/01/2022

Joseph Warren is Rosamond Warren Gibson's great grand uncle.

Excited for this meeting and to see friends!

www.djwf.org/the-trailer

11/28/2022

Gibson House: The OG of Boston’s Back Bay

Gibson House: The OG of Boston’s Back Bay

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the decision in 1856 to fill in a section of Boston Harbor, which previously was being used as a trash dump and was the source of many complaints due to it& #8…

11/23/2022

Photos from Nichols House Museum's post

11/17/2022

Just added: a 'Little Women at the The Gibson House' specialty tour, this Saturday Nov. 19 at 3 pm. Book here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/thegibsonhouse/items/417433/calendar/2022/11/?flow=468779&full-items=yes

11/11/2022

One man’s quest to photograph, paint, and preserve Boston’s historic buildings - The Boston Globe

Matthew Dickey has been a good friend to The Gibson House Museum. His Instagram feed is a gem. Glad to see the shout out from the Globe.

Matthew Dickey acts as an ambassador for the lesser-known abodes tucked into Boston’s historic neighborhoods.

11/07/2022

Back in person: Etiquetteer's 11th Annual Repeal Day Celebration! Friday Dec. 2, 6-8 pm.
After two pandemic years of Repeal via Zoom, Etiquetteer’s Repeal Day Celebration returns its Prohibition-era gaiety to the cozy Victorian atmosphere of the Gibson House! Hosted by Etiquetteer Robert B. Dimmick, and with the effervescent Miss Kitty back behind the speakeasy bar, the evening will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, a brief program on Prohibition trivia and behavior from Etiquetteer, and cocktails and camaraderie with the cognoscenti.

For tickets: https://www.thegibsonhouse.org/events
Space is limited, and period attire is encouraged. We hope to see you there!

10/03/2022

10 Meet-Cute Destinations to Live Out Your Rom Com Fantasies

Well, we hadn't thought about being a destination for a rom-com fantasy date night, but we are happy to be listed as one by Fodor's Travel Guide!

This is a guide for tender-hearted readers craving an itinerary that's romantic without being overly romanticized, from books bound to win your heart.

09/06/2022

5-4-3-2-1 Architectural Walking Tour

The 5-4-3-2-1 Architectural Walking Tour, Saturday September 10, 10 a.m. or 11.15 a.m.
Admire and learn about the exteriors of 5 of Boston’s landmark historic houses that span 4 centuries of architecture as you explore 3 of Boston’s iconic and picturesque neighborhoods on this 2-hour walking tour and get 1 free admission to return to any of the houses! (Tour must be taken during regular operating hours before October 31, 2022.) From Colonial to Federal to Victorian, the histories and stylistic intricacies of the Paul Revere House, Otis House, Nichols House, Prescott House, and Gibson House will all be highlighted.
There are three ticket options for this event. You can participate in the full tour or choose either half:
Full Tour: Back Bay to the North End: 2.5 hours; 10:00 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Gibson House Museum, 137 Beacon St., Boston
Half Tour: Back Bay to Beacon Hill: 75 minutes; 10:00 a.m.– 11:15 a.m. Meet at the Gibson House Museum, 137 Beacon St., Boston
Half Tour: Beacon Hill to the North End: 75 minutes; 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Meet at the Nichols House Museum, 55 Mount Vernon St., Boston
Participants can return to their choice of any 1 of the 5 houses for a free visit by October 31.
Advance ticket purchase is required. The tour will be held rain or shine.
Register:

Walk through 3 of Boston's historic neighborhoods featuring 5 historic houses.

08/26/2022

Ironing clothes ​can be tedious, even with electric irons. Imagine​, then, having to heat a solid lump of metal over a fire or coal stove every time it was laundry day, and having to reheat it multiple times. An innovation that made this process a little easier was a flat iron stove, like the one in the Gibson House laundry room! This carousel-style stove kept up to ten irons heating at a time, making the job a little easier for laundress Mary McDonnald, who lived with and worked for the Gibson family for eighteen years.

08/25/2022

Medicine evolved rapidly in the Victorian era, not always progressively. Male physicians seized more prominent roles in obstetrics and began systematically excluding female midwives by withholding training in new techniques. In order to combat the education disparity, Dr. Marie Zakrzewska founded the New England Hospital for Women and Children in 1862 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The hospital was the first in New England to be operated by women physicians for women patients. It also opened the first school of nursing in the United States in 1872. The facility still operates today as The Dimock Center in Roxbury.