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Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 11am - 3pm

Historic New England's Cogswell's Grant

Name: Historic New England's Cogswell's Grant
Address: 60 Spring Street, Essex, MA, 01929, US
Telephone: +19787683632
Price range: $

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Historic New England's Cogswell's Grant

Cogswell's Grant is open for guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays, June through October. Visit HistoricNewEngland.org for more information.

Cogswell's Grant was the summer home of Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little, preeminent collectors of American folk art in the mid 20th century. In 1937, the Littles purchased this 18th-century farmhouse overlooking the Essex River as a family retreat and place to entertain. They restored it carefully, preserving original 18th-century finishes and carefully documenting their work. In more than 50

years of collecting, they sought works of strong, even quirky character, and in particular favored objects with their original finishes and New England histories. The Littles decorated the house for visual delight rather than historic accuracy. The result is rich in atmosphere and crowded with collections of things - portraits, redware, painted furniture, stacked Shaker boxes, weather vanes and decoys -- that have since come to define the country look. Cogswell's Grant is one of thirty-eight properties owned by Historic New England, the oldest and largest regional heritage organization in the nation. We save and share historic homes, open space, collections, and stories from the past to today. Learn more at HistoricNewEngland.org.

07/24/2026

Every summer, bobolinks return from a 6,000-mile migration and meadowlarks search for the shrinking grasslands they need to raise their young. Wildlife biologist Justine Fox, from Williams & Sparages, shares how here at Cogswell's Grant, we are adapting our haying practices to give these vulnerable birds a better chance to fledge.

Read on to learn how working farms can also be places of hope for grassland bird conservation.

Birds and Bales →

At Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts, we have found ways for hay farming and bird habitats to peacefully coexist.

05/31/2026

The wait is over—Cogswell's Grant opens for the season this Friday, June 5!

Explore this beautiful coastal farm on a guided tour, offered on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. And don't miss Historic New England's Open House Day on Saturday, June 6, when tours are free at all 38 sites.

Plan your visit today → https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/cogswells-grant/

05/12/2026

On Saturday, June 6, Cogswell’s Grant opens for the season as part of Historic New England’s annual Open House, with free admission at all 38 historic sites.

Before the season begins, we’re excited to spotlight Kristen Weiss in Historic New England’s Meet Your Site Managers series. Now in her 20th season, Kristen loves connecting visitors with the people, stories, and history that make Cogswell’s Grant and Beauport so special.

Get to know Kristen before your next visit. →

As we prepare to welcome visitors to for the open season, we invite you to get to know the people who make our tours and events so special.

04/18/2026

It ended up being a beautiful day for kites in Essex! Thanks to all who came out and filled our skies with color. 🪁🪁🪁

04/16/2026

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, our historic sites across the region are open and FREE to the public. Join us for a fun day of fantastic storytelling! Love architecture, history, fantastic stories, great landscapes, fine art, folk art, or interior design? Then join Historic New England on June 6, 2026, f...

04/10/2026

Happy Spring!
We can't wait for Kite Day at Cogswell's Grant, happening next Saturday, April 18th, from 10am - 4pm. Come and fly your own kites, or watch some of the pro flyers from Kites Over New England fly the big ones! You can also build your own kite when you arrive at one of our kite-making workshops, with all materials included, courtesy of Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center.
Rain date is Sunday, April 19th.
This event is free to all flyers and spectators, and you can purchase kite-making workshop tickets in advance here on our website: https://my.historicnewengland.org/27739/cog-kite

Address

60 Spring Street
Essex, MA
01929

Opening Hours

Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	11am - 3pm

Telephone

+19787683632

Website

https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/cogswells-grant/

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