The Gardner Museum

10/14/2026

We have a few seats available, shoot us an email to reserve! ⛳️ [email protected] ⛳️

Dear members and friends of the museum,

Just a quick reminder that our presentation with Jay Gearan, Teeing up History, is coming up this Thursday, October 15, at 7 pm (reception at 6:30 pm)!

Join us as Jay shares stories and photographs celebrating 90 years of Gardner Municipal Golf Course. He will also have copies of his book A Course Called Gardner available for purchase. The museum will display a special piece from our collection, a historic golf club used to dedicate the course in both 1936 and 1967.

We hope you can join us for this look back at a special part of Gardner's history!

Reserve your seat(s) simply by replying to this email.

See you Thursday,
Marion Knoll
Museum Coordinator
The Gardner Museum
28 Pearl St. Gardner MA 01440
978-632-3277
[email protected]
www.gardnermuseuminc.com

10/10/2026

Monday, October 12, 2026, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In recognition of this important day, we’re highlighting a stunning portrait painting that brings the NATIVE AMERICAN presence IN GARDNER to life.
This powerful artwork honors the strength, resilience, and spirit of the people who first called this land home. Come see the painting for yourself and learn about artist Walter Schaffner, and the remarkable story of Elbridge Gigger (1812–1903), known as “the last full-blooded Hassanamisco Indian,” one of the tribes of the Nipmuc Nation. Gigger’s connection to Gardner’s chair-making industry adds a compelling local dimension to this important piece of our shared past.
Experience history through art—visit us this weekend! As usual, we’re open Saturday, and Sunday, from 1-4 pm

10/03/2026

When you have a celebrity in the house, everyone wants to have a photo with him! Our sold-out program “Great Southern New England Storms of the 20th Century” with the Dean of Boston Meteorologists from couldn’t have been more timely with the Nor’easter raging across the region just days later! Share your storm photos with us.

10/01/2026

Another long-time business in downtown Gardner! Happy birthday John's Sports Shop! To many more!

09/19/2026

We had “Johnny Appleseed” in the house! Did you know that he was real? John Chapman lived from 1774 to 1845. We learned a lot about the man & myth during in our first program of the fall lecture series. For example, he was born only 12 miles from Gardner. He followed the philosophies of the Emanuel Swedenborg’s New Church. And he really wore a pot on his head 😃
Check out other upcoming programs on our website: https://www.gardnermuseuminc.com

09/18/2026

Next week at the museum: reserve you seat(s) at [email protected]

🌀 Upcoming Lecture: Great Southern New England Storms of the 20th Century | Gardner, MA

The Hurricane of 1938. The Worcester Tornado. The Blizzard of 1978. Three storms that left a permanent mark on New England, and one meteorologist who has spent a career understanding why.

Join Harvey Leonard, WCVB Channel 5's Chief Meteorologist Emeritus and one of New England's most trusted weather forecasters, for a captivating look at the atmospheric conditions, historical accounts, and video remembrances behind three of the region's most devastating weather events. Harvey will also tackle the big questions: could these storms happen again, and what role does climate change play going forward?

📅 Thursday, September 24
⏰ 7:00 to 8:00 PM
📍The Gardner Museum 27 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA
🎟️ $3 admission
🔗 gardnermuseuminc.com

Find more events at freedomsway.org

09/17/2026

Cool updates are coming indeed! (Pun intended) Once completed, all the components of this project will represent a significant step towards protecting the museum’s collection and displays from environmental damage while also helping to reduce heating costs. And keep visitors and staff comfortable. We are so very grateful for the generous donor who is making all this possible!

09/16/2026

Join us for our first program of the fall lecture series “Johnny Appleseed – Man and Myth.”
Historian, author, and returning speaker Mark Bodanza explores the fascinating life of John
Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Thursday, 9/17, 7-8 pm after a museum-hosted reception at 6:30 pm. Admission $3. Reserve your spot at [email protected]

08/26/2026

Members, friends, subscribers: We recently experienced some email and domain issues, and it seems that some of our emails may have been blocked or automatically sent to recipients’ spam/junk folders❗️There may be other people who normally receive our museum notifications who are no longer seeing them. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing who may have been affected❗️You are important to us, and we want to make sure you continue to receive our news, program announcements, and other notifications❗️Please CHECK your spam or junk folder and, if you find an email from the Museum there, MARK IT as “not spam” or ADD our email address to your contacts❗️Thank you for helping us stay connected!

06/12/2026

Our Summer Exhibit “Memories Alive in Images” is now open to the public. This photography exhibit is open during regular museum hours, Wednesday through Sunday, 1–4 pm, and will remain on display through August 30.