The Forbes House Museum is a majestic Greek Revival mansion built in 1833 or Margaret Perkins Forbes by her sons Captain Robert Bennet Forbes (1804-1889) and John Murray Forbes (1813-1898). Today, the Museum contains the treasures of four generations of the Forbes family. Much of their fortune came from the early China Trade of the 1800s, and through their connections, talents and wealth, they pla
yed significant roles in events unfolding locally, nationally and globally. Their contributions are detailed in stories as tour guides lead guests through the house, with period rooms arranged as the family would have used them in the late 19th century. Other rooms include one for flexible exhibit space and another dedicated to Mary Bowditch Forbes’s extensive collection of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia. The family history also inspires programs and events including art exhibits, book talks, guest lectures, a Lincoln Day celebration, concerts, poetry readings, and more. The Museum offers tours on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am and 1pm. For tours on other days or for groups larger than 10, please call ahead to make special arrangements. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and children under age 5 are free.
