1806 Federal-style mansion & museum. 50 acres & sheep farm. Join us for indoor and outdoor events! Welcome to the Gore Place page.
Gore Place is the Federal period estate of Rebecca and Christopher Gore. The estate includes the beautiful 1806 Mansion, a 1793 Carriage House and a farm with period breeds of sheep and chickens. Gore Place is the site of the popular annual Sheepshearing Festival, hosts concerts, holiday teas and family events. The grounds are open to the public year-round, and tours are available Monday through Saturday and selected Friday evenings.
Operating as usual
Every day is at Gore Place! Here is one of our resident groundhogs. they are also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs?
Share your favorite facts below in the comments!
: Three up-close images of a groundhog walking across the lawn at Gore Place.
Our February 4 events have been POSTPONED due to the weather forecast for this weekend. đą If you have already registered for any of our Saturday events, we will be in touch with you!
Please see our website for more details. Stay warm!
: The coach house at Gore Place. It is beige with cream trim and has large doors and a paved walkway surrounding it.
For Black History Month, Gore Place celebrates one of the first Black authors in America to be commercially published: Robert Roberts, author of "The House Servantâs Directory."
Roberts published his book in 1827, while head man servant for Bostonians Christopher and Rebecca Gore. Reviewers praised his book. Advertised in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and smaller cities like Albany, the Directory appeared in three editions through the 1840s.
Robertsâ Directory trains young men to excel at service in elite households. He also intends to change how servants and employers view such domestic service. With messages like those about the special skills and knowledge required for the job, he means to undermine the discrimination and oppression sometimes suffered by these young men. Robertsâ Directory as reform reflects his broader commitment to change. While a domestic servant, he rose to leadership in Bostonâs free Black community, active in its vibrant civic life and its anti-colonization and anti-slavery movements. An author and a life to celebrate!
Gore Place is working on a new edition of Robertsâ House Servantâs Directory that will tell the story of Robertsâ life and his writing using emerging scholarship and new research.
To read more stories about Roberts and other members of Bostonâs 19th-century Black community, visit the link below, or in our bio.
goreplace.org/black-history
: A historical outfit laid out on a bedspread. It is a red vest, black pants, and black shoes.
Our next Multi-Sensory Tour for Kids is THIS Wednesday, February 1, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Experience what it was like to live in this country estate firsthand through your senses. Try on 19th-century-style clothes, practice writing with ink, play historical games, smell perfumes, and listen to music from the era!
: Image one is a station set with quills, ink, and blank paper. Image two is faux grapes and treats from our fake food collection. Image three shows replica historical clothing. Image four shows a basket with a deck of cards.
What was happening on the Gore farm exactly 200 years ago? On January 29, 1823, Gore farm manager Jacob Farwell wrote that he spent the day âPutting wood in the other house cellar, carting gravel in the hogyard to level a place for Isaacâs hotbed & cutting fodder.â
The Gore estate included at least one â possibly 2 â houses besides the mansion, and their cellar space was useful not only for storage but also as work areas through the coldest months. Isaac Farwell, Jacobâs brother and âsales managerâ, was building a hotbed to get a jump-start on spring vegetables that brought a premium at the Boston market.
: The Farmerâs Cottage at Gore Place, present-day, covered in snow.
Double trouble!
: Two lambs stand next to each other again a red, wooden background.
This is used in our tours! It is called a taper jack, and is designed to hold a coil of candle, with a reservoir to collect the melting wax. The whole thing tips so you can seal letters with the wax. It also takes longer to burn through than a smaller or shorter candle. Itâs a good example of a multipurpose object that is elegant as well as functional!
Our Multi-Sensory Tours for Kids are every first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. It is recommended for children ages 2-10. Admission includes accompanying parent or guardian - see our website for more information!
: A taper jack with a white candle coiled into it. The silver stand is circular and holds a portion of the candle upright.
to these stunning sunset photos, captured by Gore Place's Farm Historian and Educator. Do you have any spectacular photos of the estate? Tag in them!
: Three photos of a vibrant sunset on our grounds. The sky is bright orange and deep purple, with trees silhouetted against it.
We love these floral displays from Tropic of Flowers! đđ
Tropic of Flowers
: The first picture shows a rainbow floral display with a two-tiered white cake behind it and two sheep in front of it. The second picture shows the flowers from a different angle, they are in various shades of red, orange, yellow, and green.
When exploring the Mansion, don't forget to look up! You never know what fun, dramatic views you might find.
Mansion tour times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m.
: The spiral staircase viewed from below, with a chandelier hanging in the middle.
that there are 34 keys that have been found on the Gore Place property? Most keys are either brass or iron. The largest is said to belong to the lock on the Family entrance door. The key was given to Gore Place by Lyle T. Hammond, a member of the Metz family.
: A ring of 34 keys hanging off a brass k**b.
Join us for a Valentine-themed tour of Gore Place, inspired by Jane Austen's romantic novels! Register for "An Austen-tatious Valentine Tour," on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets here:
goreplace.org/whats-on/an-austen-tatious-valentine-tour
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that this is one of the great New England house tours! Our costumed guides will lead you through the candle-lit rooms of the 1806 Gore mansion, where you'll marvel at the graceful curve of the Great Stairs, the lovely Oval Withdrawing Room, the Office, the Peacock Parlor, and the Great Hall. Along the way, your guide will use the words of the author Jane Austen to describe life and romance in an early 19th-century country estate.
You'll also receive a box of chocolates from our friends at Tick Tock Chocolates of Waltham, MA to enjoy after this Austen-tatious tour, included in the price of admission.
Tickets at the link in our bio, or on our website!
: Heart-shaped chocolates and a quill with an ink pot are on a beige background, with the words "An Austen-tatious Valentine Tour at Gore Place"
For this we have a fun barn update! Earlier this month we received a shipment of some exciting finishing details: iron hinges handmade by master blacksmith, Dean Rantz, of Rock Village Forge in Middleborough, MA.
These hinges will be installed in the threshing barn in the coming weeks. Dean has also produced other metalwork items in use around the estate, including an iron railing in the newly renovated staircase in the Gore Mansion.
To read more weekly updates about the barn installation project, visit the news section of our website, or the link in our bio!
: Iron hinges on a wooden table.
two hundred years ago, what was happening on the Gore Farm? On January 20, 1823, farm manager Jacob Farwell noted in his daybook that he and winter farm workers had been âSawing wood, cutting fodder, and killing an ox.â
Slaughtering livestock for meat and for sale was not uncommon at Gore Place, especially during spring (lambs) and just before winter (hogs and a few cows). But oxen were trained work animals, much more valuable alive. This 805-pound ox could not have been tender meat but likely had reached the end of his useful life.
Photograph by Edward Lee Luce 1879-1950, courtesy of the Martha's Vineyard Museum.
: Two oxen stand in a field, pulling farm equipment, with a stone wall, bare trees, and a wooden building behind them. The photo is black and white.
Join us for some Winter Exploration TOMORROW (January 21) on our first Saturday Family Time! Explore the winter landscape at Gore Place. Identify animal tracks, feed the birds, and potentially see our new lambs!
Tickets are on our website or the link in our bio.
: A group of children in winter clothing smile and embrace each other. Text in a green box in the upper lefthand corner: SATURDAY FAMILY TIME, Every other Saturday starting January 21, activities change each week!
Edgar Allen Poe!
âOnce upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore â
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
ââTis some visitor,â I muttered, âtapping at my chamber door â
Only this and nothing more.â
â Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven
We are getting ready for our (sort of) creepy tour tomorrow in honor of Edgar Allen Poe - do you dare to join us? đź
: A fake raven perched on someone's hand inside the Great Hall at Gore Place.
Grab the peanut butter to your jelly, the mustard to your ketchup, or the Darcy to your Bennet, and join us for "An Austen-tatious Valentine Tour" on February 10.
Advance tickets are required, the registration deadline for this event is February 3! Not only will you receive a box of chocolates from our friends at Tick Tock Chocolates of Waltham, MA - our costumed guides will lead you through the candle-lit rooms of the 1806 Gore mansion, where you'll marvel at the graceful curve of the Great Stairs, the lovely Oval Withdrawing Room, the Office, the Peacock Parlor, and the Great Hall. Along the way, your guide will use the words of the author Jane Austen to describe life and romance in an early 19th-century country estate!
Tickets at the link in our bio, or on our website:
goreplace.org/whats-on/an-austen-tatious-valentine-tour
Image information: Portrait of Jane Austen, 1873. Based on one drawn by her sister Cassandra. This image comes from the Portrait Gallery of the PerryâCastañeda Library of the University of Texas at Austin and is in the public domain.
: A black and white illustration of Jane Austen, who wears a high-waisted period dress with a sheer panel near her neck, a sash, and a bonnet. She holds a book and looks off to the left.
There's no shortage of fun photo spots at Gore Place on your !
Photos by Adriano Batti,
: A wedding couple holds hands and smiles at each other while leaning against the brick front of our Mansion.
Who was Robert Roberts? Learn about this fascinating person on January 19 during a free webinar led by Gore Place historian Diann Strausberg. This is one of a series of programs developed by Gore Place to bring Roberts' life and work to the public.
Robert Roberts is best known as a highly accomplished manservant and the author of "The House Servantâs Directory," published in 1827, while he worked as a domestic servant for Christopher and Rebecca Gore. The bookâs publication made Roberts one of the first Black authors to be commercially published in America.
His story is one of self-making, of perseverance, and optimism in the face of obstacles. He took action to improve his life and his community. His model of activism flowed from deeply held values and personal choices about how to make a difference. His personal history engages us in themes of citizenship, civic action, and self-determination.
A leader in his community, Robertsâ life beyond his time at Gore Place and stories of his activism in the Free Black community in Boston are the subjects of this fascinating look at one of Bostonâs lesser-known historical figures.
To join in the conversation, reserve now at the link below. This program is offered free online, advance registration is required. See our website, and the link in our bio, for more information!
https://goreplace.org/whats-on/the-activism-of-robert-roberts
: A copy of the House Servant's Directory published by the Gore Place Society, held over a table set for breakfast.
The museum and offices are closed today in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our grounds remain open from dawn to dusk.
: A photo of a room set up with a sewing table, chair, table set for a meal, a small piano, and a fireplace. It has striped wallpaper and various paintings hanging up.
We have an exciting new program at Gore Place: Saturday Family Time! This new series will be every other Saturday starting January 21 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Tickets are available now! Explore and learn with your family at Gore Place. Activities change each week but will include hands-on activities, visits to the farm, learning about our sheep, and more. Read on for the details about whatâs coming up next!
See our website or the link in our bio for tickets:
goreplace.org/whats-on/saturday-family-time
: A parent and child hold hands while walking through the snow.
On January 14, 1823, farm manager Jacob Farwell opened his small brown notebook and recorded: âSawing and sledding ice from Mr. Lymanâs pond.â
Back in August, Jacob and his men had spent 18 days âdigging mud out of the pond.â Mud was useful mixed with leaves and manure for fertilizer, and dried mud made hard floors for sheds and cellars. Most important, the deeper pond would end up with (relatively) clean water on the surface when fall rains filled it up again. Ice was used in the Goreâs kitchens and for packing fresh meat on its way to market in Boston.
This black-and-white photograph depicts a similar scene to the one Jacob Farwell mentions in his journal.
: Men cut ice on the river, with horses pulling the ice blocks on sleds.
Photo information: âCutting Ice on the Riverâ by John Boyd, Toronto, Canada, ca 1890. This image is in the public domain and available courtesy of the Archives of Ontario.
Barn update this week:
Roofing and carpentry continue on the threshing barn. Doors will be completed this week. The pole barn is finished and the sheep are enjoying their new quarters until they can enter the threshing barn!
To read our weekly barn updates, head to our website or the link in our bio!
: Our flock of sheep faces the camera, they are in a wooden barn with hay on the floor.
Visit Gore Place for a (sort of) creepy tour in honor of the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, who was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 (the same year Christopher Gore was Governor!)
âš Due to popularity, we added additional time slots for this tour! âš
This evening tour will lead you through the historic rooms of the 1806 Gore Mansion, where you will interact with storytelling elements inspired by Edgar Allan Poe while learning about life in this early 19th-century estate.
"A (Sort of) Creepy Tour in Honor of Edgar Allen Poe" will take place on January 20, 2023, at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. - see our website or the link in our bio for tickets!
https://goreplace.org/whats-on/a-sort-of-creepy-tour
: Text on a white background, with a Raven: A (Sort of) Creepy Tour in Honor of Edgar Allan Poe.
FREE WEBINAR: The Activism of Robert Roberts
Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Advance Registration Required - see the link below and in our bio!
While working on the Gore estate in Waltham, Robert Roberts completed his domestic manual, The House Servantâs Directory, one of the first commercially published works by a Black author in America. A leader in his community, Robertsâ life beyond his time at Gore Place and stories of his activism in the Free Black community in Boston are the subjects of this fascinating look at one of Bostonâs lesser-known historical figures. Learn about this fascinating person during a free webinar led by Gore Place historian Diann Strausberg.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Register here:
https://goreplace.org/whats-on/the-activism-of-robert-roberts
: A newspaper and quill on a wooden table.
52 Gore Street
Waltham, MA
02453
| Monday | 10am - 2pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 2pm |
| Friday | 10am - 2pm |
| Saturday | 10:30am - 2:30pm |
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Here's a sneak peek at our Holiday Boutique. This Thanksgiving Day weekend, come do your holiday shopping at Gore Place while supporting us as a local museum! On Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27, from 10 am to 3 pm, the annual Gore Place Holiday Boutique will be open to celebrate Small Business Saturday and Museum Store Sunday. The Holiday Boutique, located inside our gorgeous 1806 Mansion, offers wonderful artisan items for your holiday shopping. Find handcrafted, locally-made gift items to complete your holiday shopping list! Visit our website for more information! Members receive 10% off items in the museum shop. Become a new member or renew your membership at the shop! #HolidayShopping #HolidayBoutique #GorePlace #Waltham #Boston #Watertown #SmallBusinessSaturday #NonProfit #HappyHolidays
Watch these seasons change at Gore Place! Different times of the year bring fun new activities, favorite traditions, and different ways to experience nature on our historic property and working farm. What is your favorite season at Gore Place? âïžđ»đđ± Video description: This video shows photos of leaves, sheep, the trees changing colors on our grounds, scenes from fresh snowfall, snowshoers, flowers budding, green grass on our grounds in the summer, and sunflowers, among other photos that show the seasons changing on our property!
Celebrate the season with Gore Place! â€ïž Check out these Holiday events: - Home for the Holidays: Crafting Extravaganza! - Holiday Wagon Rides - Holiday Boutique at Gore Place - Seasonal Concerts Looking for some more family fun? Check out these events, too! - Falling for Fall - Needlework Club - Tree Tours - Tot Time For a list of dates, and to purchase tickets, visit our websiteâs âWhatâs Onâ page! âšgoreplace.org/whats-on Video description: This video is set to cheery music, and shows photos advertising the events above with brief descriptions for each event. The photos include our Mansion, handmade crafts, Santa, children playing, a guitar, our gift shop, sheep, dried leaves, a knitting project, and rain boots. To learn more about our events, and read full descriptions, visit our websiteâs âWhatâs Onâ page! #ThingsToDo #HolidayEvent #Santa #WagonRide #HolidayShopping #Crafting #Knitting #TreeTour #Explore #Massachusetts
Sneak peek of House in Bloom! Free admission Friday and Saturday.
A sheep date guaranteed! #SheepFest35 Saturday, April 23rd đ„ł #AltText: A video showing crafts, maypole dancing, performers, and sheep from our previous Sheepshearing Festivals. It says "A Wolly Great Time" and "35th Annual Sheepshearing Festival"
A woolly great time for the whole family! đđđ Advance tickets can be found on our website: goreplace.org/whats-on/sheepshearing-festival #AltText: A video showing sheep, performers, and craft activities from our Sheepshearing Festivals. It says "A Woolly Great Time" and "35th Annual Sheepshearing Festival" with the date Saturday, April 23 on the last slide. It has upbeat music and sounds of sheep bleating.
We're excited for our next live Virtual Astronomy Night, Thursday September 16 at 7 p.m. EDT! Wondering what this virtual event is like? Here's a sneak preview! Tickets at the link in comments. #AltText: This post includes a two-minute video showing a recording of our live virtual astronomy presentation. On screen is our educator against a backdrop of the night sky with constellations. The audio is captioned.
A peaceful fall day, rustling leaves, perfection! Come visit us and enjoy the outdoors today. Video description: Sheep graze in the pasture at the Farm at Gore Place. Rustling leaves can be heard.
We had a lot of fun at last weekâs debut of our Stargazing program! We even saw a shooting star. If you joined us, let us know about something new you learned! We have just a few spots left at next weekâs Stargazing on Friday, November 20. Tickets at our website.
A short video clip of our sheep. See more at our free webinar on Thursday, July 16 at 7 pm ET. Register at: https://goreplace.org/whats-on/the-sheep-at-gore-place-webinar
Don't miss our free webinar, The Butler Takes Charge, this week! Gore Place is telling the story of African American author, abolitionist and domestic servant Robert Roberts, butler to the Gores. On Thursday, June 25 at 7 pm and Saturday, June 27 at 3 pm, Gore Place historian Diann Strausberg will lead a webinar, The Butler Takes Charge. In his how-to manual entitled "The House Servantâs Directory", Robert Roberts wrote that large dinner parties were the most challenging of all a butlerâs duties. For Roberts, a quiet activism was woven through everythingâyour work, your speech, your behaviorâand managing a successful dinner party could do more than just demonstrate a servantâs job mastery. Join this special, live presentation with Q & A as we explore the quiet activism of Robert Roberts. For the past three years, Diann has been researching Robert Roberts and his various roles as author, abolitionist and leader in Bostonâs free Black community in the early 1800s. This event features live, real-time captioning. This event is free with a suggested donation of $10. https://goreplace.org/whats-on/the-butler-takes-charge-webinar Video description: There are a series of photos of items from Gore Place's collection, including clothing and shoes on a bed, a desk with writing tools, a book and a dining table.
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