Birth of a Community
Event Date: Thursday October 15, 2026, 7 PM Event Location: 163 West Main Street, Groton Additional Information on Facebook Additional Events
Framing Our Story
Preserving and Sharing the History of Groton
Explore the People, Places, and Stories of Groton
Founded in 1894, the Groton Historical Society preserves archival materials, artifacts, photographs, maps, and stories connected to the history of Groton. Headquartered in the historic Boutwell House, the Center serves as a museum, research resource, and gathering place for anyone interested in the town’s past.
Museum
Tour the 1850s home of Governor George S. Boutwell and discover the family, furnishings, and collections connected to this important Groton landmark.
Explore
Explore history, exhibits, events, and many other topics that highlight Groton’s cultural, political, social, and community history.
Collections
Browse documents, ledgers, photographs, postcards, ephemera, maps, and other archival materials that help tell Groton’s story.
Visit, Research, and Learn
Walk-in Visits Fridays 1-4 PM
Office Hours: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10 AM - 2 PM,
or by appointment
About the Groton Historical Society
Founded in 1894
The Groton Historical Society is a repository for archival material and artifacts related to the history of Groton. The Society is headquartered at the former home of the 1851-53 Massachusetts Governor, George Boutwell.
More Society Information
The Groton Historical Society was founded in 1894 as a repository for archival material
and artifacts related to the history of Groton. Boutwell House serves as the headquarters of the Society.
Constructed in 1851, when George Boutwell was the Governor of Massachusetts, the residence continued as a family home while Boutwell’s political career took him to Washington, D. C. and afterward he lived here until his death in 1905. His daughter, Georgianna, continued to live here until her death in 1933. She bequeathed the house to the Groton Historical Society who renovated the building as its headquarters, installed two rental apartments to offset the cost of operations, and opened the building as a museum to the public in 1939.
The Society uses the house as a museum to display artifacts relating to Groton and the
Boutwell family. These objects, documents, photographs, et cetera date from the earliest days of Groton to the present.
The collections and archives in the Boutwell House are valuable resources for those doing school projects, genealogical and local history research, and anyone looking for answers about the town’s history, early families or architecture. The Society has a solid base of local support. After more than one hundred years, the Society remains an important institution in town for tourism and background information on the region. It has a dedicated membership which is open to anyone and has a volunteer corps who staff and operate the House.
Upcoming and Recent Events
The Groton History Center hosts special events and highlights history-related programs and activities in Groton and neighboring communities.
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Events At The Center, And Around Historic Groton
Boutwell House Birthday: Annual Meeting
Sunday October 25, 2 PM Celebrate the 175th birthday of the Gov. George S. Boutwell House with us! Enjoy cake and champagne after our brief annual meeting where members are able to vote on the new Slate of Officers & Directors. Free and Open to
Here are some of our favorite moments from last week’s open house ‘George and Georgie At Home’.
#history #localhistory #groton ...
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Since its officially spooky season we thought it would be a good time to show you the Hearse in our collection. Bought by the town in 1900, the hearse was in commission until 1936. Starting in the late 18th century, burials and funerals in Groton were a town-run service. They were simple and overseen by the undertaker until the mid 20th century, when privatised funeral homes and more elaborate burial services came into fashion. #spookyseason #hearse #localhistory #grotonhistory ...
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Check out our “staff picks” of the Boutwell Houses extensive book collection. And check out Old & Rare Books with Brattle Book Shop’s Ken Gloss, Lecture & Appraisals, Sunday October 4th at 2 PM, Groton Public Library!
#antiquebooks #staffpicks #books #grotonhistory #localhistory ...
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For this “What is it? Wednesday,” we have this object featured right here. Any guesses on what this object is or how it was used? We cant know for sure but our educated guess is……that this object is an 18th century
Mouse-trap. This primitive trap is constructed from
wood and wrought iron. It was probably handcrafted for use in a rural household or farm. The trap’s iron mechanism was designed to catch rodents entering the
wooden enclosure, reflecting the practical ingenuity of everyday life in early New England. #grotonhistory #localhistoy #mousetrap ...
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Here are some moments from Saturday’s ‘George and Georgie’ at Home. We had such a good time with everyone that stopped by. Huge thanks to George and Georgianna for bringing the Boutwell House to life! Photo credit: Steve Lieman. #georgeboutwell #localhistory #grotonhistory ...
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Old & Rare Books with Ken Gloss is this Sunday October 4th at the Groton Public Library. Apologies for the incorrect date originally listed. Co-sponsored with the Groton Public Library MA ...
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