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.
Explore history, exhibits, events, and many other topics that highlight Groton’s cultural, political, social, and community history.
Browse documents, ledgers, photographs, postcards, ephemera, maps, and other archival materials that help tell Groton’s story.
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.
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.
Saturday December 5, 11 AM to 2 PM Join the party at the historic Boutwell House at 172 Main Street, and launch the spirit of the solstice season on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy holiday décor, hot cider, and sweet
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It’s November…do you have turkey on the brain yet? Among other endeavors, Leonard Dodge raised White Holland turkeys at his farm on Broadmeadow. #grotonma #grotonhistory #thanksgivingturkey ...
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Happy halloween!!! We have a special post today, a little spooky historical deep dive of Victorian mourning cards told from…inside our hearse. #Halloween #localhistory #victorianmourning ...
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130 years ago today: A Ghostly Gathering at the Town Hall! Pictured: invitation & Oct 26th, 1896 notice from the Groton Landmark newspaper. A November 7th note in Turners Public Spirit reported that ‘The hall was filled and a very enjoyable time was had by all who were fortunate enough to have been present.’ Other Halloween festivities in Groton that year included a witch party and fortune teller. #grotonma #historichalloween #ghostlygathering ...
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130 years ago today: A Ghostly Gathering at the Town Hall! Pictured: invitation & Oct 26th, 1896 notice from the Groton Landmark newspaper. A November 7th note in Turners Public Spirit reported that ‘The hall was filled and a very enjoyable time was had by all who were fortunate enough to have been present.’ Other Halloween festivities in Groton that year included a witch party and fortune teller. #grotonma #historichalloween #ghostlygathering ...
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POV: You are in a haunted house for Historical Society employees.
We are getting ready for halloween here at the Boutwell House in the best way we know how!
#hauntedhouse #historicalsociety #Halloween #spookyseason #grotonma ...
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