Reinventing Historic Places

WORLD PANDEMIC, BLACK LIVES MATTER, SUPPORT THE BLUE LINE, EQUAL &, LGBTQ RIGHTS. These are the focus of today’s headlines, but they are not very different from the headlines of a century ago on many of the same social issues. How can museums address this? What are the challenges for historical organizations to not only record these issues, but to make a difference?

Ken Turino, Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development, Historic New England, and Museum Studies, Tufts University discusses how museums across America are addressing issues of race, social justice, and community engagement - impacting their communities as a whole.

Please watch this 45 minute presentation from the Nahant Historical Society as we explore what our responsibility is to our community as a keeper of the records of today’s emotional and passion-filled issues.

Women in Service

The Nahant Historical Society cordially invites you to the 2019 Patterson Lecture to hear the stories of remarkable Nahant women who willingly joined the U.S. Armed Services in both wartime and peace. Some being thrust into situations they could not have imagined. Their stories are varied. Their reasons for entering the service are unique to them. However, they are all women who wanted to stand up and be counted in and counted on in support of her country, whether it be in times of peace or conflict.

Captain Hammond

The Hammond family summered in Nahant where Susan was a champion sailor and athlete, racing yearly against familiar names like Motley and Hodges in her 23 ft. Star Class. Susan was presented with a unique opportunity when Europe went back to war in 1939. Almost two years before the United States joined the war effort, Susan, fluent in French, was one of the first relief aid drivers chosen by Anne Morgan, the daughter of financier JP Morgan, when she re-launched her Friends ofFrance organization. Susan was recognized for her fearless work in France when she received the Croix de Guerre in Washington, D.C. from the French ambassador.

After giving of themselves in military service, some of these women simply went back to their private lives often times not even sharing their story with close family and friends. That being said, we would like to share the history of these strong women so that the future may know the past.

Celebrating The Collection

The Nahant Historical Society’s Collections are rich and diverse. In the inaugural exhibition for our new gallery we have focused on paintings. Our newly refurbished gallery space gives us the opportunity to showcase our collections in fulfillment of our mission, “for the enjoyment, education, and enrichment of the public”.

The exhibition ran through October 2019 and was curated by Rick Arzillo and Chris Mathias, with the assistance of Julie Tarmy, Suzanne Hamill, Calantha Sears and the Board of Directors.

Bass Beach, Nahant , ca. 1880’s William Huston (1832 - 1920) Oil on Canvas

Egg Rock, Nahant, ca. 1900 William T. Robinson (1861 - 1945) Oil on canvas

Two Old Salts at the Wharf , 1917 J. Harleston Parker (1872 - 1930) Watercolor on paper

Bailey’s Hill, William Huston (1832 - 1920) Oil on Canvas