Strawbery Banke Museum

Strawbery Banke is lovely decorated for the holidays, and on a crisp winter night, it is a wonderful experience. The only rub is that it is so popular that it can get quite crowded, especially in the smaller houses that have only one entrance and exit through the same door, making it feel a little like a subway car in Japan. There is an ice skating rink, period historic houses with actors for a better view of life in the past, hot cider, live entertainment and more. Go, even if the crowd gives you hesitation. It is crowded for a good reason.

Very cool Historic museum which is right downtown near the water. Very walkable and I really enjoyed that this museum is basically an entire historic district which is still intact amongst the down town area. Such a cool experience!

This is an excellent place to visit for history and culture in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The buildings are well preserved, and it’s really fun to walk around and visit all of the buildings and see the exhibits inside. It’s definitely a must see for the history of the city. The buildings are very old from the 1700s and 1800s, and some of the buildings feature period actors. There are employees at many buildings to answer your questions, and everyone was very friendly.

Amazing neighborhood preserved as it was from its first inception. Only one structure has been moved. Most buildings were homes and had multiple owners and modifications through the years. Beginning in early 1600 through the late 1950's families lived here together. Theuseum has done a fantastic job of preservation through time.

Beautiful day.. Nice exhibits. Would have liveyd the kids to have a more hands on experience.. Try on clothes.. More people in costumes to capture their interest. However they do get to weave on a loom and the classes are cool.. We did cookie baking

This is outside walking museum of colonial Portsmouth is worth the time and entrance fee. Give yourself at least 3-5 hours and bring a picnic lunch as they have nice picnic tables. We enjoyed hearing the actors who provided tours and information on the various homes. There is so much to explore here and if you like history you will get a good understanding of this part of town. The furniture is mixed between authentic period pieces and some reproductions but most are truly hundreds of years old. The gardens are beautiful and well kept and the homes are accurate from an architectural and archaeological perspective. We loved it.

If you are anywhere near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Strawberry Banke Museum is a must see! Staff excellent, gardens beautiful, and exhibits very interesting and some interactive!

This was a nice experience, the lights were pretty and some of the exhibits were interesting. The tickets seemed high for what was offered but I think the museum needs all the donations it can get. They give you a map and you just walk around on your own there is no guide or instruction. There were a few house with people inside who you can interact with, that was interesting. Other houses just had the exhibits inside. If you go with fun people or if you ice skate, you will have a good time. I don’t think it’s something that I need to ever do again but it was nice.

We had an amazing visit to the Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The museum is huge, consisting of an entire neighborhood of 37 restored buildings. The neighborhood is the oldest European neighborhood in all of New Hampshire. The buildings are restored at various times in the neighborhoods 300 plus year history. It was fascinating to get a look at how these people lived in different time periods. The reenactors and volunteers were all very passionate and eager to share their knowledge about the property. The area is very large so plan to spend two to three hours just for a quick overview of everything. A must do if you are in New Hampshire, and especially if in Portsmouth.

I was in town visiting friends and this place popped up as a suggested activity. It's an easy stroll from downtown and made for a nice afternoon of leisurely strolling and chatting. The various gardens are charming and many of the homes have been restored and preserved. We found the staff very knowledgeable and helpful. There was no entrance fee given it was the Fourth of July, but I'd have been willing to pay less than $20 to enjoy the grounds. Not sure what the entrance fee is on regular days.

A treasure! These historic buildings are so well maintained and appointed- it was a privilege to finally get a visit. Impressive property- so large and immaculate. Just wish I had more time so I could see it all. I was particularly impressed with the furnishings and artifacts that make the spaces really feel alive and move-in-ready.

Guided Tour - It only covered four buildings due to it being the start of the season, but they did a good job of explaining the history. Most historic locations are seasonal and don't open fully until the end of April, in May or even June. Best recommendation, choose your visit to NH based on the season, the activities preferred and openings.

Before we came, I didn't understand that this museum isn't a regular museum but a collection of historical homes in Portsmouth. These houses are mostly all original or close to it, and styled in various times in the 18th or 19th century. The museum spans almost 10 acres with tons of houses and buildings to view and go inside. It was fascinating to see this kind of history. Only one building was moved to this area, the rest were built and maintained in the location they are at now.

I absolutely loved this place! It's 10 acres of beautifully let up historical homes from different periods of time. It really makes you feel like you could live a day in the life. It's interesting to see how things have changed over time. Such a well kept up museum and honestly plan to spend a few hours here!!!

Such a great way to learn and enjoy the past. We purchased tickets online and was able to park in there lot which was free for ticket holders, easy in and out. The admission building sells water and a few souvenir items. The entire tour is probably about two hours. You hear an orientation for about 10 min than its self guided. Amazing volunteers helping and relaying interesting information about the exhibits. Some are in costume and those interactions are a real treat, I think it's so nice to see the dedication in people who want to teach and make others smile. The restored homes and old furniture pieces are in excellent condition. They have a gift shop that sells some snacks, souvenirs and drinks. All sorts of hand made items and unique gifts from Portsmouth! Grab a cold drink and definitely visit if you get a chance.

This is not your typical museum, rather a village with buildings from different eras in Portsmouth history. Unfortunately we came on opening weekend for the season and I don't think they were quite ready to be open. Lots of work still going on. Not every building was open and there wasn't an interpreter in each of those that was open. For the buildings that had a costumed interpreter, we thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much. They all seemed very knowledgeable. I wish every building had someone to guide you and answer questions.

Went for the candlelight stroll . There was a baby actor named Robert that really got into character, he deserves a raise ! Had a great time !

terrible service. I was one a nice family vacation for California when me and my family were on vacation in Portsmouth when we decided to get a historical tour but that was the biggest mistake ever. we were harassed right from the start and verbally abused. when we started to tour the tour guide looked me in the face and said " take you and you family to the back. f**kface" I would NOT recommend going here

My favorite New England experience!! I loved the history of being able to walk through these beautiful homes and imagine the lives of the people who lives there. The volunteers in each home were excited about their time period and made it a great experience.

I'm not a huge museum guy but this is very interesting. Multiple houses and some hosts dressed in period costume and in character. It would be nice if there was a way to get lunch (a list of walkable restaurants or something on site) on site or nearby.

This place has re-entry and you should take advantage of that. As you walk the back part of the compound, you are a block away from downtown, the restaurants, and many activities that take place in Prescott Park. You can do all this and avoid paying for parking elsewhere. The houses in this complex are interesting, some completely original, some remodeled, some have tenants. Some houses have historians that actually are eager to share the story of Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and New England. These people are the most important part of the museum, and you must not leave without talking to them. There is a small cafe, gardens, and you can sit inside the cool houses to enjoy a break from the outside temperatures, specially during the summer.

This is a must-see attraction while in Portsmouth! Great for families and adults. It took us a little over two hours to get through the grounds, but the houses and gardens made it all worthwhile. We enjoyed the opportunity to go into some of the houses too, including one that hasn't been renovated yet which was neat to see the layers of changes. There were also a few employees dressed in period clothes available to answer questions. The best one in my opinion was the lady from the 50s in the store. Parking: they have their own parking lot, however the whole city is very walkable and it's not a bad walk even if you park closer to Tugboat Alley. Tickets: your ticket is good for 2 consecutive days. Weather: most of this is outside with only a few houses that are open to go inside. So better to come when it's not raining.

Interesting history of Strawberry Banke/Portsmouth and its people. The buildings and homes gave you a view of how the people in that era lived. I was expecting more people portraying the historical characters, but there were only a few. A couple of the characters were quite entertaining. I loved seeing the furniture of that era and how small the rooms and the furniture were made particularly the beds, probably because people were of smaller stature at that time. The ceilings were also very low and the sitting areas did not look very comfortable. I would recommend this place for people interested in history. I thought the entrance fee was on the higher side.

After many recommendations we decided to visit Strawberry Banke Museum while in Portsmouth and I am so glad we did. The museum is very large with buildings from different years in history. The day we went about half of the buildings were open and about half of those had employees inside. Some were staff members giving information about the family who lived there and others were actors portraying their time period. Our favorite was the shop owner in the back who did a wonderful job playing her character. It took us about 2 hours to see everything and I highly recommend stopping by if you are in town.

- highlight of portsmouth - actors on Saturdays in the summer - we were there for about 2h and finished everything - we didn't ready much of the plaques - enjoyed the staff and their description of the houses - the replica of the store was my favorite part - its a very dope concept of a living museum - I also liked the sample kids games games are a lot harder than they look

A very nice stop for us. Very few buildings were open, but, we enjoyed walking around the historic buildings. The gardens are beautiful and the views of the historic harbor are excellent. If they had a historic walking guide, or, a marked walking tour this historic spot would be even better.

We didn't give ourselves enough time, you can't enjoy this place in only a couple hours. Give yourself half a day. A unique living history museum where you can experience different eras. Our daughter enjoyed the hands-on experiences. We enjoyed the stories from the workers in the museum. A must, if you're in the area or driving through like we were.

Went to the candlelight walk for Christmas. They don't tell you that they sell so many tickets that the parking lot will be full. And every house will have lines out the door. And they also don't tell you that most of the houses are themed based on their time in history which in most of them was before Christmas was celebrated so there is nothing to see that is Christmas themed. Then to boot, I get a $35.00 fine for parking on the street after being told by the parking attendant that you don't have to pay on Sunday. Never going back to Portsmouth again.

Typically, I adore Strawbery Banke. One can genuinely feel transported back in time walking among the Georgian architecture and atmosphere. I just attended the 2023 Candlelight Tour and was sadly disappointed. It was frustratingly overbooked and overcrowded. First, we couldn't find parking due to the overwhelming turnout and eventually parked curbside somewhere obscure, muddy and some distance away from the event. At $34 a ticket I expected more of a romantic, leisurely Holiday experience but instead my husband and I felt like cattle, as we lined up for a minimum of 20 minutes to enter homes that were not really date-appropriate for Christmas-themed decorations. I felt especially claustrophobic in the Chase House. Lots of strung lights but as for actual Candlelight, it was sparse. I still love the Banke but I think I'm skipping the Stroll next year.

I had so much hope that this place was going to be really interesting. Calling it a living museum, like osv, is being very generous. There were a couple of people in character, and a couple guides, but by and large we were left to ourselves. We did go mid week, so maybe less staffing? But got no context on the historical relevance of the place. The few people we did interact with were very friendly and informative. They did have a nice concert in the evening. But overall, would not go back or recommend really.

Visiting Strawberry Banke Museum was the highlight of my trip! Solo adult attendee. I loved walking from house to house using the map as a guide. Not all houses are open, which is unfortunate but understandable. The houses that are open have been restored and interpreted to certain time periods. There are museum employees in most of the open houses who will answer questions about the house's history etc. On the day I attended, there were two role play actors. I learned a lot and had so much fun! I spent several hours there

What an enjoyable time we had here!. It was fun watching the crowd ice skating on what felt like a warm September afternoon on the day after Christmas. We strolled around the 10 acre grounds of the museum and took the guided tour of six buildings. That ended up being fantastic! As we walked through the houses, our tour guide Joe took us on a journey spanning over 300 years that concentrated on the history of Winter holidays in the area. He covered the New World/New England history of Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Christmas carols, gingerbread houses, as well as New Years and Chanukah. The tour covered colonial times through World War Two, and traced the changes in American culture, technology, housing, food science and preparation, cooking, groceries, and society in general. It was excellent in every way.

Super cool experience! I don't think I've been to such a unique and authentic museum before. The fact that many of these homes are still in the original site that it was built on is pretty incredible. I really enjoyed walking though this outdoor museum that is basically a capsule in time. If you're into history you cannot miss this experience If in the area.

This was a fun activity. We were in town for a family reunion and needed an unscheduled activity. Always nice to see history preserved and actually used--people lived in some of the units and some office space was rented. If you only want to look at exteriors walking the public streets would be free. If wishing to see the interiors a entrance fee is charged and a tag provided. Price of admission is justified, especially if you have an interest in building methods and materials from previous eras. There were also some demonstrations as techniques were explained by costumed volunteers. I really think that a great opportunity is being missed in not having an ice cream shop here. I really had a hankering. Food was available at snack bar near entrance by parking lot.

Went here today. Toured many old homes from the 1700 and 1800 hundreds. All homes are original to the location except for one which was moved. The gardens throughout are gorgeous. There is an old general store too. Most of the homes are open for touring. There is a gift shop too where you buy your tickets for the tour. A benefit is that once you buy a ticket you can leave and return that day or the next. If you enjoy history this is a fun day.

What a wonderful time we had. We visited the Museum during the Fall festival and had a blast. They had so many activities for young and old. We spent about 3 hours visiting the different sites on the premises, both indoor and outdoor. Many of the people there were dressed in period related costumes. My grandson had a blast but I must confess I had a blast as well. The people who were there provided a clear understanding of what life was like for individuals who lived in the area, what an education. During the fall festival they had tents set up with vendors which actually was pretty cool. The ticket we purchased was actually good for two days, but unfortunately we could not make it back because we wanted to visit other places. Overall it was a great visit and I would definitely visit again.

I wish I could rate zero. This establishment promotes a time period where slavery and racism was prominent. The staff are both rude and overbearing. Watched an old lady who tried to park there because she wanted to go to Prescott Park get screamed at by an employee and she drove off. Terrible place, my children and I will not be back and make sure everyone else knows not to go here.

This was arguably my favorite stop in Portsmouth. I felt like a little kid on this self-guided tour of Old Portsmouth across the centuries and decades, anchored to a few of the most compelling stories. I particularly enjoyed the tavern, cooking demo, and Jewish immigrant home, though I could have easily spent another two hours here. All the staff and reenactors make the experience enjoyable without drowning in cheese. Highly recommended if you have the faintest interest in American history.

Though I did not have time to a tour this time during a short visit to Portsmouth, I enjoyed walking the grounds and viewing these well maintained historic buildings early one morning.

Great museum! Well preserved and a good amount of information. Guides and employees clearly know their stuff. The historian that gave our introduction talk was clearly the most knowledgeable person there but did not speak slowly enough to understand everything he said, and he really didn't connect with the children in our group by explaining anything he said on an age-appropriate level. If this is a family museum, kids ages 7-10 shouldn't be totally left out of understanding what a guide shares- they should be learning!

Great place for adults and older kids, although our 6 year old granddaughter enjoyed herself today, even though she had her mind set that since she had been there before she didn't like it. My wife and I came on Sunday and looked at a lot of the historic houses. Since the passes are good for two consecutive days, we took our granddaughter and used our second days. They have one of the oldest houses still standing in New England, built in 1695 and many other historic houses, many of which have been partially or fully restored. The buildings are based on different periods from colonial times through the 1940 / WWII. Several of the buildings have actors who play period roles. Our granddaughter really enjoyed them. This is a great slice of history and well worth the admission price. If you are a senior citizen, be sure to ask for their senior discount.

I enjoy confusing my kids. It can be a learning experience, it gives them a shot of skepticism, and it builds character. (At least that's my excuse.) My ultimate object is to get the WTHIGO look or "what the hell is going on?" look Enter Strawbery Banke, an excellent historical museum of restored homes on the shores of the Piscataqua River in Portland, NH (named for the wild Strawberries that used to grow there). The museum concept by itself is not confusing. In fact, it was all too clear to my kids, and we practically had to drag them here. What really blew their minds were the "role players" at some of the houses. These are actors who behave as residents, and treat you like a traveler visiting during their respective era. That's when the WTHIGO look from the kids came up in spades. First we met Mrs. Goodwin, the wife of the NH Governor during the Victorian era. She was out tending her garden. I made the mistake of asking her what year it was, and she answered "Dear me sir, everyone knows it is 1870...Have you been to the tavern much today?" I sheepishly lied that I had. Then she proceeded to give a tour of her garden and tell us abut the latest "modern" touches she had implemented. My kids asked lots of questions, many of the sort: "are you really...?" The actress really knew her stuff, staying in character the entire time. My kids were hooked and wanted to see more. Other role players included Mrs. Shapiro, an elderly Jewish woman from 1919 had just made some Mandelbrot in the working coal oven (she really had) and was waiting for her daughter to come home from school. There was also Mrs. Cooper, who was running a general store in 1943 and talked to the kids about collecting grease and scrap metal for the war effort, among other things. There were even some children role players, a group of younger girls pretending to prepare dinner in the Pitt Tavern in the year 1773. The home restorations themselves are extremely well done and there is also a cooper and a potter that you can watch in action. There is even a house dedicated to antique and hand-made toys, where we spent a lot of time. We liked it so much we went back the next day (tickets are good for two days), and that time we didn't have to drag the kids kicking and screaming.

This past spring we visited this museum and loved it. Strawberry Banke has 42 buildings representing the span from 1695 to 1950. There are houses to tour inside, pretty gardens, and a WWII era grocery store. One of the houses had a demonstration of hearth cooking. The guide, Joe, was super knowledgeable, entertaining and talked about food and cooking in general during colonial times. That was probably my favorite place there. I liked that it was self-guided and we could take as much time as we wanted.

My 6 and 7 year old daughters and I loved it here! There are many houses to tour and to learn about this port city through the span of a couple of hundred years. It is very unique, much different from the experiences of Plimoth Plantation and Sturbridge Village because not every house is from the same time period and also, since these people were a bit affluent, you can see pretty furnishings and a well pump in a sink, doll furniture and a 1940s washing machine that was really cool (wish I had taken a pic). Many of the staff are "residents" from the time period and stay in character so you'll learn even more if you ask questions. My favorites were the 1940s general store with real food packaging from that time and black shades (to hide lights from enemy navel ships that could have entered the harbor and saw the town at night) and WW2 ration stamp prices. I also loved, in one house that went from 1775 to the 1940s, the 1940s kitchen equipped with metal fridge and oven and the living room with the floral linoleum floor and wallpaper with the chair height ash trays and record player. Also a favorite was the general store that kids could play in and the half 1790s, half 1940s kitchen where the kids get to touch everything and role play. It includes pewter dishware and brick oven to bake bread in and wood table from the 1700s and 1940s along side the metal stove and metal table and bread box. The kids also loved that in many houses there are time period toys. And it's fun to pretend which bedroom would be your's in the bigger houses/mansions. $25 per adult. Children are $10. Pass is good for 2 days I a row (I think). Plenty of places to shop/eat around and a nice park and tall ship right near by...all a very short walking distance away. We found street parking but the museum does have a lot.

I had a great day at the Strawbery Banke Museum! I personally thought the $17.50 admission price was a bit steep but, I do understand that they must run into A LOT of costs to keep that place updated. Some of the employees in the houses were knowledgeable and told us a bit of history about the house and the story behind the people who once lived there, others just gave a smile as we walked in. One of the houses had a role player chatting away about her husband who had died in the early 1800's and my friend Laura T. couldn't get out of there fast enough. I guess roll playing just isn't her thing. :) The gardens are beautiful and I can definitely appreciate all the attention to detail that goes into everything about this place. My favorite house was the one that showed you side by side one of the first residents to live there and the last. The first was a merchant in the early 1800's (I could be making that up but, it was somewhere around that time frame) and the last person to live there was in the 50's, I loved the 1950's styled home. The day we went the parking was free but, I did notice on the other side of the sign it said parking $10. I'm not sure what criteria they use to decide if the lot will be free or not during what times. We just parked downtown and walked over; it was only a ten minute walk or so from the main parking garage in Portsmouth. An interesting thing is that some people rent apartments in the historical houses. It must be weird to literally live in a museum!

Strawberry Banke was a fun and unique family trip. There were so many buildings to explore that my cousins and I never got bored. I loved chatting with the role players and getting a glimpse of what life was like in the past. I won't lie, I also loved trying on the clothes of the time periods. The gift shop had lots of fun gifts ranging from classical composer thimbles to actual colonial style dresses and bonnets. There were also a few places to get a cold drink or a snack. Even after spending hours here, we still couldn't see everything so I will definitely be coming back!

Stopped here shortly to stretch our legs on a road trip. Looks like a great place to bring children for a historical field trip.

This place is amazing. One of our favorite places to visit during our three week state of Maine. Super historical and authentic from the 1950s. They have literally a whole town that has been preserved and it's original state, with lots of helpers to introduce you to the town and show you around. Our kids really enjoyed it, and it's a great way to spend half a day in Portsmouth.

Love this place! I may be a little biased as a history teacher, but this place is great. It's so interesting to walk through the restored homes (and one that wasn't!) and hear about the owners of the homes from the knowledgable staff. They also have cooking and weaving demonstrations that families can enjoy. It's a great way to spend the afternoon, especially since it's right in the heart of Portsmouth and your ticket is good for two days, so you can come and go as you please if your spending the weekend nearby!

Strawbery Banke is more than a museum, it's ten acres of historic houses, people in costume, and various exhibits and demonstrations. If you've been to Colonial Williamsburg, you'll know what you're in for. Not all of the houses are meant to depict the same time period, so you get the feel of the neighborhood over time. I made the mistake of going on a hot and humid day. Even though many of the houses have central air, it seems to be there to preserve the interiors and not to provide comfort. The oppressive summer heat made itself felt and I gave up about halfway through. Be sure to check it out if it's a nice cool day and you want to show the kids something different.

The ice skating here is amazing. It's a smallish rink outside in a rough figure 8 shape with a fire pit and benches at one end that you can skate up to. You can choose between hockey or figure skates if you need to rent, and the quality of the skates was great for $5 rentals. For an adult pass and a rental it's about $12, which isn't bad because there's no time limit. They occasionally run a Zamboni over the ice to keep it nice and smooth. You can see all the beautiful old houses surrounding the pond, and there's a little cafe in eyesight that serves up hot chocolate and snacks, though you can't skate to it. It's awesome, would recommend!

This review is only for the grounds and the gardens at Strawbery Banke which are quite lovely. We did not explore the museum, we were taken aback by the large buses of school kids pouring in and out of there but I have always loved walking around and looking at the houses and the gardens. If you aren't interested in the tour, check out the grounds and the houses. They are beautiful and totally worth a visit. I uploaded a couple photos taken of the grounds and surrounding buildings. Very cool place and very walkable!

As a American history uberdork, I enjoyed my time at Strawberry Banke. I agree that the admission seems a little high but when you factor in the cost of labor and other capital, I can see how they got to the price point. You'll start out with a 10 minute video about the area -- you might be tempted to skip, but don't -- it'll give you a lot of context regarding the land, and help you find the way through the museum (although if you're coming here, chances are you probably aren't the type who would). To some extent, it does feel like a series of open houses (which I guess it is...literally), and essentially you will walk from house to house checking them out. The demos are a nice way to break that up -- check out the one-room exhibit of brewing in Portsmouth, and don't miss the tavern and the general store, IMHO the best parts of the museum. BTW, if you turn in the survey that they give you, the prize when I visited was a frisbee.

Strawberry Banke is a tease! I loved being able to walk around and check out the houses and rooms, but limiting me to just a room or two made me want more more more. I wanted to see all the rooms in all the homes in their full glory! Teases! OK ::deep breath:: wah moment is over. We went for the candlelight stroll so the paths were all lighted and looking very pretty. Everything was decorated for Christmas and some of the homes smelled so good with cookies or evergreens. Yum! In one of the buildings they were giving out free cider and chestnuts and had live music. It was packed so I grabbed some cider and skedaddled. I do love historical homes and being able to tour the inside as well as the outside is fun (aside from whining above). Some of the characters were better versed than others. They had quite a few teen girls and it was obvious when you asked a question that they didn't have an answer for. I definitely prefer a living history museum to one where you just read stuff stuck to a wall and look at displays. So anytime we went into a house that just had informational displays but no people, we'd skip. Other complaints: It was a bit pricey at $20 with no student discounts. Some of the homes were not well set up for large groups of people.

While visiting my daughter in Portsmouth for the holidays, we decided to take the walking house tour at Strawberry Banke. The homes were all decorated for the holidays in the appropriate period decor. Sandy, our tour guide was very knowledgable and delivered a wonderful presentation that left me visualizing life as it was in Strawberry Banke. I am looking forward to visiting the museum again in the spring or summer when the gardens are in bloom. What a great way to spend a few hours!

I have attended previously on field trips- and went for the off season limited tour to see the holiday decorations. What a disappointment! I was envisioning (at least) grand decorated mansions considering these were the rich residence of the neighborhood, however the bare minimum was all I saw! Old flowers, leaves, brown greenery, and nothing grand whatsoever! The store was the only area I thought was done up right! And only 5 homes open! And one of the homes included is the store and a one roomed kitchen. My advice- don't waste your money during off season. I've had such great experiences there during the regular season, but they are barley scraping by now. Wait until MAY!

Living history museums are probably the best way to get a sense of life way back when. Covering the period from Colonial America to WWII America, a visitor can get a sense of the changes in this town over 300 years. On our visit, we got to see a cooking demonstration from the 1700s, see a cooper's shop, "shop" at a corner store and make dolls out of corn husks. We even had lunch in a tavern that was frequented by George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette! One plus is that their schedule varies each day, so the ticket which is good for two days can be put to good use. Great for all ages.