Cushing House Museum and Garden

The Cushing House Museum is a four-story brick residence on High Street with five symmetrical windows across its facade and entrances on both the front and side. The house sits within a garden setting and displays furnishings, artwork, and domestic objects from the early 19th century.

The house was built in 1808 and belonged to Caleb Cushing, a diplomat who negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia with China in 1844. His role in opening trade routes shaped the collections and the house's place in American-Chinese relations.

The rooms display silver, furniture, portraits, clocks, needlework, antique fans, and toys from the 19th century, gathered from New England, Asia, and Europe. These objects show how wealthy families lived and what goods they collected from trade.

Guided tours are offered from late May through October by the Historical Society of Old Newbury. It helps to plan ahead since tours are seasonal and may fill up quickly during peak months.

A special feature is the China Trade Room, which displays early decorative arts and four Chinese coastal paintings that document maritime commerce. These works offer a direct view of goods that traveled across the Pacific to reach American homes.