Ipswich Historical Society

The Ipswich Historical Society is an organization that maintains several historic houses and structures for public viewing on its grounds. The complex includes the Whipple House from 1677 and the Heard House from 1795, both of which display furnished interiors and offer insight into how people lived in earlier times.

The society was founded in 1890 by Reverend Thomas Franklin Waters and initially held meetings in artist Arthur Wesley Dow's studio. Over time, it acquired permanent buildings and expanded its collections to preserve local history and artistic heritage.

The society holds the largest collection of Arthur Wesley Dow's artworks, featuring oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, and wood block prints that visitors can view. These pieces reveal the artist's connection to the town and his role in shaping local creative life.

Visitors can use self-guided audio tours through the PocketSights app to explore the buildings and exhibits at their own pace. It is helpful to allow time for visiting multiple houses and to check the website for current hours before your trip.

The Heard House arrived as a gift to the society in 1936, but the donor Alice Leeds Heard retained residence rights until her death in 1953. This unusual arrangement allowed a former resident to share the house with the organization as it gradually became a museum.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1890

Website: https://ipswichmuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 42.67710,-70.83610

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:14