Bartlett Museum, Inc. facts for kids
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Established | 1968 |
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Location | 270 Main Street, Amesbury, Massachusetts |
The Bartlett Museum is a cool place to visit in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It's a museum that doesn't make money, and you can find it at 270 Main Street. The museum is named after a very important person named Josiah Bartlett. He was born right there in Amesbury. Josiah Bartlett was one of America's Founding Fathers. He even signed the United States Declaration of Independence, which was a big step for America's freedom!
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Discovering the Museum's Past
The building where the Bartlett Museum is now used to be a school. It was called the Bartlett School and taught students from 1870 until 1968. After the school closed, the idea came up to turn it into a museum.
How the Museum Started
The museum officially opened in 1968. This was a special year because it was Amesbury's 300th birthday! The town wanted to celebrate its long history. Creating the Bartlett Museum was a perfect way to do that. It helped everyone remember Amesbury's past.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Bartlett Museum has many interesting things to explore. As of 2009, when many of its exhibits were set up, you could find different collections. These exhibits help visitors learn about the town and the world around it.
Amesbury's Local History
One part of the museum shows Amesbury's local history. You can learn about the town's old carriage industry. Carriages were like cars before cars were invented! There are also old maps and special items from Amesbury's past. These things tell stories about how people lived long ago.
Exploring Natural History
Another exciting section is about Natural history. This area has a large collection of stuffed birds. You can see many different kinds of birds up close. The museum also displays fossils, which are remains of ancient life. There are also cool minerals and shells from nature.
Native American Artifacts
The museum also has a collection of items from Native American tribes. These artifacts show how the local tribes lived. They help us understand their culture and history in the Amesbury area.
The Old Schoolroom
You can even step back in time in the schoolroom exhibit. This room looks just like an old classroom. It has antique school desks, which are very different from desks today. You can also see old children's games and toys. It's like a peek into what school was like for kids long ago.
Special Exhibits and Changes
The Bartlett Museum sometimes has special exhibits that change over time. This means there's always something new to see! For a while, the building also housed a railroad museum. It had many items related to trains. However, this railroad collection moved out in 2006.