Samuel Staples Birthday Celebration May 17-21

Celebrate WHM Founder Samuel Staples 200th Birthday and the Museum’s 147th year of collecting, preserving, interpreting, and sharing Worcester’s history. We’re doing just what “Sam” encouraged US to do, “Rescue from oblivion such historical matters as would otherwise be lost.” Take your seat at the table…be sure your stories are included for generations.

DO IT FOR SAM! Take this adventure with us…

• • Make a birthday gift donation in honor of Samuel Staple’s vision…charting the future of our shared past – CLICK HERE
  • Join “Team Staples” by becoming a member of the museum – CLICK HERE

Celebrate with us the week of May 17 – 21, 2022. Admission is FREE all week!

• Tuesday, May 17 – 7:00PM – Book Talk & Signing
  • • Book Talk & Signing by Suzanne Schnittman, Author of Provocative Mothers and Their Precocious Daughters. Registration is required – CLICK HERE
• Wednesday, May 18 – 12PM & 2PM– 20-30 minute History Bites
  • • Curator Shelley Cathcart – A quick gallery chart discussing the role of a curator and a tour of the galleries to see some of her favorite objects, including the museum’s most recent acquisition from the 18th century.
    • Salisbury Mansion Site Manager Robert Stacey – “Worcester’s Little Machines” presentation of patent models of inventions from Worcester inventors
• Thursday, May 19 – 5:30PM-7:00PM – Samuel Staples Birthday Celebration
  • • Birthday celebration with unveiling of Redemption Rock Brewing’s “Rescue from Oblivion” lager with tastings available. Raise a glass to toast our shared history. Registration is required – CLICK HERE
    • Team Trivia Challenge
• Friday, May 20 – 2PM – 20-30 minute History Bites
  • • Executive Director William Wallace – Celebrating Worcester: Marking Anniversaries. On the eve of Worcester’s Tercentennial celebration, a look back at how and what Worcester has marked its anniversaries…1872, 1884, 1922, 1948 and more!
    • Exhibit Coordinator Vanessa Bumpus – A guided tour of the Fuller Gallery of Industrial History exhibit “In Their Shirtsleeves.” Learn about Worcester’s rich industrial history and hear about the upcoming changes to the gallery and the redesign opening in 2023.
    • Library and Archives Manager Wendy Essery – Learn about the Birthday Boy, Samuel Staples.
• Saturday, May 21 – 10AM – 4PM – FREE Family Day and Fun Activities at WHM and Salisbury Mansion
  • • Salisbury Mansion Scavenger Hunt
    • Revolutionary Walking Tours – Leaves from Salisbury Mansion at 10AM
    • History Detectives at WHM, and much more…