Forbes House Museum

Home
United States
Milton, MA
Forbes House Museum

The 1833 Greek Revival style mansion housed 4 generations of Forbes family members. See treasures fr

The Forbes House Museum is a majestic Greek Revival mansion built in 1833 or Margaret Perkins Forbes by her sons Captain Robert Bennet Forbes (1804-1889) and John Murray Forbes (1813-1898). Today, the Museum contains the treasures of four generations of the Forbes family. Much of their fortune came from the early China Trade of the 1800s, and through their connections, talents and wealth, they pla

yed significant roles in events unfolding locally, nationally and globally. Their contributions are detailed in stories as tour guides lead guests through the house, with period rooms arranged as the family would have used them in the late 19th century. Other rooms include one for flexible exhibit space and another dedicated to Mary Bowditch Forbes’s extensive collection of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia. The family history also inspires programs and events including art exhibits, book talks, guest lectures, a Lincoln Day celebration, concerts, poetry readings, and more. The Museum offers tours on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am and 1pm. For tours on other days or for groups larger than 10, please call ahead to make special arrangements. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and children under age 5 are free.

05/07/2026

LANTERNS & LEGACY: MAHJONG AT THE MUSEUM
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 6:30 – 9:00PM
⭐
Enjoy an incredible evening of Mahjong, refreshments, and community in the gorgeous
setting of the Forbes House Museum.
⭐
Partnering with 12 Sparrow Mahjong, the Forbes House Museum is hosting a
Mahjong Fundraiser. Experienced players will enjoy an evening in the beautiful Forbes House Museum featuring open friendly competition, door prizes, wine, and unlimited light
bites. And one lucky guest will go home with a stunning mahjong game set!
⭐
Games will be provided for each table.
Seats are limited to 48!
⭐
All proceeds support the operations of the Forbes House Museum, which provides programs in education, art and culture, and resources for our community.
⭐
Tickets available on the Forbes House Museum website and EventBrite

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lanterns-legacy-mahjong-at-the-museum-tickets-1988126161869?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/06/2026

AUTHOR TALK: Tuesday, May 12, 7:00PM
📚📚📚

We are pleased to present author Jeffrey Denman, who will give an elucidating talk about the fate of the Quakers during the rise and outbreak of the American Revolution.

Tickets are only $8 and available in link in bio or on our website
www.ForbesHpuseMuseum.org

04/14/2026

AUTHOR TALK and BOOK SIGNING
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
6-7 PM

Amalia Kussner was one of the foremost portraitists of the Gilded Age. She worked at Tiffany & Co. She painted Astors and Vanderbilts, King Edward IV, and the Imperial family of Russia. She rose to the same ranks of popularity as John Singer Sargent.

Why, then, is she not remembered today? Could it be due to the mysterious lawsuit brought against her in 1901? And where are her paintings? 🖼️

Learn about Amalia Kussner’s amazing and intriguing life (and the mystery of the lawsuit) at our upcoming authors talk with Kathleen Langone, author of The Miniature Painter Revealed.

04/09/2026

Mahjong at the Museum… STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!

03/23/2026

It was a full house for our Global Harmony Concert & Conversation! 🌟🌍🎶

We were so pleased to feature for an evening celebrating the music of the Middle East. Joe and Raji eloquently educated the audience on the instruments, melodies, and history of the songs. 🪘🪘🪘

And the homemade baklava was delicious!

A huge thank you to the Milton Cultural Council, which partially sponsored the event!!

03/18/2026

NO SLEEPING | intercom

Historic houses are living and evolving today. They don’t just contain the past; they provide a framework for the present.

Our current artists in residence, and have given us new views of our historic structure and its mechanisms.

And we invite you to come see the house and see what pulls your attention…

More to come!

🎥 credit:

03/09/2026

The first signs of Spring’s arrival have appeared on our grounds! A small clutch of crocuses have poked their heads up through the ground, and tiny buds are burgeoning forth on our tulip tree!

And most importantly- the snow has started melting! Spring is definitely in the air! ☀️

02/13/2026

DOUGLASS DAY IS IN FULL ACTION!

The Forbes House Museum is honored to participate in the National Douglass Day activities, and the important work of transcribing records for the Colored Conventions Project. Our participants have been transcribing documents about the 14th Amendment, calls for conventions to address all rights for all, and finding the names of those who were there.

This work ensures this significant movement is highlighted in our nation’s history.

Thank you to our participants!!!

01/22/2026

FLOWERS TEASER! 🪻🌸🌹🪻🌸🌹🪻

There may be snow outside, but it will be blooming inside the Forbes House Museum this weekend!

The second annual “Flowers at the Forbes” collaboration with is happening January 23 - 25, 11:00am - 4:00pm. Come get a taste of springtime!

Imaginative floral arrangements will interpret pieces from the Museum’s collection. See paintings, porcelain, statues, and furniture bloom!

General admission $20/FHM members $15
Tickets available on our website, at the door, or through the link in our bio ⬆️
🪻🌸🌹🪻🌸🌹🪻🌸🌹🪻🌸🌹🪻🌸

01/13/2026

SPRINGTIME IN JANUARY! 🌸🌸🌸

Flowers at the Forbes returns next weekend! A beautiful, colorful collaboration between the Forbes House Museum and , this public event features original floral arrangements inspired by items in our permanent collection.

January 23 & 24, 11:00am - 4:00pm
January 25, 11:00am - 3:00pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! $20/General admission; $15/FHM members

Tickets in link in bio ⬆️, FHM website, EventBrite, and at the door

ENJOY 🌸🌼🌷🌹🌻💐🪻

Address

215 Adams Street
Milton, MA
02186

Telephone

+16176961815

Website

http://www.forbeshousemuseum.org/fhm-fund/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Forbes House Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Forbes House Museum:

Shortcuts

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Milton?