Babcock-Smith House Museum

05/25/2026

On this coming Sunday, May 31st from 2 to 3 PM, local Art Historian Dr. Sara Champlin will give a presentation in our museum's Carriage House about Joseph Blackburn, one of the most sought-after portrait artists in America during the late 1750s and early 1760s. Four members of the Babcock family were painted by Joseph Blackburn, including this one below of Joshua Babcock. Dr. Champlin will consider what having four portraits of a family's members as opposed to one- or even a pair- can tell us about the family's hopes, dreams and ambitions, as well as about their economic status and social reality. This presentation is free to current museum members, only $5.00 for not-yet members. We hope to see you, then! 124 Granite Street, Westerly, RI.

04/27/2026

Free Open House at Westerly's Home of Revolutionary History on Saturday, May 2, from 2 to 5 PM! Please join us as we celebrate the 250 years since Rhode Island's Renunciation Act which took place a couple of months before the Declaration of Independence. Our 1734 house will be filled with documents such as Joshua Babcock's will and estate inventory, letters that Benjamin Franklin wrote to Joshua Babcock, furniture that graced the colonial era homes, and games and toys for children (and adults). Bring the whole family as there will be something for everyone. Refreshments will include items made from authentic colonial recipes. Alex Nunes will read the RI Act of Renunciation at 2:15 PM. Later that evening, you can visit nearby Ward Field, located at 9 Ward Avenue in Westerly, near Westerly High School, for food trucks and a drone show sponsored by the town of Westerly.

04/03/2026

During the course of a century (1850-1950) more than 100 granite companies arose in Westerly. At the industry's peak 20-30 companies were operating, so many companies came and went-- lasting just years, or decades, or even a century. The company lifespans and official reports of numbers of workers provide a view of the industry changing over time. The museum's Hugh Barton will be presenting this history on Sunday, April 12, at 2 PM at the Museum's Carriage House, 124 Granite Street. This presentation is free to our current BSHM members; only $5.00 for not-yet members.

03/31/2026

Today’s the day! Remember to give if you can!

https://www.401gives.org/organizations/babcock-smith-house-museum

03/28/2026

Just days away! Please consider supporting us!

https://www.401gives.org/organizations/babcock-smith-house-museum

03/17/2026

The all-volunteer staff at the Babcock-Smith House Museum would like to invite folks to our Carriage House next Sunday, March 22, from 2 to 3PM for a presentation of Music of Early America by Peter Piacquadio and other musicians. Music was much more than entertainment during the Revolution-- it carried narratives, spread political messages, and helped unify people in a time of conflict. Musicians will perform musical examples that follow the narrative. This presentation is free to current BSH Museum members; only $5.00 for not-yet members.

03/10/2026

Please join us on Wednesday evening, March 11th, at 6:30 PM as Carly Callahan, the Executive Director of the United Theatre, discusses her family’s efforts to renovate and preserve the exterior of their 185-year-old home.

The public is welcome!

Admission is free!

Refreshments will be provided!

03/10/2026

Our good friends of the Westerly Historical Society will have this very interesting presentation tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM at the Babcock-Smith House Museum's Carriage House. Thank you, Westerly Historical Society!

Please join us on Wednesday evening, March 11th, at 6:30 PM as Carly Callahan, the Executive Director of the United Theatre, discusses her family’s efforts to renovate and preserve the exterior of their 185-year-old home.

The public is welcome!

Admission is free!

Refreshments will be provided!

03/03/2026

On this coming Sunday afternoon, March 8th, from 2PM to 3 PM, our museum's own Maureen Bjorkland will be presenting The Colonial Kitchen. This program highlights cooking and food preparation during the colonial period by comparing today's kitchen to the keeping room of our historic museum. Maureen will be pointing out the differences in the diet and eating habits of the 18th century compared to the 21st century. This presentation is free to current members of our museum; only $5.00 for not-yet members.

02/04/2026

Our museum Carriage House will be hosting two interesting events that will only be four days apart. On Wednesday, February 11th, at 6:30PM our good friends of the Westerly Historical Society will be
presenting "The Larchmont Disaster". Daniel Harrington will share the fascinating details of the Rhode Island version of the Titanic disaster. This 1907 accident, considered to be the worst maritime tragedy in New England, occurred off the coast of Westerly and resulted in tales of heroism and survival among hundreds of deaths. Admission is free, refreshments are complimentary.

And then, four days later, on Sunday, February 15th at 2PM, our own John Linton will be presenting Westerly Monuments Dealing with the Revolutionary War. Although the Westerly granite companies are well-known for their works dealing with the Civil War, John, who is known for his painstaking research, has uncovered monuments dealing with the Revolutionary War and will share his discoveries. This program is free to our current museum members; only $5 for not-yet members. We'll be happy to see you!