Currently on exhibit at the Andover Historical Society:

Andover Top 40 will be on display through Spring 2012 and is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the month of December, the exhibit also served as the inspiration for the more than 30 decorated trees in the Society’s annual history-inspired Christmas tree display. We look forward to welcoming you at the front door. Andover Top 40 exhibit was designed by Erin Sheehy.

1820 Period Rooms of the Amos Blanchard House
In 1819, Amos Blanchard, his wife, Elizabeth Jenkins Blanchard, and their two sons, Amos Jr. and Edward moved into their newly constructed house at 97 Main Street on the Essex Turnpike. They represented the new middle-class families growing in number throughout New England. Tours are given of the Amos Blanchard House and Barn Museum where exhibit rooms recreate the life of the Blanchard family.

Interiors restored to the 1820 to 1840s period using display wallpaper, carpets and floor cloths that are reproductions and furnishings donated by Andover residents. A highlight of the tour is a recently restored faux marble floor in the entrance hall made in a primitive pattern using bright colors. The original English style barn contains: 19th century farm tools, an 18th century cobbler’s bench, early woodworking tools, and an 1829 Hunneman hand-pulled firepumper. Guides interpret themes of 19th century politics, religion, women’s roles, economics, banking, youth, education, household management, and agriculture.

Online Exhibits

Created by Kaitlin Morton-Bentley, Tufts University Museum Studies Intern, 2011

Andover’s Role in the War that Divided the Country
Created by Tommy Doucette, Merrimack College Intern, 2011

Past Exhibits

Common Indecency
November 15, 2011 – May 1,  2012

Common Indecency is an exhibit of undergarments and personal grooming items from the Andover Historical Society’s collections.  The main gallery of the Amos Blanchard House envelopes all of the exhibit’s themes including bathing, sleeping, undergarments, relaxation, and dressing.  Investigate the Society’s new Hands-On room!  Try out some of yesteryear’s accouterments like handmade soap or try your hand at lacing bed strings, and seeing firsthand facial hair through the ages.  Common Indecency is an exploration into the common practices of grooming, hygiene and undergarments through the ages.  Visitor to the exhibit found out what the hidden truths exist about Common Indecency past.

See the Trees! Christmas Trees in 2011
December 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011

The Dirt on Argilla Road: Revisit Andover’s West Parish Farms
June 24, 2011 -October 29, 2011

An Andover Christmas Academy
December 3, 2010 to December 22, 2010

An American Christmas Story
December 1, 2009 to December 23, 2009

From Near and Far: 350 Years of Making Andover Home
February 2009 through October 31, 2009
Click here for more information

History Inspired Victorian Christmas Trees
November 28, 2008 to December 31, 2008

Main Street Memories
February 27, 2008 to November 6, 2008
Now available as online exhibit! Click here

A Picnic Tragedy: The Pole Hill Murder
July 11, 2008 through October 9, 2008
Click here to see the online serial exhibit

Faces from the Past:
Portraits from the Collection of the Andover Historical Society
Spring 2006