Deerfield Made by Hand

Take a stroll between the beautiful houses of Historic Deerfield in this tour highlighting the history of handcrafts in the community.

This tour includes an exploration of the ADA accessible Flynt Center of Early New England Life, including visible storage across the range of our collection and Into the Woods: Crafting Early American Furniture. In the Apprentice’s Workshop, participants can get hands-on with ceramics, textiles, and architectural woodworking. This visit also includes a tour of the c. 1747 Wells-Thorn House, which presents period rooms depicting the lifestyle of Deerfield residents in a progression from the early days of 1725 all the way up to the high-style of the 1850s. It illustrates the development of the agricultural economy, domestic life, and refinement in the Connecticut River Valley.

Deerfield Through Time

Explore the history of Deerfield’s iconic Old Main Street.

This tour package is focused on the storied history of the community, from the Native American Pocumtuck homeland to the years as a frontier English settlement and the 18th and 19th century houses now populating the street. Tours begin at the ADA-accessible Flynt Center of Early New England Life, where visitors can explore visible storage across the range of our collection and Into the Woods: Crafting Early American Furniture. The tour proceeds up the street by bus, with an optional step-on guide, and tours three historic houses: the c.1816 Williams House, c.1755 Sheldon House, and c.1824 Wright House Furniture Gallery. Through a combination of guide-led and self-guided touring, guests will have the opportunity to explore houses representing different eras of the Deerfield story.

Deerfield through the Seasons

Come experience a seasonally themed visit to Historic Deerfield, suitable for guests of all ages!

Visitors will be greeted at the Visitor’s Center at Hall Tavern, and participate in a series of activities that can include an historic open hearth cooking demonstration of traditional seasonal dishes, a seasonally-inspired historic craft project, and playing our mystery object game, puzzling out clues to historic artifacts from the past! The group will then proceed to the c. 1816 Williams House for an historic house tour, with an optional step on guide for the bus trip down Old Main Street.

Step-On Bus Guide

Let us put a guide on your bus!

Our guide can provide a tour of the landscape, art, architecture, and history of Old Main Street, from the indigenous Pocumtuck homeland through the English settlement, the American Revolution, and the revival of the town during the Arts and Crafts movement.

Booking

Please contact Isabelle Smith-Bove, Visitor Services Manager with questions or to book a tour.

Dining

We have great meal options waiting for you at Champney’s, our restaurant and pub.