Redington Museum
Encyclopedia
The Redington Museum is a historic museum
in Waterville
, Maine
that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The museum is the headquarters of the Waterville Historical Society.
The museum is listed on the official website of the Maine Office of Tourism.
and Labor Day
from Tuesday to Saturday. Visitors are supposed to enter during the tour times, which are at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. In practice, they may allow admission other times. Therefore, one should be prepared to visit as if they had an appointment for a specific time although the curator
s may allow other visitors to enter. There is an admission charge of $3.
The museum is located on Silver Street about 2 blocks south of downtown Waterville
, about one block south of the funeral home.
The museum is a two story white shingled house built in 1814. The exhibits include old furniture and curios from the 1800s. The museum opened in 1927. It is part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Waterville Historical Society keeps its collection of books and manuscripts at the museum. There is a collection of rare old maps of the area available for scholarly research.
The museum is housed in a two story home built in 1814 by pioneer Waterville settler Asa Redington, a veteran of three enlistments in the American Revolutionary War
and a member of George Washington
's elite Honor Guard. After the victory against the English, he developed the water rights at Ticonic Falls and with his sons, Samuel and William, established a thriving flour mill on the banks of the Kennebec River
. The father of six sons and three daughters, Asa built this substantial home for his son William. Fashioned of great hewn timbers, all hand pegged, it still features the original spiral staircase, fireplaces with period woodwork, and floors of wide pumpkin pine. The newel post in the entrance exhibits the "contractor's peace stone," a small smooth polished stone signifying in Colonial times that the project had been completed to both the owner's and builder's satisfaction. Today, five rooms are furnished with antiques of the late 18th and early 19th centuries from the Redington family, the family of pioneer attorney Timothy Boutelle, and from other early local families.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The museum is the headquarters of the Waterville Historical Society.
The museum is listed on the official website of the Maine Office of Tourism.
Location
The museum is open between Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
and Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
from Tuesday to Saturday. Visitors are supposed to enter during the tour times, which are at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. In practice, they may allow admission other times. Therefore, one should be prepared to visit as if they had an appointment for a specific time although the curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
s may allow other visitors to enter. There is an admission charge of $3.
The museum is located on Silver Street about 2 blocks south of downtown Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, about one block south of the funeral home.
Exhibits
The museum is essentially a historic house that has period furniture and exhibits about the Waterville area as well as a replica pharmacy building near the site where the original building once stood. The curators are a couple who live on the premises.The museum is a two story white shingled house built in 1814. The exhibits include old furniture and curios from the 1800s. The museum opened in 1927. It is part of the National Register of Historic Places.
The Waterville Historical Society keeps its collection of books and manuscripts at the museum. There is a collection of rare old maps of the area available for scholarly research.
History
The Redington Museum offers a comprehensive view of life in New England and Waterville, Maine during the past two centuries. There are collections of furniture, accessories, household artifacts, toys, tools, and weapons as well as historical papers and diaries. The main building is designed in the Federal-style of architecture. The museum is maintained by the Waterville Historical Society.The museum is housed in a two story home built in 1814 by pioneer Waterville settler Asa Redington, a veteran of three enlistments in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and a member of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's elite Honor Guard. After the victory against the English, he developed the water rights at Ticonic Falls and with his sons, Samuel and William, established a thriving flour mill on the banks of the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
. The father of six sons and three daughters, Asa built this substantial home for his son William. Fashioned of great hewn timbers, all hand pegged, it still features the original spiral staircase, fireplaces with period woodwork, and floors of wide pumpkin pine. The newel post in the entrance exhibits the "contractor's peace stone," a small smooth polished stone signifying in Colonial times that the project had been completed to both the owner's and builder's satisfaction. Today, five rooms are furnished with antiques of the late 18th and early 19th centuries from the Redington family, the family of pioneer attorney Timothy Boutelle, and from other early local families.
External links
- Museum website, with photographs of the exterior and inside rooms