Current Exhibitions
Danger in Divisions
Discover the hidden history of Rye during the Revolutionary War—a town once divided between Patriots and Loyalists. This exhibit features authentic artifacts found in Rye, including muskets, gunpowder flasks, and a detailed model of a Revolutionary War gunboat.
Presented with RR250. Visit; RR250 Page
📍 Located in the upstairs bedroom.
Tea Time: Display Case
Step into the timeless ritual of tea through this charming display of objects and images spanning two centuries. From elegant 18th-century pink lustre ceramics and 19th-century tea cups to mid-20th-century photographs—including a glimpse of Eleanor Roosevelt at a United Nations tea—this case highlights how tea has brought people together in homes and public spaces alike.
Discover the beauty, craftsmanship, and stories behind these everyday objects, and see how a simple cup of tea has long inspired conversation, community, and connection.
Located in museum’s downstairs council room.
Barbara Bush: A Celebration of Life, Literacy and Legacy
This year, former first lady Barbara Bush would have turned 100. In our exciting new exhibit, A Celebration of Life, Literacy and Legacy, we honor Bush’s deep connection to the Rye community, her steadfast devotion to literacy and her generosity of spirit. Bush grew up on Onondaga Street in Rye, and spent countless hours at the Rye Free Reading Room nurturing a love of books that would shape her life’s work. She never forgot her roots in Rye, as evidenced by the collection of pictures, personal notes, books and memorabilia featured in the exhibit, both from the Rye Historical Society archives and generously loaned to us by friends, family and admirers of Barbara Bush.