Letters from the CEO

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we welcome you to the 2024 Season at Heritage Museums & Gardens! As spring blossoms fill the air with the promise of new beginnings, we invite you to join us for Opening Day, a celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, April 20.

Opening Day promises to be a day filled with adventure, learning, and fun for the entire family.  You can explore Heritage on your own or embark on a self-guided activity. From 10 am to 3 pm, immerse yourself in our enchanting gardens and captivating galleries as you solve a family scavenger hunt. Explore every nook and cranny, uncovering hidden treasures and discovering the exciting stories that lie within.

Delve into the fascinating world of historic wind power as our interpreter guides you on a journey through time at the Old East Mill, Heritage’s iconic windmill built in 1800. Witness the ingenuity of the past and gain insights into sustainable practices that still resonate today. And don’t forget to unleash your creativity with our windmill craft activity, allowing you to take home a piece of Heritage’s legacy.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Impressionist New England: Four Seasons of Color and Light exhibit at the Special Exhibitions Gallery, and then unleash your own inner artist. Channel the inspiration of Impressionist artists and create your own miniature masterpiece in a family art activity in the McGraw Family Garden of the Senses.

For those seeking outdoor excitement, head over to the Parade Field and join a variety of family-centered games, including a recycling relay. Test your skills, challenge your friends, and learn about the importance of environmental stewardship in a playful and interactive way.

From 10 am to 12 pm, seize the opportunity to meet the curator of the Charging Ahead exhibit at the J.K. Lilly III Auto Gallery and gain deeper insights into the evolution of early electric cars. Discover the pioneers who dared to envision a cleaner, greener future and learn how their innovations continue to shape our world today.

And from 11 am to 11:45 am, don’t miss the chance to hear from an environmental sustainability expert as she shares valuable insights into Heritage’s progress toward sustainability goals. Take home practical tips and actionable steps that you can implement in your own lives, empowering you to make a positive impact on the world around you.

As we open for the 2024 season, please know that our campus is undergoing exciting transformations in anticipation of the grand unveiling of the Barbey Family Welcome Center in 2025. Get ready for an enhanced visitor experience! As you enter Heritage, you may observe alterations in traffic routes around our parking facilities. Our dedicated security team will be stationed at all entry points to assist you seamlessly.

The 2024 Season awaits! We invite you to embrace the spirit of discovery, curiosity, and community that defines Heritage Museums & Gardens. Join us as we celebrate our shared heritage, honor our natural world, explore impressions of New England, and create lasting memories that will inspire and uplift for generations to come.

Warm regards,

Anne Scott-Putney
President & CEO

I am thrilled to share exciting news about the Adventure Park at Heritage.

Last week, Barnstable County Superior Court Judge Elaine Buckley ruled that Heritage can go forward with our plans to reopen the Adventure Park.  Specifically, the judge ruled that the Sandwich Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) acted appropriately when it issued a special permit in 2019 to Heritage and its partner, Outdoor Ventures, to operate the park as a “small-scale recreational facility”.  The Adventure Park at Heritage is a series of five aerial ropes courses in the treetops that allow visitors to challenge themselves in nature.  Using teamwork and experimentation skills, visitors of all ages build self-confidence as they test themselves on each successive element.  Friends and family groups cheer each other on and make memories to last a lifetime.

With this court ruling in hand, we are now planning next steps for the Adventure Park’s reopening. Five years is a long time for any popular activity to be closed.  I would like to thank our community of supporters for your outpouring of support along the way, for your wonderful and cheerleading comments on social media over the past week, and for your patience as we have awaited this decision.  This is a victory for all of us.  We will keep you apprised of our plans.

See you in the treetops!

Anne Scott-Putney
President & CEO

Welcome to the 2022 Season! We have a magnificent year planned for you, starting this Saturday, April 23, when the Heritage gates open to our 100 acres of grounds and three museum galleries.

To set the mood for our much-anticipated special exhibit, Creating Cape Cod, consider this question, “What is your favorite Cape Cod vacation memory?”

Creating Cape Cod traces the history of how this peninsula evolved from a “Yankee backwater” as described by Henry David Thoreau in the 1850’s, to a bustling and beloved tourist destination, that welcomes over five million visitors each year.  The exhibit features iconic Cape Cod objects, automobiles, and interactive experiences, each with a significance likely to tickle a favorite vacation memory for people of all ages. The exhibit also reveals new stories of travelers – from hunters and fishermen to minority travelers and carnival-goers – along with the people who welcomed them.

The vision for Creating Cape Cod began 16 years ago with Director of Museums & Exhibitions, Jennifer Madden. We are thrilled to have finally made this dream a reality. Jennifer and her team worked with over 35 regional museums, archives, historic societies and individuals to bring together multiple voices and materials to tell this compelling story. As I have told many friends, plan one to two hours for this exhibit, as you will want ample time to soak it up and relish your own place in our shared past, present, and future.

Speaking of the future, we all have a role to play in protecting and sustaining our beloved Cape Cod. With tourism comes impacts, which on the Cape include water quality, affordable housing, trash disposal, and the effects of climate change that threaten coastal areas. Creating Cape Cod tells these stories too, offering actionable steps that each of us can take to protect and preserve this place for generations to come. Our panel discussion, Issues Facing the Cape, on June 1 from 5:30-7:30 pm, takes a deeper dive with subject matter experts on each of these topics. I hope you will join us.

I look forward to seeing you at these and other upcoming events and programs:  Heritage’s signature Rhododendron Festival (May 20-30), Gearhead Garage (April 28 & May 25), Run for the Rhodies 5K Trail Race (May 28) and our 50^th Annual Auto Show (June 11).  At fifty years, it’s time to celebrate this popular, continuously running car show. We hope you will join us by entering your car or enjoying the display as a visitor on this festive day.

Our 2022 season would not be possible without the vision, persistence and creativity of our talented staff and volunteers and the leadership of our Board of Trustees. Thank you all. I also would like to extend a special thanks to the hard-working horticulture volunteers who helped our staff prepare the grounds for opening. Wind, weather, and supply chains have thrown us some curve balls, but we are ready, and we cannot wait to welcome you!

With warm regards,

Anne

Warm greetings to you after that devastating storm last week.

For those of you in Southeastern MA and on the Cape, I hope that you are emerging from the daunting clean-up and the extended loss of power, cell service and internet. I know that you are calling upon the deep-seated resiliency that our community is known for as we rebuild and move forward.

It was quite a week at Heritage, in Sandwich and beyond. Unexpected winds were reported on the Cape up to 85+ mph last Tuesday night, felling trees everywhere, causing extensive property damage, and blocking most of the entry roads to Heritage. We are grateful that there were no casualties despite the dramatic damage to the streets, yards, homes and spirits of our neighbors and friends.

At Heritage, high winds caused the worst damage when the large locust tree in front of The Shop fell, puncturing holes in the roof of the shop complex.  We also lost our beloved American elm tree in the front entry circle, and a beautiful Korean stewartia in the North American Hydrangea Test Garden, among dozens of other trees and branches that also came down.

I must thank the Heritage facilities and horticulture staffs led by John DeLellis and Les Lutz for immediately being on the scene to assess damage and pivoting once again to lead extensive clean-up efforts.  A special thanks to our horticulture volunteers who showed up with strong spirits and many hands to aid the horticulture and facilities staff. The rest of the full-time staff heeded the call to join in on Friday to push the clean-up nearer to completion, with boundless energy and great teamwork. Thank you!

On behalf of all of us at Heritage, I want to thank so many people: The utility workers, including those who came from as far away as Canada and Ohio, to help clear our streets and remove trees. The front line emergency responders and leadership in Sandwich who responded to hundreds of calls and worked 24/7 to keep us safe. Our neighbors who stopped by to lend a hand and check in after the storm. All of you lifted our collective can-do spirits.

However, we are undaunted. Even as I write, we are turning our attention back to Gardens Aglow, setting up the beloved outdoor train, and continuing with lighting the trees and decorating the galleries.  We do this with a deep respect for the power of nature, with redoubled resolve to reduce our impacts on climate change, and with renewed commitment to our mission to serve you.

With warmest regards,

Anne

Thank you for making the 2021 season at Heritage one of the most extraordinary on record!

Because you love exploring our gardens, outdoor pathways, and all that our museums have to offer, you helped Heritage welcome more  than 85,000 visitors so far this season! Thank you for choosing Heritage as your beloved place to discover, learn and enjoy together.

There is still time to squeeze in a trip to Heritage. The last day of the Regular Season is Sunday, October 17, from 10am-5pm.  You still have time to explore the LEGO® sculptures in the Bugs, Birds and Bricks outdoor sculpture exhibit, or to learn about the impact of the automobile on American culture in the From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America exhibit in the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery.  You can still splash in the stream or make music at Hidden Hollow™, and play another round of your favorite game with your children or grandchildren at our Let’s Play! New England Toy Stories exhibit in the Special Exhibitions Gallery.

Even after we close on October 17, we look forward to welcoming you back shortly. Join us for the popular Sandwich Halloween Festival on Friday, October 22, and Saturday, October 23, a fundraiser with our partners from Sandwich High School PTSA and the STEM Academy. Gardens Aglow, our winter lights festival, opens on Friday, November 26 and runs for 19 select nights of wonder. Have you gotten your tickets yet? Tickets are selling fast; please click here to reserve timed tickets for your preferred dates.

Finally, 2022 is also right around the corner. Our curators and exhibit designers are underway preparing next season’s special exhibition, Creating Cape Cod, the story of how Cape Cod became the tourist destination that we know and love today. You can help us source iconic Cape Cod objects for this exhibit, and we invite you to learn more here.

The French have wonderful phrases when parting, like the words au revoir, which literally means, “until we are seeing again.” But on this occasion, I prefer a bientôt, as I know I will “see you soon.”

Stay curious, and keep exploring, discovering, and learning together.  A bientôt!

With warm regards from Heritage,

Anne

Yesterday was a banner day for Heritage and The Hundred Acre School with the grand opening of a brand new space and the reopening of a cherished old one!

At noon on Wednesday, we cut the ribbon to officially open the expanded school with its two large classrooms, an extensive shaded playground, and beautiful glass corridor connecting the original and new wings. To assist in our purpose, we welcomed Samantha Aigner-Treworgy, Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, State Senator Susan Moran, State Representative Steven Xiarhos, and Sandwich Selectman Charles Holden. Donors, teachers, the construction team, Heritage Trustees and Advisory Council, and staff participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

We are delighted that this new expansion is allowing us to meet our community’s need for high-quality, STEM-based education by serving twice as many children as before the expansion. On September 7, our inaugural class of first graders will join our pre-K and kindergartners, and in the fall of 2022, we will welcome our first class of second graders.

Evolving from the success of Heritage’s Hidden Hollow™, The Hundred Acre School was created to cultivate young minds using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) as a springboard to multidisciplinary learning. Set within Heritage’s 100 acre grounds, the school allows children to integrate the STEM tools they acquire in the classroom with robust exploration of the natural world.

Since opening in 2015, the school has indeed exceeded all expectations. On each measure of student achievement, enrollment, family satisfaction, innovative curriculum, and contribution to the long term sustainability of Heritage, The Hundred Acre School has earned its place as a pace-setter and national model for early STEM education.

There are many people who have made the great success of The Hundred Acre School and its expansion possible: teachers, families, students, donors, friends, and Heritage Trustees, and staff. We thank you for your leadership, vision, educational expertise, philanthropic support, and old-fashioned hard work that kept us on time and on budget. Together, we have achieved our dream to expand our unique, pioneering, and treasured Hundred Acre School through grade two. Please see the donor listing below.

As the first day of school draws near, we continue to welcome inquires for the few remaining spots open for student enrollment. To learn more, please click here.

I have more good news to share: now that the school construction project is complete, the 1908 Looff Carousel is re-opening! Starting today, we are delighted to welcome you back to the American Art & Carousel Gallery for unlimited rides on your favorite horse (or goat or chariot), and to enjoy a new display from our permanent collection featuring carousel and play-themed art and objects. I hope to see you enjoying this iconic part of Heritage soon!

And finally, there’s plenty of summer fun left at Heritage! The last hurrah of summer continues on August 28th for Let’s Play! Family Fun Day, a play-themed event where visitors of all ages can enjoy LEGO building, crafts, games, and even an animal show!.

I look forward to seeing you at Heritage on the 28th and perhaps even riding your favorite carousel horse.

With warm regards from our beautiful 100 acres where people of all ages can explore, discover and learn together,

Anne

The Hundred Acre School Expansion

was made possible through the generous support

of these donors and others

during the 50th Anniversary Campaign

Anonymous

Hope Lincoln Baker

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Salisbury Birch

Cape Cod Five Cents Saving Charitable Foundation Trust

East Coast Commercial Construction

Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation

Richard & Susan Hamilton

Tracy & Lance Isham

K.A.H.R. Foundation

Margot E. Leslie-Dustow Trust

The Lilly Family

Jane & Jeffrey E. Marshall

Mass Cultural Council

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism

The Donald C. McGraw Foundation

Frank & Lynne Minard

The O’Connor Family Foundation

Malina & Lou Ricciardi

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher E. Richards

Tom & Donna Rockwell

RogersGray Insurance

The Shultz Family

Ellen & Brad Spear

Olaf & Margot Thorp

Mr. & Mrs. Sumner B. Tilton, Jr

I’ve been thinking about community lately, that powerful force that brings together people of shared interests, location, or philosophy to advance their common purpose. Whether the interest is flowers, hydrangea care, sustainability, regional history, or the combustible engine, I am more aware than ever of the multiple communities that Heritage inspires and supports. Heritage is, in fact, a community of communities!

And if attendance at Heritage’s programs this season is any indication, it’s fair to say that community is thriving at Heritage!

For example, this past week a record number of “gearheads” came out to peer under the hoods and to witness our two antique racecars, the 1915 Stutz Bearcat and the 1912 Mercer Raceabout, in action. “The Car Guys,” as our volunteer auto experts are affectionately known, fielded questions and shared their extensive knowledge with over 65 auto enthusiasts. What a wonderful, passionate group!

Just a few days before, on July 14, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the North American Hydrangea Test Garden brought together an equally excited and inquisitive community. Nursery growers, horticulture societies, and hydrangea lovers convened from as far away as Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Georgia to celebrate the work that Heritage’s partners have collectively done to create this stunningly beautiful – and results-rich – test garden. Data collected here about how different varieties of hydrangea fare in our climate are shared with the broader community on the Heritage website.

An equally passionate crew, this one of volunteers, converged at Heritage on July 21 to measure the amount of carbon that Heritage’s forests are sequestering, an important metric in achieving our eventual goal of net zero carbon emissions.

And this past Saturday, at Wampanoag Heritage Day, singers and dancers from the Wampanoag Nation shared their culture, arts and history with visitors of all ages. Guests joined the group in songs and dances and learned about how to create children’s toys and dolls from natural materials. Additionally guests explored the wetu and Three Sisters Garden, the traditional coastal dwelling and garden built by Wampanoag community members this year at Heritage.

These diverse gatherings are examples from just the past two weeks!

More communities are gathering together at Heritage. This week, the flower show, Art Blooms at Heritage, (July 27-29) brings together exhibitors and horticulture enthusiasts to enjoy beautiful flower designs inspired by works of art. Coming up, Bocce players of all levels, and their fans, will convene on Saturday evening, August 7, to test their aim and strategy against each other to the delight of the jolly and forgiving crowd at the Bocce and Bellinis event. And coming up on August 28, we welcome visitors of all ages to join us for the Let’s Play! Family Fun Day  a giant play-date the whole family can enjoy!

In the isolated and largely virtual world of the pandemic, something surely was missing. But I’ve found it now within the communities at Heritage: the simple joy of relishing time with each other. Thank you all for being the best part of Heritage.

With warm regards,

Anne

Feeling social? I am. After more than a year of Covid-19 and its tragic impacts, I am grateful for the simple, social things. Today, it’s walking outside to greet and chat with visitors who are exploring the rhododendron stories, sights, and scents during this gloriously beautiful Rhododendron Festival week. I hope you will be among them. And did you know that this year we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the purchase of this land by Charles O. Dexter who hybridized rhododendrons on this site for 22 years? That means that many of our towering ‘rhodies’ are nearly 100 years old! We’re celebrating with a self-guided tour of Mr. Dexter’s legacy, family challenges, loads of useful information in videos and blogs on our website, and an explosion of color – from white, to pale yellow, to deep crimson – worn by the nearly 10,000 rhododendron plants that grace the Heritage pathways and woodland trails. The Rhododendron Festival, with its peak blooms, runs through May 31, and awaits your visit.

I know that many of you missed the Annual Auto Show last year, and so did we. It was the first time in the Annual Auto Show’s 49 year history that we had to significantly modify the event, but for good reason. I’m thrilled that this year, the Annual Auto Show is back! Registrations are coming in at a fast clip for this June 12th event, both for car exhibitors and show visitors. Please know that unlike past years, you must pre-register to visit the show at one of the timed ticket entrance windows (10 am-noon, or noon-2 pm). Please visit our website for more information, register your vehicle, or get your admission tickets. I can’t wait to see this year’s display of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, chat with their owners and visiting admirers, and have the honor of announcing the winners of this judged event. I hope you will join us!

As you explore Heritage this season, make sure to pause just inside the upper entrance of the McGraw Family Garden of the Senses to experience its latest addition – our new tactile map. As The Garden of the Senses is designed to expand access to all, the tactile map provides a hands-on understanding of the garden for people who are blind or have low vision. It allows them, and all visitors, to explore the spatial elements and landmarks of this special garden, to gain a sense of their own location, surroundings and orientation in space, and to have a tool for navigation that can help ensure their safety and ability to explore the garden independently. Our intention is that visitors of all vision levels will have a rich and rewarding experience that activates their senses and deepens their connection with nature. This three-dimensional, tactile map was designed and created by fine art bronze sculptor, Ted Schaal, of Schaal Arts in Loveland, Colorado. Schaal chose to work in bronze for its beauty, durability, and ability to withstand the natural elements found on Cape Cod. And yes, there is a dispenser of hand sanitizer right next to the map!

Finally, with many people now vaccinated and a new freedom to return to public places, we at Heritage are adjusting our Covid saftey requirements. Our primary concern remains the health of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. Masks do not have to be worn outdoors, but on May 29th, when Massachusetts restrictions change, we will continue to require all visitors to wear masks indoors and on the transport cart, even if vaccinated, as we adjust to the experience of higher capacity limits and more dense touring patterns within our exhibit galleries. Forgot your mask? We will supply you with one at our gallery entrances. I know that different organizations are navigating the exciting opportunities of re-opening in different ways. We will continue to monitor all the numbers and will ease restrictions indoors when we feel it is safe to do so for the safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. We will keep you posted as we continue to make adjustments to our policies.

We are in full swing! I can’t wait to see you in the gardens and galleries at Heritage this season. Enjoy!

With warm regards,

Anne

It’s been another challenging winter, but there is a bright light at the end of the week: Heritage is opening on April 24th! We invite you to enjoy all that Heritage’s museums and 100 acres of grounds have to offer, a perfect way to gently re-enter the world as we emerge from the pandemic. The J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery, Special Exhibitions Gallery, Hidden Hollow™, McGraw Family Garden of the Senses, all other garden areas, the café and The Shop at Heritage will all be opening this Saturday. Safety measures continue to be in place, including mask-wearing, social distancing and capacity limits, both indoors and out.

For children just itching to get outside, consider heading to Hidden Hollow, our outdoor discovery area for ages 2-10, where the current theme “Bird World”. Education specialists can help orient you and your family to the nine discovery areas in Hidden Hollow and suggest activities and challenges that make this space a popular place to explore, discover, and learn together.

Adjacent to the nearby Parade Field, you can observe members of the Wampanoag tribe as they begin to build a traditional Wampanoag dwelling, known as a wetu, from tree saplings harvested for this project. Members of the Wampanoag tribe and SmokeSygnals, a Native American-run, creative production firm, are working closely with Heritage to interpret elements of this region’s Wampanoag culture throughout the 2021 season.

As we slowly emerge into a post-pandemic world, it is important to continue to be gentle on ourselves, yes? And there’s no one better to include in that gentleness than Mother Earth. Although we will all celebrate Earth Day on April 22, at Heritage, we strive to be kind to the earth, which is entrusted to us all year long. We have already put in place several sustainable practices, across our organization, with more to come in our Sustainability Plan. Les Lutz, our Director of Horticulture, has published an article about one of those practices, a greener approach to grounds maintenance, in the Sandwich Enterprise. Keep an eye out for this new approach to groundskeeping the next time you visit. You might be surprised!

Finally, as we strive to continually improve your Heritage experience, you will soon have the opportunity to show a digital membership card, rather than a paper-based card, when you check-in at the admissions booth. Our Membership team will be sending you more information as your renewal date approaches.

Can’t wait for Opening Day! See you in the gardens and galleries,

Anne

Let’s start with the annual Rhododendron Festival, May 21 – May 30, where Heritage showcases one of the most comprehensive collections of rhododendrons in the country.  The beauty of these magnificent woody ornamentals is truly a feast for the eyes, and we invite you to enjoy these iconic blooms following a self-guided tour designed especially for adults or for families.  You also can learn more about rhododendrons at the Garden Discovery Cart, or attend the first program in our Virtual Design Series, designing gardens around rhododendrons and azaleas, on May 21. This program will be led by the Director of Horticulture, Les Lutz. Click here to be taken to learn more and purchase tickets.

We continue to kick off our Rhododendron Festival with our spring fundraiser, Grapes in the Garden also being held on Friday, May 21. Set among the blooms, we’ll taste a sampling of wines with paired hors d’oeuvres in this after-hours event. We will notify you in the newsletter and online when tickets go on sale.

Next up this spring is the Heritage Annual Auto Show (June 12; rain date: June 13), a popular, family-friendly event that highlights antique and classic automobiles, hot rods, custom cars, and motorcycles in excellent original or restored condition. Also for auto enthusiasts, Gearhead Garage nights run monthly, with the first two programs on May 19 and June 23.  Gearhead Garage provides an exclusive peek at Heritage’s automobile collection in storage and gives participants the chance to peer under the hoods and chat with curatorial staff and Auto Volunteers.

Third Thursdays begin on June 17, with a special focus on family-friendly fun.  Visitors can enjoy two extra hours of beautiful evening light in the gardens, galleries, along the woodland paths, or relaxing in an Adirondack chair overlooking the Flume Fountain. Bring a picnic or enjoy a delicious meal at the café, make a craft, or visit one of our Garden Discovery Carts to learn about the plants and animals that live at Heritage.

Cocktails with Curators is another new program, with programs planned for visitors who enjoy all aspects of the Heritage experience. The Bugs, Birds & Bricks edition is May 4, with Assistant Curator Amanda Wastrom, who will tell you all about these colorful brick sculptures of native birds and pollinators displayed across the Heritage grounds.  Power up your Zoom, bring your favorite beverage, or try our suggested cocktail recipes and enjoy a behind-the-scenes journey to learn more about the objects in Heritage’s collections, exhibits, and gardens. To register, click here.

These are just the first of many programs, festival weeks and activities that will unfold this season at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Register for our spring programs today, and stay tuned for more information about future offerings.  I look forward to celebrating spring with you at Heritage during your visit or at a program!

With best regards,

Anne