Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for August 2025

Bridal Exhibit Continues

Thanks to popular demand, Franklin Historical Museum is holding over its popular Bridal Gown Exhibit, Something Old and Something New, through August! See gowns worn by Franklin-area brides in a range of fashions throughout the decades, from the late 1800s right up to the 2000s. Bridal photography and ephemera are also on display. 

Bridal Gown Exhibit, Something Old and Something New

Each of the more than  30 gowns carries with it a unique story, preserving the hopes and dreams of each bride on her special day for generations to come. Our 2025 exhibit again features the highly requested 1946 parachute dress with the amazing 15-foot train, sewn from the silk used in a Japanese military parachute.

The Bridal Exhibit continues through Saturday, August 30 during regular museum hours, Saturdays 10 to 1 and Sundays 1 to 4. 

Please verify open hours over Labor Day weekend by visiting https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Sunday, August 10 

Second Sunday Speaker Series:  A Deep Dive Into the Rayner Postcard Collection

The Rayner Postcard Collection is one of the most important collections of postcards of Franklin, currently in the collection of the Franklin Public Library. Historical Commission Chair, Alan Earls, will show as many of the 100 plus postcard, some in color and some in black and white, dating from the late 19th century to about 1970, as can be squeezed into 50 minutes! The program starts at 1:15.  

The museum is open from 1-4 and admission is free. Due to the presence of the Bridal Exhibit, seating is somewhat limited.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.    Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.   

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Additional photos of the Bridal Gown exhibit ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/LainhpBGwGNUm6o49

Historic Happenings for February at the Franklin Historical Museum

February at the Franklin Historical Museum puts some love in the air and takes up the proposition that Silents are golden...

For Your Valentine's...

The Art and Commerce of Valentine's Cards

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on Feb. 12, 2024 with Postal Poetry: The Art and Commerce of Valentine's Cards. Historical Commission chair Alan Earls will explore the remarkably long story of Valentine's greetings and how entrepreneurs and new technologies turned sentiment into big business in the 19th century. The story includes key Massachusetts innovators like Louis Prang and pioneering woman business leader, Esther Howland – plus images of many beautiful old cards.  A limited number of free, vintage reprint sample cards will be available at the event. Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 at Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, Franklin, MA. FREE

Feature Films Return

Safety Last

Later in the month, the Museum will welcome the public to Cinema 80 – a new program of films of the 20th century, curated by Chris Leverone in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center. Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV and is extremely passionate about film. Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

The Freshman

On Feb, 17 Cinema 80 will screen the first of two treasures by comic genius Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, an over-the-top version of a young man trying to make good in the big city story (in this case, bustling, Jazz-Age Los Angeles). Then, on Feb. 24 it's The Freshman, a hilarious look at college culture 100 years ago, (we are a college town after all!). Both films are about 75 minutes in length.

"We are excited to provide this free, innovative programming in a time slot that should leave people free to squeeze even more into their Saturday night," said Commission Chair Alan Earls. "The best of the silent films are amazing and just as entertaining as anything Hollywood is doing today, we are sure our Franklin audience will agree," he added.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 1 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.