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Natick in Time: A Gallery of Historical Images

At our 150th anniversary party, we displayed a slideshow of over 250 images from Natick's past. We all enjoyed it and are delighted to share it with you! A big thanks to NHS Researcher and Archivist Jennifer Richards and our high school interns Karina Artemiev and Fred Wang.

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Check out what’s new at the Natick Historical Society!

William Edwards of Natick was a self-made man... twice over. Thanks to our summer intern, Emerson Davis (Natick High School '23), you can read Edwards' story in the Natick Report and learn about a man whose resilience - and passion for collecting -
Every May and June we host all of Natick's third graders for a field trip called "On This Land: Indigenous and English Life in Early Natick" at no cost to their families. We could not do it without the dedicated volunteers and educators who
Check out the recording of our Reading Frederick Douglass program on Juneteenth! Thanks to Natick Pegasus for all their work. Thank you Mass Humanities and the Mass Cultural Council for making this event possible, and Natick Is United and Natick Cent
On this day, 250 years ago, Captain James Mann led a company of Natick soldiers, or Minute Men, to march on Bunker Hill. The muster roll shown here tells us that 42 men from Natick traveled about 30 miles on foot over two days. Privates were paid fiv
If you grew up in New England in the 1950s, ’60s, or ’70s, chances are Boomtown was part of your Saturday morning routine. Hosted by the unforgettable Rex Trailer—cowboy hat, guitar, and all—the show brought adventure, kindnes
Honoring a Local Legacy: The Paul Virdinlia Collection - See Link Below 🇺🇸 We’re excited to announce a brand-new webpage dedicated to celebrating a remarkable piece of Natick’s heritage! In January 2024, the Natick Historical Society wa
Did you know that Frederick Douglass spoke in Natick in 1842? Join us to bring Frederick Douglass' powerful words back to our community on June 19 @ 10:30am on Natick Common. Sign up to read today: https://www.natickhistoricalsociety.org/events/2025
Beautiful Natick, yesterday evening.

New to the NHS Webpage

Discover the Emerson-Baker Estate: A Gilded Age Marvel in Natick’s Backyard

Step into the world of William Emerson Baker, an eccentric inventor, entrepreneur, and social reformer who turned Ridge Hill Farms into a spectacular estate blending scientific ideals with whimsical design. From underground caverns to glass pig invitations, Baker’s estate was a serious experiment in social progress and a playful spectacle that drew thousands of visitors in the 1870s. Explore this fascinating chapter of Natick’s history through rare artifacts, documents, maps, and photos from the Natick Historical Society’s collection.

With gratitude to Trudy Reisner, Natick Historical Society Volunteer Researcher, for her enthusiasm and dedication to uncovering and preserving Natick’s story.

Curious to learn more?

[Click here to read the full article.]

Invitation from William Emerson Baker to Joshua Parmenter for a swan’s funeral at Ridge Hill Farms, c. 1870s. Part of our Founders Collection, this piece reflects Baker’s eccentric humor and flair for spectacle.