The objects you see in this collection connect us with people who have lived in the Natick area across the centuries, beginning more than 5,000 years ago.

When considered carefully, objects have the power to reveal intimate details of people’s lives, from the mundane to the extraordinary. Look closely for a worn edge, some tarnish, or a tear to give you a sense of how an object was handled. If there are few signs of use, then perhaps the object was a cherished heirloom or held value of another kind.

As you browse, take a few moments to imagine how these objects adorned, enabled, or fulfilled the lives of people in our shared past. Can you “see” them?