Carpenter Museum

04/14/2026

On this day in 1776 a notice was issued by the Continental Army: A bounty of 20 pounds is to be awarded to each soldier enlisting for 3 years within the next 10 days.

Massachusetts was the first colony to officially issue bills of credit to finance her militia and support the war effort. These notes were issued by the colony to circulate as money to be redeemed at a later date with funds from future taxes. By 1780 public confidence in the Continental currency had eroded, and the bills were not widely accepted as a result making them essentially worthless.

The image depicted here is courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society online collection and is an example of the latest bill of tender credit. "Sword in hand" serial no. 4365, issued for two shillings eight pence by the Massachusetts Bay Colony on December 7th, 1775 and due 1781. It is signed by D. Hopkins and engraved by Paul Revere.

04/03/2026

Members of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society are welcome to join us at the Carpenter Museum for this year’s members only event, What the Rebels Ate: A Colonial Hearth Cooking Demonstration.
The demonstration will be led by reenactor and hearth cooking enthusiast Stacy Booth. Register by calling the museum at (508)252-3031 or by reserving a spot on Eventbrite: https://RASmembers.eventbrite.com

03/27/2026

We are already accepting vendors for our October 17th Crafters' Marketplace. Applications can be found on our website: https://rehobothantiquarian.org/crafters-marketplace/

Reserve your spot now!

03/05/2026

02/26/2026

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The Carpenter Museum will be CLOSED today due to road conditions. Stay safe! ❄️❄️

02/15/2026

Applications for our annual scholarship are being accepted now through June 19th. Residents of Rehoboth and adjacent towns qualify to apply if they are studying in the fields of history, archives, library science, archeology, public history, or a related field. Up to $2,000 in award funding is available. See our website for details. www.rehobothantiquarian.org/ras-scholarshi

02/12/2026

On this day 250 years ago Rehoboth voted to encourage families to manufacture saltpeter, a key ingredient in the production of gunpowder. British blockades meant Patriots could not import saltpeter and they had to instead turn to domestic production. This meant burying animal and human waste until the ammonia caused nitrates to form. The white snow-like saltpeter could eventually be harvested and mixed with charcoal and sulfur to make gunpowder. War was a dirty business indeed.

Photo from the Carpenter Museum collection. Image depicts 20th, not 18th century cows. Photo ID: 1900-655-018

02/07/2026

The Carpenter Museum will be closing a couple hours early due to the heavy snow. We'll see you on Tuesday!

02/03/2026

We are once again offering a paid summer internship in 2026! Please share with someone who is interested in a career in museums, archives, or a history related field.
https://rehobothantiquarian.org/aboutras/employment/

02/01/2026

We have rescheduled the Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Event for Tuesday February 10th at 1PM! Event will still be hosted at the Carpenter Museum at 4 Locust Ave. Sign up by calling the museum at (508)252-3031 or purchase a free "ticket" here: https://Revpensions.eventbrite.com

01/29/2026

We want to hear from you! Anyone who uses the Carpenter Museum, Blanding Free Public Library, or is a part of the Rehoboth Community please take a few moments to fill out our short survey. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpo4D_AzfhuQEaa8xFuuF_2ewgUemyvZmYu8IDP5NnyQLGPw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=115635932104485773318