Varnum Continentals

Preserving and Sharing Rhode Island History

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[GALLERY] Varnum House Colonial Yuletide 2017 a Big Success!

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On December 10, 2017, the Varnum House Museum hosted its Annual Colonial Yuletide Celebration featuring festive holiday decorations, live music, refreshments, and guided tours by docents in period costume.

Our many visitors toured the museum and took in many new exhibits and revamped rooms in this 1773 mansion museum. Built in 1773 by General James Mitchell Varnum, the museum contains a wide variety of rare, early American furniture, letters, books, musical instruments, children’s toys, and other antiques.

Check out this image gallery from our Christmas celebration!

Varnum House Museum Temporarily Closed for Renovations

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The Varnum House Museum in East Greenwich, RI.

The Varnum House Museum will be closed for tours for the next several weekends while the historic 1773 mansion undergoes some much-needed renovations.

In 2016, the Varnum House Museum won a generous $69,585 Champlin Foundation grant towards exterior painting, ceiling replacement and repair, window restoration, and chimney repair.  Great progress on several of these projects has already been made, and now it’s time to paint the house’s exterior while the weather is good!  This temporary closing of the museum will allow the contractors to perform their work as efficiently as possible.

Don’t worry, though.  We will keep you informed on the project’s progress and let you know when the museum reopens.  We think that you’ll be amazed at how great the house looks when we’re open again!

If you have questions, please call 401-884-1776 or email house@varnumcontinentals.org.

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Varnum House Museum Hosts URI Master Gardener Educational Program

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URI Master Gardeners at the Varnum House Museum.
URI Master Gardeners at the Varnum House Museum.

This past Wednesday, the Varnum House Museum hosted an educational program by the URI Master Gardeners on 18th-century colonial gardens and their practical uses (both then and now). This program, “Colonial Gardens: Dye, Medicinal, & Household Plants & Their Use”. The event also featured tours of the Varnum House Museum.

In a partnership with the Varnum Continentals, the URI Master Gardeners have maintained a period-authentic herb garden at the Varnum House Museum for several years now. We’re thrilled to see our garden used to provide educational opportunities to Rhode Island gardeners with an interest in historic gardening practices.

When you tour the Varnum House Museum, make sure to ask about the period herb garden! To book a tour of the Varnum House Museum, email house@varnumcontinentals.org or call 401-884-1776.

[JUNE 12 DINNER MEETING] Cookout at the Varnum House Museum

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Varnum Continentals Community Barbecue 2016
Varnum Continentals Community Barbecue 2016

The June 12th Varnum Continentals members’ meeting will be held on the grounds of the Varnum House Museum. It’s a chance to kick back, enjoy the gardens, and socialize with your fellow Varnum Continentals.  Burgers, hot dogs, BBQ grilled chicken and all the staples of a summer cook-out will be served, plus a choice of beverages.

Varnum House Docents 2017
Varnum House Docents 2017

As a special treat, the June dinner meeting will feature tours of the 1773 Varnum House Museum.  These tours will feature docents, in colonial dress, leading tours of James Mitchell Varnum’s historic home.

As always, your guests are welcome. The event is rain or shine; we have tents.

TIME: Monday, June 12 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm
PLACE: Varnum House Museum, 57 Peirce Street, East Greenwich, RI
FEE: $10 (soft drinks, beer, and wine included)

PLEASE NOTE:  This will be our last meeting until September (no members’ meetings in July and August).

Reservations must be received by 5 pm Friday, June 9.  Call Scott Seaback at 401-413-6277 or email him at scott@ritemps.com.

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.

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