The galleries house permanent exhibits that include furniture, paintings, and decorative arts. An exhibit on Dedham Pottery has materials that rotate. Additionally there are multiple exhibits during the year, ranging in size and duration.
Funding for the research and creation of the Current and Coming exhibits of 2025-2026 was made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).
A Quarter Century of Artistry in Dedham
November 2025 through Spring 2026
If you lived in Dedham from 1955-1980 then you would have known about, or worked at, the Rust Craft Greeting Card company on Rustcraft Road.
Beginning in 1955, the Rust Craft Greeting Card Company produced colorful, whimsical greeting cards, wrapping paper, and other products right here in Dedham. You might even still have some of those items tucked away in your attic or storage closet! The Dedham Museum and Archive celebrates Rust Craft’s twenty-five years in town with a new exhibit entitled, Rust Craft: A Quarter Century of Artistry in Dedham.
Dozens of cards from Rust Craft’s Dedham years (1955-1980) are on display, as well as photographs, artifacts, and original artwork from one of the company’s artists, Vincent Battaglia.
The exhibit opened on November 12th with welcoming remarks by Museum staff and Christine West, daughter of Vincent Battaglia. Stop by and share some memories of this colorful part of Dedham’s history.
Through Spring 2026
What was the “Striped Pig,” or the “Dedham Curiosity” of 1838?
The Striped Pig was a clever ruse that involved paying to see a pig painted with stripes, when the goal was to obtain a glass of spirits. This “creation” was in response to temperance laws outlawing the purchase of single-serve liquor–and the enterprising person behind the Striped Pig concept was from Dedham.
This exhibit includes the history of the movement, for which a song was written, expressions created, and political parties formed across the nation to stop the “unfair” laws. Read more to wet your whistle and then stop in to see how, once again, Dedham influenced the country!
The Striped Pig was the theme of the 2025 Tavern Night.
April 19th, 2025 through July 2026
Soldiers from Dedham fought in the American Revolution and its citizens rose up against British oppression prior to the outbreak of the war and thereafter.
A new mini exhibit at the Museum looks at the War for American Independence and the many ways in which Dedham and its residents were involved.
As the 250th Anniversary of the start of the American Revolution continues, we will expand the exhibit and add programming.
November 2024 through November 2025
The new Public Safety Building combines the facilities of the Police and Fire Departments, an idea that was first suggested—in 1894! Both departments had been headquartered in outdated, cramped buildings built in the middle of the last century.
This exhibit documents the rich history of both departments, and celebrates the merger of the two under one roof in the new Public Safety Building. Included are advances in equipment, methods and organization for each department, as well as significant events such as historic fires and notorious court cases. Items represented are from the Museum’s collection and private collections.
August 1-October 31, 2025
Artistry of Our Members 2025—Works Inspired by Their Town featured photographs, sculpture, poetry, and more—all from local member artists and creators.
Shown here is “Remember Me,” in limestone with a wooden base (2014), sculpted by Carol Gregory. Gregory was a return artist with two works in the exhibit.
One of the interactive art pieces, by first-time exhibitor Kathleen “Cookie” Duncan, is a crossword puzzle. The puzzle theme is Dedham History, with additional trivia questions included. A version of the puzzle is on white board for visitors to fill in.
This is the second year the Museum has featured the work of artist members in a summer exhibit.
August 1-November 29, 2024
The Artistry of our Members presented an opportunity to showcase the artistic skills of our members.
On view were works in a range of mediums, including painting, photography, illustration art, basketry, quilting, sculpture, ceramic art, and more.
April through October 2024
In 1824-1825, General Lafayette (the Marquis de Lafayette) visited the United States on a Farewell Tour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. This true hero of the American Revolution, and a constant friend of the United States, left France and joined the cause at the age of 19. At the age of 67, as the last surviving Major General of the Continental Army, Lafayette returned to the new nation that he had so crucially aided, and visited all twenty-four states and Washington City. One of his stops was in Dedham. Nearly a quarter of the roughly 12,000,000 Americans rushed to get a glimpse of him. Of his tour it was written, “an event . . . unparalleled in the history of man.”
Lafayette’s involvement in the war was critical to the success of the Revolution. His involvement stemmed from his social and military connections in France, and as a Freemason. This fraternal organization promoted the ideas of free-thought and the ideals of the Enlightenment, which included the rights of man (hence his interest in the Revolutionary cause) and the abolition of slavery.
April through June 2024
Moseley’s on the Charles was a Dedham institution from circa 1904 through 2022 when it was closed. The property has been sold and will be developed.
Generations of people from within and beyond Dedham swung to the music of the Big Band era, enjoyed ballroom dancing, Irish dancing, 1970s disco, and more. Or attended weddings, parties, and events such as the Taste of Dedham. Many organizations hosted their events within its walls, and people met their future spouses at Moseley’s.
This exhibit took viewers through the history of this icon. From images of dance contests, broadsides and posters, memorabilia, and even the music podium used by Johnny Shea, drummer and bandleader at Moseley’s for more than fifty years.
March 2024
Above: The only known image of Dedham silversmith Katharine Pratt (1891-1978). Pratt was one of only eight silversmiths to receive the prestigious “Medalist” award from the Society of Arts & Crafts in Boston, and the only female silversmith to do so. She is generally regarded as one of the preeminent female silversmiths of the American arts and crafts movement, and her silver is rarely seen on the market today.
November 11, 2022-November 11, 2023
The United States became involved in WWII with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7th, 1941. American forces were actively engaged until the surrender of Japan on September 2nd, 1945 and for several years thereafter as peacekeeping forces.
What was Dedham’s role in the War?
With this exhibit, the Museum asked community members to share stories and material from their family members who served abroad or on the home front. More than forty families have loaned personal items that belonged to service members who were active in numerous branches of the military. These include letters, memorabilia, uniforms, medals, scrap books, trinkets, “war trophies,” and more. These items, along with printed material and photographs, tell the stories of Dedham families during WWII.
We were honored to be able to share the history of Dedham’s Greatest Generation.
Supporters
Please join us in thanking the following supporters of this exhibit:
The DM&A also thanks John Kelly Painting for donating materials and time for the following: building and painting the main exhibit display and support systems for various items, and improving existing structures for the exhibit.
2020-2022
“We had it in our power to stop the extension of Slavery, and we chose to let it let it go on.”
On view are materials drawn from the museum’s important archival collections relevant to slavery, including 18th-century records, educator Horace Mann’s passionate arguments in favor of abolitionism, and contributions made by African Americans living in Dedham. Among the items is a letter written by Edward Dowse (1756-1828), a merchant and Congressman from Dedham who argued strongly against the Missouri Compromise of 1820 (the bill that maintained the balance of power between the North and the South in the U. S. Senate by admitting Missouri to the nation as a slave state alongside Maine as a free state). An excerpt of the letter is illustrated here, with Dowse’s poignant line: “We had it in our power to stop the extension of Slavery, and we chose to let it let it go on.”
2019
Two early 19th-century tavern signs have been installed in the main exhibition gallery. Visit DM&A to see them in person.
Moses Gragg’s 1828 Tavern Sign
An extraordinary sign with different images on each side.
Dedham’s first tavern was opened in the 1640s, a few years after the town’s founding. By the time Moses Gragg opened his Norfolk Hotel in 1818, there were numerous Public Houses in Dedham offering guests accommodations, food, and entertainment, with many lodgers residing at the inns for months at a time while court was in session.
Accounts state that Gragg had a sign made (whereabouts now unknown) that depicted a bust of George Washington and “Norfolk Hotel, 1822”. The Norfolk Hotel, which still stands at 19 Court Street, was a central location for meetings and social gatherings, with luminaries including General Lafayette among its guests.
By 1821, Gragg’s partner sold his interest in the inn and became landlord of the Dedham Hotel (corner of Washington and High Streets). In 1828, Gragg sold the hotel back to his partner, moved to Milton and opened an inn on the “Canton Turnpike” at the junction of Blue Hill Avenue and Brush Hill Road. Gragg’s interest in announcing his new establishment is evident in this tavern sign owned by the DM&A. The imagery on one side promotes his hospitality (complete with wine and pineapple), while the other identifies local landmarks—the “great oak” opposite Brush Hill, and “Lookout Tower.”
This mini exhibit is one of six held at locations in Dedham. The exhibits were inspired by the Water in Dedham: Past, Present and Future symposium held at the museum on May 4, 2019 (see past events for more details). Each exhibit has a different theme related to water in Dedham. The museum’s theme is boat houses and canoe houses. The Charles River is at Dedham Community House; the mills at Mother Brook Art & Community Center; floods at Endicott library; bridges at the library main branch; and recreation at the Dedham Commuminity Theater.
A display of tools that date from thousands of years ago to the 17th century that were found in Dedham and the surrounding area. The items on display were used in farming, hunting, and felling trees. Also on view are important land deeds between Native Americans and the English settlers.
Spring is here and Summer is right around the corner. What better time than to take out your bike and go for a ride? Get into the zone by first visiting the DM&A to see materials relating to the Dedham Cycle Club and other biking materials as well as historic photographs of local enthusiasts enjoying being on two wheels.
Step on over to DM&A to see a selection of shoes from the museum’s collection, ranging from red brocade slippers from a 1747 Fairbanks wedding, high-heel pumps with silver bead trim from the roaring 1920s, children’s shoes, skates, and a rare shoe from an African American shoe shop brought north after the Civil War. Photographs of Dedham residents, and their shoes, from the 19th and 20th centuries accompany the exhibit.
