Cushing House Museum and Garden
Encyclopedia
The Cushing House Museum and Garden (circa 1808), also known as the Caleb Cushing House, is a Federal style mansion with fine garden located at 98 High Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts
, United States. It was a home of diplomat Caleb Cushing
and is a National Historic Landmark
.
The house is a center entrance four-story brick mansion in the Federal style, with center entrance at both the front and sides, and two chimneys at each side. In shape it is a flattened cube, with five windows arranged symmetrically across both front and sides. Its main entry is crowned with a modest fanlight
, echoed by a fan-shaped wooden motif atop the window above it. On the grounds, visitors will find a nineteenth century garden, fruit trees, a privy, cobbled yard and carriage house.
Within the house are fine collections of silver, furniture, portraits, clocks, needlework, antique fans, hatboxes, nineteenth century toys, and more from New England
and the Orient. The Oriental Room displays early China Trade
decorative arts including four Chinese coastal Hong paintings. An extensive clock collection includes examples made by local master clockmakers David Wood and Daniel Balch
. In the canopy bedroom stands a carved seventeenth century Dutch cradle and a three-sided crib. Many oil portrait paintings hang in the house, including a Cecilia Beaux
portrait of Margaret Cushing and 1801 paintings by John Brewster, Jr., of Newburyport's Prince family. The museum also maintains a collection of area maps, photographs, and genealogical references.
It is now the home of the Historical Society of Old Newbury and guided tours are offered between May 12 and October 31.
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
, United States. It was a home of diplomat Caleb Cushing
Caleb Cushing
Caleb Cushing was an American diplomat who served as a U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts and Attorney General under President Franklin Pierce.-Early life:...
and is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
The house is a center entrance four-story brick mansion in the Federal style, with center entrance at both the front and sides, and two chimneys at each side. In shape it is a flattened cube, with five windows arranged symmetrically across both front and sides. Its main entry is crowned with a modest fanlight
Fanlight
A fanlight is a window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over another window or a doorway. and is sometimes hinged to a transom. The bars in the fixed glazed window spread out in the manner a sunburst...
, echoed by a fan-shaped wooden motif atop the window above it. On the grounds, visitors will find a nineteenth century garden, fruit trees, a privy, cobbled yard and carriage house.
Within the house are fine collections of silver, furniture, portraits, clocks, needlework, antique fans, hatboxes, nineteenth century toys, and more from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and the Orient. The Oriental Room displays early China Trade
Old China Trade
The Old China Trade was the name given to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States under the Canton System, spanning from shortly after the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 to the Treaty of Wanghsia in 1844...
decorative arts including four Chinese coastal Hong paintings. An extensive clock collection includes examples made by local master clockmakers David Wood and Daniel Balch
Daniel Balch
Daniel Balch was an American clock maker. He is perhaps best known for his exquisite workmanship, his high quantity of extant samples, and a particular piece that was sold at Sothebys to Leigh Keno for over $55,000....
. In the canopy bedroom stands a carved seventeenth century Dutch cradle and a three-sided crib. Many oil portrait paintings hang in the house, including a Cecilia Beaux
Cecilia Beaux
Cecilia Beaux was an American society portraitist, in the manner of John Singer Sargent. She was a near contemporary of better-known American artist Mary Cassatt and also received her training in Philadelphia and France...
portrait of Margaret Cushing and 1801 paintings by John Brewster, Jr., of Newburyport's Prince family. The museum also maintains a collection of area maps, photographs, and genealogical references.
It is now the home of the Historical Society of Old Newbury and guided tours are offered between May 12 and October 31.