Dear Friends of the Rye Historical Society,

As we approach the conclusion of this milestone year, we want to express our appreciation for your continued support of our mission to celebrate, preserve, and share the history of Rye. Whether you visited the Square House for an exhibit, joined us for the 250th anniversary festivities, or attended one of our fundraisers, your generosity and participation have helped keep Rye’s history alive for future generations.

2026 Highlights:

Community Events: Sold-out Historic Trolley Tours; Annual Luncheon & Boutique featuring New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Alison Pataki; Fall Celebration at the Knapp House; and the annual Slightly Spooky Square House.

Youth Education: We delivered meaningful, "unplugged" learning experiences with our hands-on, experiential programs growing by 35% and serving over 500 students.

Lectures and Programming: Trustees Lear Beyer and DJ Hennes, along with our programming team, delivered captivating lectures throughout the community.

Museum Exhibitions: The Square House Museum welcomed record numbers to our engaging exhibit, Revolutionary Rye: Stories from the Square House.

Archives & Collections: Preserving our archives is central to our mission. Monthly "Member Mornings" invites patrons to explore unique artifacts not otherwise on display, while rotating mini exhibits ensure our collections are regularly featured in the Square House Museum.

Revolutionary Rye 250: A year-long dedicated lecture series, hosting a private audience with distinguished author, Eric Jay Dolan, and a guided tour of the Tall Ship Lynx—the semiquincentennial has been one for the history books!

Looking Ahead to 2027:

We look forward to offering a robust calendar of events to engage our neighbors, build community, and provide valuable resources to our local educational partners.

Our next exhibition features the artwork of celebrated artist and illustrator Whitman Bailey, renowned for capturing the essence of Rye in his work, including our beloved Square House. This exhibit will also honor long-time Rye resident and historian Paul Hicks for his extraordinary dedication to preserving our community's history.

How You Can Help:

Please make a year-end contribution today and join us as a member. We rely almost exclusively on the generosity of our community to continue preserving Rye’s heritage and sharing it with future generations. Your donation—at any level—directly supports our mission. Make your donation here.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you for being a vital part of our story.

With gratitude,

Kendra Moran

President, Board of Trustees

Rye Historical Society