Teresa Vega, genealogist, historian and former RHS Trustee will present an illustrated talk exploring the global networks that shaped the American Revolution and the deep local histories connected to Rye and the surrounding Hudson Valley. Drawing on genealogical research, archival documents, and recent scholarship on the Atlantic world, her slideshow traces the intertwined stories of Indigenous, Afro-Indigenous, and African-descended ancestors and their kinship networks. Spanning 140 years, the presentation highlights how Ramapough Lenape kinship ties and Dutch Caribbean merchant networks helped sustain the Patriot cause. This free program is presented by Rye Historical Society and Revolutionary Rye 250 - registration is requested here.

Explore the wonders of the Square House Museum in this engaging 30-minute tour offered in Spanish. Discover fascinating historical objects, hear the stories behind them, and see how everyday items from the past help bring history to life. Tours led by Rye High School AP and IB students will commence at 11am and 11:30am - registration is requested here.

Please note that on April 25, Member Morning and Little Historians will not be held, and regular Saturday programming will be paused. We look forward to welcoming you back when programming resumes on May 2.

Historic homes and gardens in Rye have long been surrounded by the plants and wildflowers that naturally grow in our region. Join us at the Square House on April 18th with support from Rye Garden Club for a free family activity and give a native flower a new home.

Pick a seed packet of native New York wildflower seeds, and write a special name for your flower on your adoption card. Then, draw your flower - imagining what it will look like when it blooms. After the program, plant your seeds at home and watch your flowers grow! Registration is requested here.

Explore the wonders of the Square House Museum in this engaging 30-minute tour offered in Spanish. Discover fascinating historical objects, hear the stories behind them, and see how everyday items from the past help bring history to life. Tours led by Rye High School AP and IB students will commence at 11am and 11:30am - registration is requested here.

Little Historians Story Hour is an new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested here.

Calling all RHS members! Join us for coffee, conversation, and a closer look at history. Come experience the exhibitions at your own pace with our Member Mornings. Enjoy a quiet hour of early access before general admission begins for the day. Member Mornings are every Saturday from 9:30-10:30am. Registration is requested here.

Little Historians Story Hour is an new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested here.

Calling all RHS members! Join us for coffee, conversation, and a closer look at history. Come experience the exhibitions at your own pace with our Member Mornings. Enjoy a quiet hour of early access before general admission begins for the day. Member Mornings are every Saturday from 9:30-10:30am. Registration is requested here.

Join us on April 9th for a 20-minute guided meditation designed to offer a moment of pause, reflection, and connection. This free community program invites participants to slow down, restore focus, and engage mindfully with history and place. Each session is gentle and accessible, welcoming all levels of experience. Thoughtfully guided and intentionally brief, the practice offers a mid-day reset, and opportunity to breathe, listen, and reflect within a shared cultural context. Advanced registration is required here.

Start your week inspired and join us on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 PM for thoughtful conversation, local history, and engaging dialogue. Discover history, culture, and storytelling in a way unlike any other book club in the area. The Square House Book Club brings together local history, national moments, and compelling literature, from the American Revolution and colonial life to historical fiction, biography, and stories of bold discovery. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow readers, engage with ideas that shaped our nation, and deepen your appreciation for the history that surrounds us. The April book selection is The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

Register here.

Little Historians Story Hour is an new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested here.

Calling all RHS members! Join us for coffee, conversation, and a closer look at history. Come experience the exhibitions at your own pace with our Member Mornings. Enjoy a quiet hour of early access before general admission begins for the day. Member Mornings are every Saturday from 9:30-10:30am. Registration is requested here.

In response to the trauma of industrialization and urbanization in the late-nineteenth century, the Arts and Crafts Movement took America by storm. In this book, Dr. Thomas Guiler takes a look at three intentional communities established in New York State within the Arts and Crafts Movement: Rose Valley, Byrdcliffe, and Roycroft. In imagining a compromise between machine-dominated industry and handicraft, these artisans sought to critique industrial capitalism and carve out a space where craftspeople could once again flourish in community. This author talk is presented as part of The Square House Book Club.

Register here.

Come one, come all! We invite the community to join us on March 28th for a special Open House at the Square House. Since 1964, the Rye Historical Society has proudly preserved, interpreted, and celebrated the rich history of our community. For generations, the Society has also stewarded the historic Square House Museum, safeguarded thousands of archival materials, and provided educational programming that connects residents of all ages to Rye’s colonial roots, Revolutionary history, and evolving civic story.

This community event is an opportunity to welcome new friends as well as long-time supporters.

Little Historians Story Hour is an all-new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested. Register here.

The Rye Historical Society is proud to launch The Rye Sound Series, a new performance series celebrating the extraordinary musical talent of students - set within the historic walls of the Square House Museum. This inaugural March event will feature the Rye High School Jazz Band and other performances from the music department, bringing rhythm, harmony, and youthful energy into one of Rye’s most treasured historic spaces. Registration is requested.

RSVP here.

Little Historians Story Hour is an all-new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested. Register here.

Hear Jan Kelsey, Rye resident, President of the Board of Trustees of the Westchester Historical Society, and former archivist for the Rye Historical Society, discuss the Cowboys and Skinners, two notorious gangs that ravaged Rye and Westchester County during the Revolutionary War. Our communities endured 7 years of fear and lawlessness from 1776 to 1783 as they faced foraging troops, gangs of marauders, military skirmishes, economic hardship and political upheaval on a daily basis.  Families had divided loyalties and many fled to either New York or Connecticut to escape the violence of the so-called “Neutral Ground.”

RSVP Requested, click here.

Little Historians Story Hour is an all-new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested. Register here.

Calling all RHS members! Join us for coffee, conversation, and a closer look at history. 

Come experience the exhibitions at your own pace with our Member Mornings. Enjoy a quiet hour of early access before general admission begins for the day. Member Mornings are every Saturday from 9:30-10:30am.

RSVP here.

Join us on March 12th for a 20-minute guided meditation designed to offer a moment of pause, reflection, and connection. This free community program invites participants to slow down, restore focus, and engage mindfully with history and place. Each session is gentle and accessible, welcoming all levels of experience. Thoughtfully guided and intentionally brief, the practice offers a mid-day reset, and opportunity to breathe, listen, and reflect within a shared cultural context. This program is as part of our ongoing commitment to community wellness and engagement. Advance registration is required.

Register here.

Saturday, March 7th, 1:30-3pm

Square House Museum

In conjunction with our Unforgiving Yardstick Exhibit, closing on March 27th, we are delighted to offer a creative new program, Petals for Progress: A Paper Flower Workshop. Throughout our history, women have repurposed floriography (the language of flowers) as a tool for political resistance and solidarity. During this workshop, participants will craft handmade flowers out of yardstick-inspired paper to symbolize the unwavering spirit and resilience of the women portrayed in this exhibit. Following the workshop, a short tour of the exhibit will also be offered. This program is free, registration is requested. Register here.

**This project is made possible with funds from Arts Alive, a regrant program of ArtsWestchester with support from the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Little Historians Story Hour is an all-new recurring children’s program at the Square House Museum. This program is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners (Ages 3-7). Through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and exploration of the historic house, children are introduced to the people, places, and events that shaped the City of Rye and early America. This program is free, registration is requested. Register here.

Meditation Online | Second Thursday of Each Month | 1:00PM

Join us on February 12th for a 20-minute online guided meditation designed to offer a moment of pause, reflection, and connection.  This free community program invites participants to slow down, restore focus, and engage mindfully with history and place.

Each session is gentle and accessible, welcoming all levels of experience.  Thoughtfully guided and intentionally brief, the practice offers a mid-day reset, and opportunity to breathe, listen, and reflect within a shared cultural context.

This program is offered free of charge as part of our ongoing commitment to community wellness and engagement.  Advance registration is required to receive the link. Click here to register.

Join us on Saturday, February 7th and enjoy a delightful Hearts & Crafts family workshop. Create your own vintage-inspired valentine while celebrating the season of love. This hands-on activity is appropriate for all ages and offers a fun, creative way to connect with history. All are welcome to participate and are warmly encouraged to make a donation to support the museum's programs and activities. Guests can also view our special mini-exhibit ‘Archives of Affection’ featuring vintage Valentine cards from the museum's collection, highlighting 20th century artistry with intricate lace and gold leaf detail.

Prelude to the Revolution in a New York Border Town

On July 11, 1776, Rye resident John Thomas Jr. read the Declaration of Independence publicly from the footsteps of the White Plains Courthouse. The New York Provincial Congress had officially ratified the Declaration two days before the excited crowd heard those stirring words. The excitement, however, was not shared by all of their neighbors or even their own family members. Many in Rye and the surrounding towns remained loyal to the King and were deeply opposed to independence. Rye resident Lear Beyer discusses the unique history of our area leading up to the Revolution and how it became the epicenter of America’s first Civil War.

Held on February 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM at the Rye Free Reading Room. Recording available here.

Join us at the Square House for this fun holiday program. We will discuss holiday traditions through history and each child will decorate their own 20 inch tabletop tree to take home!

This event is targeted to children in 3rd-5th grade.  Please plan to drop off your child with a water bottle.  A snack of cookies (gluten free available) will be served.

All proceeds help to support the Rye Historical Society's mission to bring education, programming and exhibits to the Rye, NY community.

We are excited to host Season of Giving at the Square House, partnering with local organizations to offer holiday cheer in the heart of Rye! Say "hello" to Santa and enjoy hot chocolate thanks to the generous support of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty and Houlihan Lawrence. The Square House Museum will feature RHS's annual Tabletop Tree Fundraiser where visitors can bid on beautifully decorated tabletop trees from some of Rye's favorite designers. Activities in and around the Square House include festive music, the Rye Troop 2 wreath sale and programs and crafts from the Rye Free Reading Room, Rye Arts Center and Rye Nature Center, including a Puppet Show performance, presented by Carpet Trends at 12:15, 1:15 & 2:15PM. Meals on Main St. will collect non-perishable food items to help those experiencing food insecurity. During this end of year giving season, the Rye Historical Society looks forward to coming together with these impactful organizations that serve the Rye community and help it to thrive.

Based on his paper in the Westchester Historian (link available here), Slavery in My Neighborhood, Howard Husock will discuss the history of slavery in Rye, focusing on which families and landowners benefited--even after New York abolished slavery by 1827.  It will discuss, as well, the extent and economics of slavery, as well as which types of households owned the enslaved--and the majority who did not.