Calling all RHS members! Join us for coffee, conversation, and a closer look at history on the second Saturday of every month. We invite our members to arrive before the museum opens to explore parts of the historical society’s collection that are not otherwise on display. This sneak peek behind the scenes of our archives and collections invites engaging dialog with staff and offers a unique look at Rye’s vibrant history. RSVP is required.

Designed for ages 6 - 10 to spark curiosity, imagination, and a love of history in young learners. This program encourages an exploration of the past through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities such as themed coloring pages, and an introduction to the Square House Museum. Walk-ins are welcome, donations are gratefully accepted.

Sunday, September 20th, 10:30am

SOLD OUT

Back by Popular Demand! All aboard for a rollicking ride through Rye's past. Join the Rye Historical Society for our engaging trolley tour, From the Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties. Riding in refurbished New Orleans-style trolleys, these tours will explore the history of waterfront recreation on Milton Point, from the grand summer estates to the bustling beaches.

*Our September Tour is generously sponsored by Susan O'Brien, Houlihan Lawrence

Join us on the fourth Saturday of each month for an all-new Architecture Tour of the Square House! This fascinating tour begins in 1730, when the first structure was built as a private home for Peter Brown. Tour goers then travel to the year 1780, when major renovations helped to expand the Inn and Tavern's business. Fast forward to 1830, when the building was converted back a private home for the Mead family. In 1904, to save the home from demolition, yet another conversion turned the residence into City Hall, and finally, in 1964, a colonial museum. Tickets are required. Reserve your spot here.

Saturday, September 26th

Knapp House
Don't miss RHS's Fall Celebration & Benefit featuring Crafted in America on September 26th! Tickets are available NOW for this fan favorite, festive annual event at the Historic Knapp House. The evening will feature delicious food and craft whiskey tastings, live music, and an exciting new addition. In line with RHS's focus on preservation, we will celebrate the enduring tradition of American craftsmanship through a curated collection of handcrafted works for auction created by regional artisans, woodworkers, designers, and makers. Secure your tickets today!

Tickets can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/c/RHSFall26

Long before it was a quiet commuter suburb, Rye was a battleground. DJ Hennes, local resident, RHS Board Member and author of Whispers of Liberty, brings to life the whaleboat wars — the brutal, no-quarter guerrilla campaign fought by raiders across Long Island Sound, where Rye residents themselves took up arms in a conflict as vicious as any battlefield of the Revolution.

Brian Carso, lawyer, historian, and author of Gideon’s Revolution, uncovers a story stranger than fiction: George Washington’s secret mission to kidnap the traitor Benedict Arnold and drag him back to face justice.

Together, Hennes and Carso reveal how the messiest, most dangerous truths of the Revolutionary War make for its best stories — and why historical fiction, done right, doesn’t have to choose between accuracy and adrenaline.

Register here https://ryelibrary.libcal.com/event/16902278