Highfield Hall & Gardens

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In August 2024, I went on a five-day trip to Cape Cod, MA where I visited many museums and cultural organizations, along with quick history stops and trails. On day four, I went to Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth, MA. The museum delivered on the name and more with art galleries, a guided highlights tour, and nearby walking trails. Although I did not get a chance to see a play during this visit, the property also hosts the Falmouth Theatre Guild.

A two-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim in front of a large patch of Lazy Susan flowers A three-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim by a driveway with white hydrangea bushes A three-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim with white hydrangea bushes. A short flight of stone steps lead towards the house.
A three-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim atop a hill beyond a stone patio and wild gardens A three-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim with white hydrangea bushes A three-story yellow-painted Queen Anne stick style house with a red roof and trim by a wide driveway

In 1878, this beautiful Queen Anne stick style house was constructed for the Beebe family by Boston-based architect Carl Fehmer. His family had immigrated from Germany when he was just five years old, and he grew up to be a prolific designer of Boston Back Bay buildings, many now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fehmer had first met family patriarch James Madison Beebe during the 1950s while constructing the campus of MIT and had worked with the Beebe family more closely about six years earlier, as their property in Boston had been damaged by the Great Boston Fire of 1872.

A red painted wooden sign with a golden silhouette of the hall and text describing the hall A rambling green-painted Queen Anne stick style building near a parking lot A wooden bridge with a waist-high railing
A garden made of boxwoods surrounding rose bushes or ornamental trees A wire bird-shaped statue in a raised flowerbed

Like many wealthy New England families, the Beebes were an eccentric bunch. Their stories were recently recorded in the audio drama Rooted in Nature: The Beebes at Highfield. QR codes to the recordings were set up in one of the gardens behind the house along with portraits of the family and a family tree reaching the present day. I could tell that a lot of research from primary sources went into the project, and the local actors did a great job with their parts. Unfortunately, spotty reception made them difficult to hear, and a few of the monologues were too long, up to seven minutes in length. I also could not find a transcript, so hearing impaired visitors were left out.

A triangular Queen Anne stick style building with a center door opening into a wooden railing for safety A two story Queen Anne stick style building embedded in the side of a hill A wooden room with a small door at the top near the peak in the triangular roof.
A Queen Anne stick style green door surrounded by stained glass A yellow, red, and orange stained glass window that is a square on the bottom left and a circle on the top right A whitewashed front door surrounded by stained glass windows

Heading into the house, I took the special guided tour, which took place on the first and third Sundays of the month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. This was the exact type of highlights tour that I advocate for at all museums! The docent started by giving an overview of family history with some overlap from the audio drama. She also described the restoration of Highfield Hall, which faced demolition in the 1990s. Like many mansions, it fell into disrepair after no descendent wanted inherit the property, and subsequent owners did not have the funds for proper repair. The town took the property by eminent domain in 2000 followed by an over $8.5 million restoration to restore the building. The current museum finally opened in 2013.

A small room with a fireplace and built-in shelving above the mantle, a small table with chairs, and side table, and a chandelier A 19th century couch, table and chairs, and a side table Big Round Decorative Bowl with Fish on It
A rounded room with three windows, a couch, a chair, and a chandelier The scene includes cows, sheep, and New England forest Flowers of Stained Glass Cut into the Window

The docent then walked us through the many gardens on the estate. I was impressed by the variety of plants, including a sunken rose garden and a cheerful kitchen garden. We also admired the external architecture, including stained glass windows, porches, and an ice house. The stained glass around the main entrance could also be viewed from the atrium near the admission desk. The first floor of the property has been transformed into a gallery for Cape Cod artists along with an open space perfect for weddings, company parties, and other large meetings.

Queen Anne Stick Style Window Looking Over the Porch and Lawn at Highfield Hall Mostly empty room with a large fireplace with folding chairs stacked on either side Cross Stitch of Highfield Hall
Restored Pump Organ at Highfield Hall Modernized room with coffee table and unmatched chairs, a fireplace, paintings hung on the walls, and a pump organ in the corner Ornately Carved Decorative Box at Highfield Hall

This building had features familiar to anyone who frequently visits restored and modernized mid-19th century houses. Nearly every room featured a fireplaces with a carved and painted wooden mantel. The grand staircase connected the atrium to the second floor. On the landing between floors was a unique giant mirror, perfect for a museum selfie, and a vintage adult tricycle, a safer way for Victorian ladies to travel than the newfangled bicycle. While on the tour, you have permission to ring the outside bell, as its rope is also located on this landing.

A black-painted fireplace and matching floor-to-ceiling mantel with floral inlay Detail of Floral Inlay at Fireplace in Highfield Hall Giant Mirror on the Landing between the First and Second Floors
A fireplace with an oil painting hung above the mantel between two sconces and matching chairs on either side of the hearth and a fire screen in the center. A possibly Turkish man visiting a woman who stands above him in a house and hides behind a curtain One little wheel in the front, two big wheels in the back, and a wicker seat

The museum included a gallery specifically about the Beebe family, which ended the highlights tour. I spotted a familiar-looking picture on the wall near the fireplace and learned the story behind a pastoral painting featuring cows and sheep. The painting originally hung in the Boston home of the Beebe family, was purchased by William Sumner Appleton, Jr. for his Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England), hung at Worcester Art Museum in one of the American art galleries (where I saw it), and now is at Highfield Hall.

An orange ceramic cat A ceramic pot with a ceramic bird on the edge Fireplace Mantel Holding Sculptures
Red, orange, and yellow roses against a blue sky The paintings depict Floridian marinas Sailboats docked at a Floridian marina

After the tour, visitors were free to explore the home at their leisure. I got a closer look at the paintings and ceramics. My favorites included “Cat Sculpture (2021)” by Susan Nowogradzki of Woods Hole, “Perch Pot for Edgar Allen (sic) Poe (2023)” by Laura DiMeo of Falmouth, and “Schooner Wharf, Key West (1995)” by Paul Arsenault originally of Hingham. All of the artwork on display was for sale, a great way to support local artists, raise money for the museum, and allow wealthier visitors to purchase an exclusive souvenir. My budget does not encourage the collection of fine art at this time.

Three entryways plus a chandelier The shelves hold decorative plates. The top of the shelf is a shell shape. More ornate carving and the fireplace in the Ballroom, plus seascape paintings

The museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except for holidays and special events, which are listed on their easy-to-read calendar. While not listed on the website, admission is currently $10 for adults and $0 for children, active military and their families, Card to Culture holders, and NEMA members (like me!). The entire museum and much of the gardens are wheelchair accessible, and a decent amount of seating is available. The entire space is well-lit, and signage is an appropriate length, although the text could be slightly larger. For those in the Falmouth area who enjoy art, architecture, and history, this is an ideal stop.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 7/10

Accessibility: 9/10



Location: 56 Highfield Dr, Falmouth, MA 02540, USA