Forbes House Museum

A black, white, and dark blue striped header image with the text Forbes House Museum

In June, I took a day trip to Milton, MA, where I had previously visited Historic New England’s Eustis Estate. This town has historic houses, hikes, and quick history stops. For my first stop, I visited Forbes House Museum. I last mentioned this property during my review of its online exhibition Opium: The Business of Addition, which was crucial for writing my highly popular essay “Concerning Pipe-weed” on the history of smoking. Since this aspect of the family fortune has been extensively covered, I will instead give an overview of important family members, the architecture on the property, objects found on the first and second floors of the house, the unadvertised extended tour, and a surprise cabin in the woods.

Three-story Greek Revival style mansion painted tan with a side porch on the right. Three-story Greek Revival style house painted tan with green on the top level and a wide porch Three-story Greek Revival style tan house across a spacious, grassy lawn
A two foot tall stone statue of a lion dog or Chinese mythical animal A stone statue of a lion dog stands on either side of a large bell A large metal bell hangs from a solid wooden beam.

The three-story mansion was built in the Greek Revival style in 1833 by popular 19th century architect Isaiah Rogers. His most recognized local work was the redesign of the Old State House in Boston in 1830, a building now part of the National Park Service. Because of its design and historical significance, the property has been on the National Register of Historic Places as the Captain R.B. Forbes House, American China Trade Museum since 1966.

A tall roadside sign with a red, Chinese fan-shaped logo and the words Forbes House Museum A National Historic Landmark below the logo A rectangular metal plaque affixed to the side of a tan building with historical information about Forbes House A pair of reverse glass paintings depicting maritime scenes hung on a wall

The house was technologically advanced for the time, as it featured indoor plumbing and central heating. My favorite features of the house included its many windows, ensuring that the space was well-lit in the era before electricity, along with its octagonal attic space at the top of widow-maker stairs. The Forbes family added unique decorative elements from their trading voyages to the landscape, including a pair of stone lion dogs and a Chinese bell. Matching elements could be found inside the house.

A rounded white stained glass chandelier hangs from the ceiling by four metal chains A wooden, harp-shaped, gilded award describing the gratitude of Irish people towards the Forbes family A large round wooden ship wheel about three feet in diameter

The Forbes family was part of the Boston Brahmin, a network of wealthy leaders whose ancestors numbered among the first colonists in Massachusetts, making their relatives extensive and a bit confusing for those not accustomed to navigating large family trees. Aiding this journey is a timeline on the website plus a paper-based family tree in the entry of the house. The first family member to become wealthy through the China trade was not a Forbes but a Perkins, belonging to another Boston Brahmin family.

A rattan or woven wood chair with red cushions. The bottom portion of the chair slides out to make a footrest. A painting of a dog hung on a green-painted wall above a twin bed. A cubic one foot box with the label Louis Vuitton inside.

Thomas Handasyde (T.H.) Perkins Sr. was among the first Americans to trade with China and began his work in 1785 when the United States was a very young country, four years before George Washington would become the first president. In 1838, T.H. would give money to provide a new campus for the institution now called Perkins School for the Blind. T.H’s sister, Margaret Perkins Forbes, married merchant Ralph Bennet Forbes, who died in 1824. Now widowed, Margaret was supported by her adult children, although oldest son Thomas Tunno Forbes died in 1829.

Inside of a hat box with a fancy label reading Louis Vuitton A vintage sink, bathtub, and toilet with a really high up water tank A twin bed in a green-painted room with paintings hung on the wall.

Second son Robert Bennet Forbes and third son John Murray Forbes were highly successful merchants despite lost fortunes and the Opium Wars. Their children and grandchildren were similarly successful and frequently worked with their older relatives. The last of the family to live in the house was Mary Bowditch Forbes, granddaughter of Robert. Her love of Abraham Lincoln led her to collect Lincoln memorabilia now found in an upstairs room and reconstruct an accurate replica of his birthplace cabin that still stands in her backyard. When Mary died in 1962, her nephew quickly opened the property as a museum and had it registered as a national historic landmark.

A dresser with a set of four drawers on either side of a tall mirror. I am reflected in the mirror as I take a picture. A lacquered room divider with black paint and golden plants The tour guide points to the portrait of Chinese trader Houqua hung above the fireplace. Above the table is hung a stained glass Chinese lantern.

The decorations on the first and second floors of the house are similar to other Victorian era houses belonging to wealthy New England families. A wooden ship wheel reminded visitors of the family’s maritime history, while an award shaped like a harp showed their generosity. Robert had given food to Irish people during the Irish Potato Famine or Great Hunger in Ireland, and he was recognized by the people of Cork in 1847. The dining room featured furniture, lamps, a portrait, and statues from China, some of these gifted by their business partner, Chinese merchant Houqua. The design style was similar to the home of Caleb Cushing, now Museum of Old Newbury, a diplomat to China and a distant relative to the family. I loved the pair of cute little metal statues that looked like Pekingese dogs, while I was less enthused over the framed wreath made of human hair.

Stone statue of Abraham Lincoln standing in the window, about a foot tall A case containing objects associated with Lincoln Approximately five feet tall, a cardboard cutout shows a formidable if small early 20th century wealthy woman

For the extended tour, I took a peek into the eight-sided attic before going down to the basement to see the original kitchen featuring the classic cast-iron stove built into a red brick fireplace. Outside near the parking lot, and somewhat hidden by less attractive buildings, was the beautiful carriage house and barn. Part of the barn was constructed at the same time as the house, while a shingle-style addition was added by Peabody & Stearns during the late 19th century. This popular architectural firm has been featured on the blog several times, including the original version of The Breakers plus Rough Point of Newport, RI; Worcester City Hall in Worcester, MA; Dorchester Heights Monument in Dorchester, MA; and Soldiers’ Memorial Library in Manchester, MA. The museum is currently fundraising to restore the barn and holds regular events in the venue. Behind the barn and down a small hill was the Abraham Lincoln birthplace replica cabin.

Brightly light white and blue themed bathroom with a round wash basin in the middle and a toilet and bathtub against the back wall. Oil painting in a gilded frame depicting a middle-aged Chinese man wearing traditional clothing. The painting is hung over a Greek Revival style fireplace. Human hair shaped to look like flowers.

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of Forbes House Museum. The main tour lasted about sixty minutes, while the surprise behind-the-scenes tour lasted another twenty minutes. The tour guide was highly knowledgeable and followed a polished script. I was especially impressed by how she gauged the knowledge of the people on the tour. I toured the property with a family of adults who were also old house nerds, and they asked great questions during the tour.

A tall oil painting of a Forbes man wearing Irish style clothing and standing between a pair of border collies. The painting is hung on a red-painted wall over a mahogany, Greek Revival style fireplace. A metal statue of a pekingese dog with its body on the left and head on the right. A metal statue of a pekingese dog with its body on the right and head on the left

At this time, the first floor of the building is accessible via an ADA compliant lift from the parking lot to the porch. However, the spiral staircase prevents people with limited mobility or using a wheelchair from continuing. The museum does offer a narrated slideshow of the upper floors upon request. Unfortunately, digital accessibility falls short, as the website is not accessible for keyboard users, and the video on the homepage cannot be paused.

A black cast-iron stove built into a red brick wall. The kitchen is filled with period-accurate tools. Very narrow and steep stairs with a sign reading Do Not Hit Your Head The viewer stands at the top of a long flight of stairs winding clockwise from the third floor to the first floor. Lamps hang from the center of the stairwell.

Tours are offered Thursday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. only. Notifying the house before your visit is highly encouraged. I emailed ahead and received a prompt response; calling is also available. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $0 for museum members, Card to Culture members, and New England Museum Association (NEMA) members. If you have an interest in globalization and international trade, are a major fan of Abraham Lincoln, or love visiting well-preserved historic houses, this is a great opportunity.

A tiny one-room log cabin at the edge of a lawn. Closeup of a stick style barn A stick-style, two-story barn at the top of a grassy hill partially obscured by trees
Five of the eight sides of the attic are visible. Wide windows made of five glass panes let in much light. The attic is filled with clutter.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 7/10

Accessibility: 7/10



Location: Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams St, Milton, MA 02186, USA

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