June 2026 Gazette
- May 28
- 4 min read
Dear Friends and Members of the Museum,
Our Opening Day celebration is just around the corner, and then the season truly begins! If you received our last newsletter, you’ll have already read about much of what we have planned for June. This issue serves as a quick reminder of upcoming dates—but we wouldn’t reach out if we didn’t also have a few fun new surprises in store …
Opening Day and Yard Sale
We hope you’re ready to join us on Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 - 4:00 to enjoy our exhibits, craft demonstrations, and grounds! Our Yard Sale will open an hour earlier, at 9:00, and run until 2:00. Browse our stalls, find some treasures, and support the Museum with every purchase! No admission necessary if you’d just like to browse - but if you do take something home with you, you’ll receive discounted admission to the rest of the museum.
Regular Hours for 2026
Our regular hours begin on Thursday, June 4. We’ll be open for drop-in visits from 10:00 - 4:00, Thursday - Saturday, through October. Last admission for the day will be at 3:00. Come revisit the exhibit hall and our craft barns, and find a few new activities and exhibits to enjoy …
Firstly, you can participate in our new “Favorite Things” community project. Pick up a tag and tell us what your favorite object is and why. We’ll be gathering responses to develop our first-ever catalog of the Museum’s collections. Usually the items highlighted in a museum catalog are selected by curators - but while our staff will have plenty to contribute, we want this project to reflect the fact that SCM is your museum, a place about and for all the people of South County. Come write yourself into our story!
You’ll also have the chance to enjoy some new additions to our colonial tavern. A copy of Don Troiani’s painting “Brave Men as Ever Fought,” loaned by the RI 250 Commission, brings the story of the Rhode Island Regiment, and its two companies of Black and Indigenous soldiers, to life. Volunteer curators have updated the display cases on either side with a collection of objects, from powderhorns to teapots, that showcase various
ways that Rhode Island colonists protested British rule. And if you have a few moments, you can sit down and play some 18th-century tavern games at our new interactive station.
Wednesday Evening Lectures
We have an exciting lineup of lectures to kick off our season! Join us at 6:00 on the following dates for an evening of learning. Lectures are $10 for the general public and free to members.
June 3rd - “‘Hand, Will, and Mind Together’: Home Economics, ‘Handwork,’ and the Role of Craft in American Life.” The phrase “home economics” may conjure images of bored schoolgirls and frumpy aprons, but at the turn of the twentieth century it was a lively movement with a surprisingly radical vision for American life. Drawing from research for her master's thesis, curator Erin Shaw will explore why home economists believed craft education was essential for Americans’ intellectual and moral development - and invite you to consider whether their ideas have anything to offer the twenty-first century.
June 17 - “Dressing the Revolution.” At the time of the American Revolution, fashion had already gone global, with Chinese silks, Indian cottons, and extravagant French styles. So what did it mean to dress like an American? Visiting fellow Payton Becker will discuss the politics of fashionable dress in an age of revolution. Come learn about men's and women's clothing of the 1770s, illustrated with a reproduction ensemble including not just the outer dress but undergarments and accessories. From silhouette to fabric to sewing technique, you'll learn how everyday dress revealed the trends and the tensions of a turbulent period.
Saturday Morning Craft Classes
On Saturdays, our School of Craft is in session! Registration will open on our website a week in advance if you’d like to guarantee a seat. But drop-ins are more than welcome!
June 6: Mending - Bring a garment or household textile in need of some simple repairs, and learn the basics of how to “Make Do and Mend.” This community class is free with museum admission, and first-come first-serve (no advance registration).
June 13: Historical Hand Sewing: 18th Century Pocket - Learn to sew your own “pocket,” an 18th-century accessory worn tied around the waist. You’ll never be pocketless again! $25 for general public, $20 for members.
June 27: Historical Hand Sewing: 1910s Needlebook and Open Forge - Learn the absolute basics of needlecraft with a learn-to-sew project adapted from a 1910s textbook. Or, drop by our smithy to learn the basics of blacksmithing! $20 for the sewing class, $25 for blacksmithing ($15/$20 for members).
Introducing the Little House Thrift Shop
At SCM, we spend a lot of time thinking about the historical value of thrift: the art of reusing, repairing, and passing on possessions instead of condemning them to the garbage heap. This year, we’ll be putting that value into practice with the opening of our Little House Thrift Shop, open on Saturdays during our usual hours. Stop into the little green building closest to the parking lot to browse a carefully-curated selection of natural-fiber clothing and accessories, as well as household items and a few artisan goods from our craft barns.
Spin for Liberty: A Semiquincentennial Spinning Bee
On Saturday, June 20th, our spinning wheels will be whirring for a truly Revolutionary spinning bee! Come watch the talented Rhode Island Spinners’ Guild demonstrate how colonial women would compete to spin thread to reduce their reliance on British cloth. Enjoy short talks and fiber arts demonstrations as you explore this lesser-known facet of the American Revolution.
June is packed with opportunities to learn, make, connect, and celebrate at the South County Museum. Make sure to keep an eye on our “Events” and “Workshop” pages to stay up-to-date on our latest offerings. Then, ditch the screens and come unplug with us! We can't wait to see you.
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