Essex National Heritage Area
The Buttonwoods Museum showcases over 375 years of history
and preserves a collection of property, artifacts, and landscape
with historical significance to Greater Haverhill.

Our museum is anchored by three important properties:  
the 1814 Duncan House, the 1859 Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop,
and the 1710-1810 John Ward House.

Some of the collections on view include domestic objects,
decorative arts, textiles, furnishings, military artifacts, shoes
and other items from Haverhill shoe industry, archaeological
artifacts of the Frederick A. Luce Collection, and the Moody
Collection pertaining to the Supreme Court Justice
William Moody.

Click here for our curator's top 10 list.
Haverhill Made or Worn Shoes Haverhill made or worn shoes from the Society's collection, circa 1760-1960. Native American Basket and Stone Tools Split ash wood & various stone.
Hand Painted Fans Feather, wood & mother of pearl, silk. Embroidered Woman's Pocket Linen, late 1700s. From the Duncan Family.
Beaded Purses Cotton, satin, steal beads. These two purses are from a large collection of beaded purses owned by the Haverhill Historical Society. Patchwork Crazy Quilt Silk, velvet, assorted fabrics and embroidery. Donated by Emma S. Cote.
Beaded Front Lace Shoe Grey suede, steel and glass beads, circa 1915. This shoe was made by Laird, Schober & Co. of Philadelphia. Photo by Bennett W. Olmsted. Black leather, steel beads. 1884. Donated by Helen Sargent Miller. Photo by Bennett W. Olmsted.
Interior of the Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop Dressing Table, Hand Painted by Elizabeth Morse Harding Circa 1810.
Detail of Dressing Table Hand Painted by Elizabeth Morse Harding circa 1810. Lap Desk Wood, mother-of-pearl inlay, and red velvet lining. This lap desk was given to Charlotte Chandler Tenney by her students at Bradford Academy in 1835 in appreciation of her service.
Fire Engine Metal, painted. From the Haverhill Historical Society toy collection. Embroidery of the Saltonstall Seat by Anna Saltonstall Silk, 1807. This embroidery depicts the original "Buttonwoods" as it was in 1807.
Collections
Getting to know Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody
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