granville historical society

If you are interested in history, you will definitely enjoy a visit to this little gem of a museum, which exhibits furniture, tools, toys and other collections related to the Granville area in a charming and very well preserved 1816 structure. For serious researchers and genealogy buffs, there's a Research Center accessible by appointment. I love small-town museums, in spite of the fact that their often eccentric charm is usually accompanied by amateurish, poorly labeled and preserved displays. That's definitely not the case here! These interesting exhibits are beautifully preserved and displayed, with professionally-done labels and documentation, and no lingering scent of great-grandma's basement or attic. The quality of the displays and accompanying documentation makes this a very enjoyable and informative experience. One of the more fascinating items to me was a transcription of a letter written to his wife by a soldier in the 1790s, which provided a vivid depiction of his experience and character. There's a nice collection of artifacts and furniture from early settlers. We also enjoyed the more recent exhibits on Grandma's kitchen and other aspects of women's domestic life. The volunteer docents were knowledgeable, cheerful, and friendly--available when we had questions, yet we were able to go through at our own pace. We ran out of time before making it to the lower level exhibits.Hours are limited - check the website before making a special trip. It's open on Saturday from 10--4, Sunday 1--4, and some other afternoons in the summer; it's closed on Monday and Tuesday. There's no fee--but of course they accept donations.