Beautiful in every season, Fall River Historical Society is just a short drive from Providence, Newport, New Bedford, and Boston. It is open to visitors April though December, and admission includes a guided tour of the museum and Echoes of Lizzie: The Borden Murder Mystery Exhibit. We offer field trips for students and special group tours that include Victorian High Tea in Easton Tea Room.
MUSEUM HOURS
Museum Weekday Hours
April through mid-October
Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tours: 10:00, 11:00,
1:00, 2:00, and 3:00
Museum Weekend Hours
June through September
Saturday and Sunday
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tours: 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00
Closed all major holidays
MUSEUM SHOP HOURS
Museum Shop Weekday Hours
April through mid-October
Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Shop Weekend Hours
June through September
Saturday and Sunday
12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.
Closed all major holidays
SEASONAL HOLIDAY HOURS
Holiday Open House Hours
November 23 to December 30
Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
1:00 to 5:00
Open Christmas Eve, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Museum Holiday Shop Hours
October 15 to December 30
12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.
Open Christmas Eve, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day.
Closed Christmas Day.
Easton Tea Room Holiday Hours
November 30 to December 29
Saturday and Sunday
12:00 noon – 4:30 p.m.
Reservations recommended.
Admission
Adults: $12.00
Children (Ages 6-15): $8.00
AAA Cardholders: $11.50
FRHS Members and One Guest: Free
Group Admission (10 or more individuals)
Adult Group: $11.50
Child (ages 6-15): $7.50
Group tours by appointment
DIRECTIONS
From Providence and Points West
Take I-195 E through Fall River to Rte. 24 N (Exit 8). Follow Rte. 24 N to Exit 5 (President Ave.) to rotary. Take first turn off rotary (President Ave.). Go through two sets of traffic lights, turn left onto Rock Street. Continue on Rock Street for five blocks to Maple Street. Building will be on the left-hand side of the corner.
Approximate travel time: 25 minutes.
From New Bedford and Points East
Take I-195 W to Rte. 24 N (Exit 8). Follow Rte. 24 N to Exit 5 (President Ave.) to rotary. Take first turn off rotary (President Ave.). Go through two sets of traffic lights, turn left onto Rock Street. Continue on Rock Street for five blocks to Maple Street. Building will be on the left-hand side of the corner.
Approximate travel time: 25 minutes.
From Boston and Points North
Follow Rte. 24 S to Exit 5 (President Ave.) to rotary. Take first turn off rotary (President Ave.). Go through two sets of traffic lights, turn left onto Rock Street. Continue on Rock Street for five blocks to Maple Street. Building will be on the left-hand side of the corner.
Approximate travel time: 60 minutes.
From Newport
Take Rte. 24 N to Exit 5 (President Ave.) to rotary. Take first turn off rotary (President Ave.). Go through two sets of traffic lights, turn left onto Rock Street. Continue on Rock Street for five blocks to Maple Street. Building will be on the left-hand side of the corner.
Approximate travel time: 30 minutes.
TOURS
Looking for something different to do with your book club, garden club, or alumni group? Our special group bus tours and tours for smaller groups are a perfect choice, particularly during the holiday season. In addition to a guided tour of the museum and/or Borden Murder Mystery Exhibit, each tour includes Victorian High Tea in Easton Tea Room and time to browse in our acclaimed Museum Shop & Boutique, which features a year-round Christmas Bazaar room and a seasonal old-fashioned Sweet Shop. Contact us to learn more and plan a memorable day or afternoon! We’ll be happy to work with you to tailor a tour to your group’s preferences and interests.
A must for anyone interested in the Borden case, this unique event starts with a guided tour of FRHS led by Curator Michael Martins or Assistant Curator Dennis A. Binette, authors of the award-winning book Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River and leading authorities on the life and trial of Lizzie Borden. You’ll see the world’s largest collection of Borden murder mystery artifacts — the alleged murder weapon, original crime scene photos, Lizzie Borden’s personal possessions, and much more.
But what really sets our tour apart is the quality of the information that we share. “Absolutely fascinating” … “Amazing” … “A great experience!” … these are comments from some of our recent visitors.
Guests will also take a guided tour though the house at 92 Second Street where the infamous murders took place, visit Lizzie Borden’s grave, and take a drive by Maplecroft, Lizzie’s home for many years following her release from jail. The tour price, including a step-on guide and High Tea in Easton Tea Room, is $50 per person.
Tour flyer:
LIZZIE BORDEN HISTORY AND MYSTERY TOUR
Our popular holiday package starts with a guided tour of our historic Victorian mansion, lavishly decorated from room to room in period style for our annual Holiday Open House. Of special note is our series of spectacular Christmas trees, including an upside-down tree, decorated each year in different and unusual themes. The dazzling display draws visitors from miles around each year, and has been featured in Victorian Homes magazine and on television programs. Guests will also enjoy Victorian High Tea in the beautifully appointed Easton Tea Room, located adjacent to the museum in the historic 1870 Alexander Dorrance Easton house, and shopping in our acclaimed Museum Shop & Boutique, which features an entire Christmas room, the region’s largest selection of mouth-blown ornaments, a Sweet Shop with old-fashioned candies, and much more. Specifically designed with group tour operators in mind, this delightful tour offers great value. The price of $32 per person includes High Tea, gratuity, and state/local tax.
Home for the Holidays video:
FIELD TRIPS
Plan a field trip to Fall River Historical Society, where your students will enjoy a unique cultural experience in our French Second Empire mansion that was once a station on the Underground Railroad. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure features magnificent period interiors that will give students a sense of life during the era when Fall River was a leading textile center.
Designed to make history come alive, our field trips will enhance any curriculum and are geared specifically to students’ age level. They last approximately one hour and may have up to 30 students, with a least one adult chaperone for every 10 students. All field trips are led by experienced FRHS guides
The FRHS is committed to offering inquiry-driven programs that support the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies and the Massachusetts State Standards for the visual arts. When possible, we will adapt one of our tours to your interests or develop a custom tour. Contact us at 508-679-1071 x 1 or 2 to discuss your curricular needs or use our Contact form.
Elementary Schools
A Day at the Museum
Welcome to Fall River Historical Society! Explore FRHS and learn the basics of a museum visit. What does a historical society do and why is it important to preserve artifacts from the past? Students will view paintings and objects from “the olden days,” some hands-on, in order to begin to understand the meaning of history and the purpose of a museum.
History through Paintings
Imagine what life was like in the past by viewing landscapes, marine paintings, portraits, and still life in the FRHS collections. Learn the history of these works of art and how to interpret the fascinating and oftentimes hidden stories they have to tell.
Holiday Legends and Lore
Discover fascinating facts behind cherished Christmas traditions and be introduced to others that were once prevalent but are little known today. Learn the origins of the Christmas tree, how Father Christmas became Santa Claus, the legend of the Christmas pickle, the folklore of Krampus, St. Nicholas’s dark companion … and so much more.
This seasonal tour is offered from late November through December and offers students a magical opportunity to see the museum resplendent in its holiday finery.
Scavenger Hunt
A museum is the ideal place to combine history with mystery, learning, and fun. This tour provides students with the opportunity to look deeply into a work and discover details that might otherwise be overlooked. Participants will be given a handout with clues to identify a variety of objects in the museum collection, both in the building and outside on the grounds.
Show and Tell
A captivating look at a wide range of everyday objects from times past that are far from commonplace in today’s world. Learn about the history of these artifacts and take a guess at what they were used for. A fun and informative learning experience.
Middle and High Schools
The Borden Murder Mystery: The Truth Behind the Legend
Get the inside scoop on the most famous unsolved case in the annals of American crime, the quintessential whodunit that has captivated the public since August 4, 1892. Separate fact from fancy and learn the truth behind the legend as you view a selection of rare trial exhibits and artifacts, including the alleged murder weapon, that comprise the world’s largest collection pertaining to Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Lizzie A. Borden.
Historical Highlights
Tour Fall River Historical Society and learn the history of the city and its people through a wide range of objects from the museum’s diverse collections. Included on the tour is the secret door that was used in the nineteenth century to help enslaved people of African descent make their way to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
