Calendar of Events

All Virtual Events are recorded
and posted to the Museum’s YouTube page.

Most of our virtual programs are offered free of charge.
Please consider making a donation to support future programming —
and help us fight the proposed development next door!

 

MAY

Friday, May 3, 3 p.m.
At the Tredwells’ Table: A Culinary Tour of the Merchant’s House
This unique tour focuses on the culinary customs of mid-19th century New York, including favorite foods, cooking methods, dining etiquette, and entertaining. What did the Tredwell family eat on a daily basis? How did the cook manage meals for a large family without the modern kitchen amenities we take for granted today? What was it like to attend a dinner party in 1850? From grocery shopping, to elaborate parties and receptions, to the Irish servants’ experiences with food, this tour provides an unparalleled look at the Tredwells’ culinary world. 90 minutes. $25 general admission, $20 MHM Members; purchase Culinary Tour tickets.

 

Sunday, May 12 & 26, 1:30 p.m.
Walking Tour: The Tredwells’ World of 19th Century Noho
(Second & Fourth Sunday of each month)
With the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal, the city’s economy boomed and wealthy merchant families escaped the increasing noise, congestion, and commercialization of the seaport area to move “uptown,” to what is now modern day NoHo, then an exclusive residential enclave. Join us as we explore the Tredwells’ elite neighborhood and discover what life was like for the wealthy merchant class in the mid-19th century. $20; MHM Members Free; purchase Walking Tour tickets.

Walking tours are 90 minutes and meet outside the Merchant’s House.

 

Thursday, May 16, 6 p.m.
1830s NYC: A Decade of Social, Political, & Geographical Upheaval
Virtual Program with James Scully
Co-sponsored by Village Preservation and Salmagundi Club.
While New York is a city continually changing and evolving in almost every aspect, it’s hard to top the upheaval of the 1830s. From the worst fire in New York City history to absolute pandemonium surrounding Moving Day — when all NYC leases expired simultaneously — it was truly one of the city’s wildest periods. It’s time to uncover the stories and remnants of 1830s New York like never before.

Join James Scully, NYC tour guide and director / co-creator of Burning Gotham to explore lower Manhattan and the notable sights and scandals of 1830s New York, with a close look at 1835 and how a single year forever changed New York City in big ways.

Free; Register for “1830s NYC.”

 

Opens Friday, May 17
Tredwell Costume Collection: Spring & Summer Dress, 1862-1865 (MHM 2002.0840)
This two-piece spring and summer dress, 1862-1865, reflects a transitional style between the 1850s and the 1860s. The invention of synthetic aniline dyes in 1856 made possible the pink color of the fabric, which is printed in an ikat pattern. The use of both aniline dyes and printed (rather than woven) patterns made dresses like this one less expensive, and thus accessible to middle-class women.

 

Saturday, May 18, 1:30 p.m.
Walking Tour: Reinventing the Bond Street Neighborhood, 1865-1900
Created and led by museum docent Michelle Barshay
Join us for a captivating journey to discover the pivotal changes that shaped the “Bond Street area,” once a residential neighborhood for wealthy merchant families like the Tredwells. On this 90-minute tour, we’ll witness the dramatic changes that unfolded as commercial interests began to encroach, compelling these families to move uptown and triggering a metamorphosis of the entire neighborhood. Homes evolved into boarding houses, business establishments, or were demolished. By 1900, the once-fashionable neighborhood was primarily a commercial area, known for printing and manufacturing. Our walking tour will lead you to the majestic landmarks – from the imposing De Vinne Press to the Schermerhorn factory, Robbins & Appleton, and the historic Fire Engine #33. $20; MHM Members Free; purchase Walking Tour tickets.

Walking tours are 90 minutes and meet outside the Merchant’s House.

 

Current Exhibitions

Exhibitions are included with regular museum admission.

Through May 26
Tiny Beautiful Things: Baby and Children’s Clothing from the Tredwell Collection
Seabury and Eliza Tredwell had eight children and six grandchildren. On display, a selection of baby and children’s garments and accessories spanning the 19th century – including dresses, coats, bonnets, gloves, and three never-before-seen embroidered baptismal gowns. During the 19th century, Victorian ideals transformed childhood into a time of innocence, play, and purity, a view often limited, in practice, to middle-and upper-class families. The Tredwell children’s clothing offers a unique window into their lives here at the Merchant’s House.

Opens Friday, May 17
Tredwell Costume Collection: Spring & Summer Dress, 1862-1865 (MHM 2002.0840)
This two-piece spring and summer dress, 1862-1865, reflects a transitional style between the 1850s and the 1860s. The invention of synthetic aniline dyes in 1856 made possible the pink color of the fabric, which is printed in an ikat pattern. The use of both aniline dyes and printed (rather than woven) patterns made dresses like this one less expensive, and thus accessible to middle-class women.

Ongoing
See You at the Ball! Objects from New York’s 1860 Prince of Wales Ball
In October 1860, Albert Edward, the 19-year old Prince of Wales, arrived in New York as part of his four-month tour of North America. The visit was the first of its kind by a British Monarch, and his arrival was eagerly anticipated by New York society. As part of the four-day visit, a grand ball was held in the Prince’s honor at the Academy of Music, just a few blocks from the Tredwells’ home. With thousands in attendance, it was the highlight of the social season. On display, items worn or brought to the ball by Miss Anne Punnett. This collection has recently been donated to the Merchant’s House by an anonymous donor.

 

 

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