The description of the Wayland Museum and Historical Society (WM&HS) conjures different ideas. In my short time as director, I’ve heard a range of answers from Wayland’s attic to “We have a museum? Where?” It is not unusual or unexpected that a Historical Society might conjure thoughts of the past, yet every day we are making history.
With another year consigned to history, we at WM&HS remember the fun we had in 2025, including exhibiting our quilt collection (Lydia Maria Child’s especially), discussions outside of the museum (Wayland Festival was amazing), and our variety of captivating talks (like our recent one on how abolitionists influenced holiday traditions).
This past year, we also enjoyed being part of the Wayland Rev250 working group to celebrate America 250. Mark your calendars for Jan. 11, when the group will host a one-woman play about Deborah Sampson at the Vokes Playhouse.
WaylandCAN Board Members left to right: Doug Levine, Allison Kates, Caroline Higgins, Karen Kelly, Christine Kenyon, Elizabeth Wuerz and Chris Ryan at their Dec. 6 “Roaring Night of Connection” fundraiser
This year the museum also partnered with the Wayland Free Public Library and the Wayland Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for a series called “Conversations for Change.” At the next conversation on Jan. 15 the focus is on “Reckoning with Our Past, Repairing Our Future.” The museum staff will be discussing sensitive collection items, including a 20th-century minstrel program and a photograph documenting a cross burning from Wayland in the 1980s. By sharing these objects in a contextualized conversation, we hope to help our community reflect on how history shapes the present and explore what repair and reconciliation might look like.
In 2026, history will help guide our exhibits: “Red, White & ‘I Do’, An Exhibition of Wedding Dresses” will be on display in February, “Wish You Were Here, Postcards from Wayland” on view in March, and “Echoes of Liberty: Call & Response with ArtsWayland“ will open in April. In the fall a sports-themed exhibition will be featured. Please come for a visit, and greet the New Year by participating in our New Year’s Day walk. We meet at 10 a.m. at the museum.
This year, a new collaborative database will also enable the Museum to digitize and accurately catalog our collection to ensure the stories and objects of Wayland are an accessible and inclusive resource for the public. This new database will help create connections beyond the physical structures of the Grout-Heard House, home of the Museum. From the 19th century daguerreotypes and letters to 20th-century postcards and photographs. Volunteers can help us digitize and document the collection. If you would like to help make the past accessible, email me at director@waylandmuseum.org.
Hoey is the executive director of the Wayland Museum & Historical Society.
