Step Into the 19th Century

Nestled in the heart of historic Franklin (originally West Farms), the Ashbel Woodward Museum invites you to experience early New England life through the eyes of a remarkable local figure. This beautifully restored 1835 homestead was once the active residence of Dr. Ashbel Woodward—the town physician, a front-line Civil War surgeon, and a pioneering local historian.

Today, our museum is a vibrant community gathering place where history comes alive. Maintained by the Town of Franklin and proudly operated by a 100% volunteer team, we safeguard centuries of local history, ancestral records, and regional artifacts for future generations.

Explore the Museum

Choose a path below to plan your experience, view our collections, or support our historic mission:

 Plan Your Visit

Find everything you need to know for your next trip to the homestead. Check our seasonal public hours, get driving directions, or request to book a group.

Exhibits & Collections

 Upcoming Events

History is an active celebration! Join us for living history reenactments, seasonal workshops, guest speakers, and our highly anticipated  

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Woodward Gardens!

We are thrilled to officially announce that the Ashbel Woodward Museum gardens are now open! This project has been a true labor of love, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped bring this living history to life.

A heartfelt thank you to:

• The King family and friends for their generous support in making this vision a reality.

• The Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce for their continued advocacy and support.

• Kristen Curran, whose incredible design work transformed our landscape and brought the spirit of the 19th-century homestead into the present day.

• The students and teachers of Lyman Voag for their hard work and dedication in installing the garden beds.

• All of our wonderful volunteers whose time and effort keep our museum and grounds thriving.

We invite the community to come and walk through these historic pathways and experience the beauty of our new gardens firsthand!

The gardens are always available to visit in person or virtually. 

Explore Our Gardens: In Person & Virtually

A Living Timeline: From Colonial America to the 19th Century

The living landscape at the Ashbel Woodward Museum is a carefully curated botanical journey through time. Our gardens feature a rich collection of plants that spans from colonial-era America through the late 19th century, illustrating how the relationship between people and plants evolved over more than a hundred and fifty years.

By exploring our beds and pathways, you will discover:

• Colonial-Era Staples: Deeply practical plants brought by early settlers or learned from Native Americans, used primarily for absolute survival—essential food preservation, basic textiles, and heavy-duty home remedies.

• 19th-Century Progress: Specialized apothecary herbs and ornamental varieties reflecting Dr. Woodward's lifetime (1830–1885). This era saw a shift toward more advanced 19th-century medical botany, culinary refinement, and the artistic placement of decorative potted plants around the homestead.

Explore Our Gardens: In Person & Virtually

The historic landscape surrounding the museum is an extension of our indoor exhibits. Step outside—either on our grounds or through our digital collection—to discover the horticultural traditions that shaped daily life in early New England.

 Visit Us In Person

There is nothing quite like experiencing our historic flora in the fresh Connecticut air. When you walk the museum grounds, look for our specialized historic plant displays:

 Explore Virtually

Can’t make it to the museum today? You can tour our botanical collections from the comfort of your home! Dive deep into our digital garden pages to explore:

• Historical Folklore & Uses: Learn how Dr. Woodward and 19th-century families used specific plants for medicine, cooking, and household remedies.

• Botanical Art & Sketches: View detailed, period-style botanical illustrations and field sketches of our primary collections.

• Interactive Plant Profiles: Click through our specialized subpages for detailed profiles on everything from our aggressive mints to our winter-traveling rosemary.

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