The Grout-Heard House
Home of the Wayland Museum & Historical Society
Built around 1740 by Jonathan Grout, this landmark served as Elijah Bent’s store when Minutemen marched past toward Concord Bridge in 1775. Blacksmith Silas Grout purchased and expanded the home in 1787, beginning a century of Grout and Heard family stewardship. One resident, Sarah Hawkes Heard, was Wayland’s librarian from 1885 to 1901, and objects from her daughters Blanche and Grace helped form the foundation of the museum’s collection. Today we care for those objects alongside L. Maria Child letters, J.J. Hawes photographs, and thousands of other items documenting Wayland’s history.
Despite its permanent appearance, the house was relocated in 1878 to make way for a Stick-Style Town Hall. The house came back to this site in 1962, after Raytheon’s donation to the then newly formed Historical Society.
The site now stewards over 5,000 objects and is the home of the Wayland Museum & Historical Society, a private non-profit, dedicated to Wayland’s past, present, and future. We invite you to support our mission by becoming a member.
Visit the Museum and explore Wayland’s history.
Free. All ages welcome.
Museum Hours
Tuesday & Thursday: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Or email to book an appointment to visit.
All ages welcome
Free to visit | Donations appreciated.
The Wayland Museum & Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
