Upcoming Programs
Tracing Liberty
Celebrate 250 years of American spirit, Wayland style! Join us for book discussions to start each month, then explore history in our green spaces to finish it.
Free and open to all.
Register here for Tracing Liberty events
Online & In-Person Talks: First Wednesday, 7-8 pm
Nature Walks: Last Sunday, 9am
FEBRUARY
February 4 at 7 pm Lydia Maria Child: A Radical American Life by Lydia Molan
Location: In-Person at Wayland Museum and on Zoom
February 22 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover!
Location: Cow Common, 64 Old Sudbury Rd., Wayland Followed by: L.M. Child’s birthday celebration at 10 am at the Museum
MARCH
March 4 at 7 pm Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Location: In-Person at Wayland Free Public Library and on Zoom
March 29 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover! Location: Mainstone Farm Trail, 196 Rice Rd., Wayland
APRIL
April 1 at 7 pm Sleeping with the Ancestors by Joseph McGill
Location: In-Person at Wayland Free Public Library and on Zoom
April 26 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover! Location: Historic District, Wayland Museum, 12 Cochituate Rd.
MAY
May 6 at 7 pm Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Location: In-Person at Wayland Free Public Library and on Zoom
May 31 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover! Location: Lake Cochituate, Town Beach, 25 Parkland Drive, Wayland
JUNE
June 3 at 7 pm: Precious & Adored: Love Letters of Rose Cleveland & Evangeline Simpson Whipple, 1890–1918 by Tilly Laskey
Location: In-Person at Wayland Free Public Library and on Zoom
June 7 at 2 pm Author in-person talk about Precious & Adored: Love Letters of Rose Cleveland & Evangeline Simpson Whipple, 1890–1918 by Tilly Laskey
June 28 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover! Location: Dudley Woods Trail, Pond Drive & Doran Rd., Wayland
JULY
July 1 at 7 pm Selections from the Experience Wight Richardson Diary (1728-1782)
Location: In-Person at Wayland Free Public Library and on Zoom
July 26 at 9 am Walk, Wonder, and Discover! Location: Alpine Field and Castle Hill Trail, 16 Alpine Road, Wayland
Past Events:
Come On In… The Water’s Fine! Wayland’s Integration into a 177-Year Regional Water Legacy
Co-hosted by the Wayland Free Public Library and the Wayland Museum.
Wednesday, November 12 | 7 – 8 pm
Raytheon RoomWayland Free Public Library & ZOOM
History Talk with Eric Peterson, Executive Director, Metropolitan Waterworks Museum. Wayland’s recent integration into the MWRA system reflects a broader historical arc: from rural self-reliance to regional interdependence, echoing Greater Boston’s evolving water infrastructure since the 19th century. The Executive Director of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, Eric Peterson, will discuss the historical development of one of the nation’s earliest water systems and how Wayland’s new connection to it represents not just an infrastructural solution but a continuation of its intertwined history with Boston’s regional water evolution.
November 23 | 2 pm
Join the Museum and Wayland REV250 as we explore the fascinating connection between the rise of American Christmas traditions and the fight for abolition. In this engaging talk, Ken Turino reveals how mid-nineteenth century female abolitionists—like Maria Chapman, Lydia Maria Child, and Abby Kelly—played a key role in shaping the holiday as we know it today. Through their involvement in Sewing Circles and Christmas fairs, these women raised crucial funds for the abolitionist movement while helping to popularize traditions such as Christmas trees, greenery, and gift-giving in America. Turino highlights how these Boston fairs in particular, organized in collaboration with anti-slavery societies and leaders like William Lloyd Garrison, not only supported the cause but also left a lasting impact on the way we celebrate Christmas. Discover the inspiring stories of these women and how their holiday efforts contributed to both social change and the festive customs we cherish today.
Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 7
Don’t miss our annual Open House celebrating the season and festivities.
Wayside Inn Foundation’s Apple Fest Family Day
Saturday, September 20 | 10 am – 2 pm
The Wayland Museum will visit The Wayside Inn Foundation’s Apple Fest Family Day on Saturday, September 20th from 10 am to 2 pm. This free, family-friendly community event draws over 2,000 visitors to the Inn’s 100-acre campus for live entertainment, historical demonstrations, hayrides, and local vendors. Stop by our table to explore Wayland history and enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating New England history. Learn more online here: https://www.wayside.org/events/apple-fest-2025
Historical Architecture Tour of Historic Town Center
Sunday, September 21, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Rain Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Duration: Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours
Meeting Location: Wayland Museum & Historical Society (Grout-Heard House)
Address: 12 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA (Grout-Heard House)
Step back in time with the Wayland Rev250 Committee and Wayland Museum & Historical Socieity as we explore the architectural gems of the historic Wayland Center! This guided walking tour showcases the distinctive buildings and landmarks that tell the story of our town’s evolution from colonial settlement to vibrant community. This event is part of Wayland’s Revolution 250 celebrations, commemorating our town’s role in American independence.
After the Walk – It’s Refreshment Time! You made it! Now, let’s head back to the Grout-Heard House for some cider and cookies made from 18th-century recipes. (Yes, those cookies are as old as your grandma’s stories, and yes, they are delicious!) If the weather’s nice, we’ll hang out on the front lawn; otherwise, we’ll cozy up inside.
The first floor of the Museum will be open to see artifacts actually used during the Revolutionary War time period.
This event is free (because history is priceless) and open to everyone – so bring your friends, your neighbor, or that random history buff you met at the coffee shop. It’s all part of Wayland’s Rev250 celebrations, supported by the Wayland Museum and Historical Society commemorating our town’s legendary role in American independence.
Free and open to the public. RSVP by going to “Upcoming Events” at: https://www.wayland.ma.us/wayland250
Wayland Festival 2025
35 Andrew Ave., Wayland Town Center
This year’s event features a combined multicultural pavilion and artists’ marketplace, Touch-a-Truck with more trucks and more types of trucks, food/beverage/ice cream trucks, a parade celebrating the nations’s 250th Birthday, and lots of live music! Visit our table and explore history and meet your local community!
October 17-19
Wayland Museum’s Quilt Fundraiser Weekend is three days of celebrating Wayland’s textile treasures.
Friday, October 17 | 7-9 pm
A Special Evening with Quilts. Don’t miss out on experiencing Wayland history and this special collection!
$20. RSVP required.
Saturday, October 18 | 3 pm
Quilt Conservator Talk. Join Camille Myers Breeze, Chief Conservator, Museum Textile Services to discuss the care and keeping of quilts.
$15 non-members / $12 members
Sunday, October | 19 12-4 pm
Quilt Show Open House. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Wayland history and this special collection! $10. Online or at the door.
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
Tuesday, July 17:00—8:30 PM
Round RoomWayland Free Public Library5 Concord Rd., Wayland, MA, 01778
As America celebrates our first 250 years, join us in community to explore the complex layers of our history through Frederick Douglass’s powerful words. We’ll gather for a reading of his famous “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” speech. Afterwards, stay for a conversation facilitated by Dr. Eden-Reneé Hayes where we’ll grapple with questions about justice, equality, and American identity.
All voices welcome. All perspectives valued. All ages invited.
Presented by the Wayland Museum & Historical Society, the Wayland Free Public Library, the Town of Wayland’s Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the League of Women Voters-Wayland, and Wayland Rev250.
This program is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). Mass Humanities is a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
July 10, 5:00-8:00 pm
The Museum will be joining Wayland Recreation Department and ArtsWayland for a fun sunset evening at the Wayland Town Beach on July 10. Don’t miss some fun in the summer sun.
Dudley Pond Ice Cream Social!
July 12, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join us at this community ice cream social event! Enjoy ice cream at Mansion Beach followed by a jazz band that cruises the pond. http://www.dudleypond.org/home/2025-ice-cream-social-sat-july-12-2-4pm
Plein Air Painting with ArtsWayland and the Wayland Museum
Saturday, August 2nd, 9:00-11:00 AM
Rain Date: Wednesday, August 6, 5:30-7:30 PM
Join us for a fun outdoor painting experience combining art and local history! This free public event, presented by Arts Wayland and the Wayland Museum & Historical Society, invites artists of all ages and levels to bring their easels and paints to the museum grounds while learning about Wayland’s historic district and landscape. Bring your own supplies (although clipboards available with paper for kids) and discover the beauty of plein air painting in Wayland’s historic and picturesque setting. No experience necessary – just bring your enthusiasm for art and curiosity for history. FREE and open to all.
https://artswayland.com/pages/plein-air-painting-with-arts-wayland-and-the-wayland-museum
2025 Waterfest at Waterworks Museum
Saturday, June 21
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Waterworks Museum, Chestnut Hill
2450 Beacon St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
From 1845 to 1951, Lake Cochituate was a main source of water for the city of Boston. Learn all about this remarkable technological accomplishment, as well as other water related history at the Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill on June 21 at the museum’s Waterfest. The Wayland Museum will be tabling and sharing information about our own water sources.
Historical Architecture Tour of Cochituate
Sunday, June 22, 2025 | 2:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
Meeting Location: Community United Methodist Church Parking Lot (80 Main Street, Wayland, MA)
Accessibility: Moderate walking on mostly flat terrain with some uneven sidewalks
Join the Wayland Historical Society and the Wayland Rev250 Committee for a walking tour of historic Cochituate! This event is part of Wayland’s Revolution 250 celebrations, commemorating our town’s role in American independence.
Free and open to the public, but registration is recommended using the form under “Upcoming Events” at: https://www.wayland.ma.us/Wayland250
Deep Dive Collections Talk: Enslavement in the Age of Revolution
Tuesday, April 29, 6:30-8:00pm
Grout-Heard House, Wayland Museum & Historical Society
Through hands-on history examine WM&HS collections and resources that shed light on the people who were enslaved in Sudbury/Wayland as well as their enslavers on the cusp of the American Revolution.
Light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited.
Saturday, May 3
10:00 AM
Limited to 12 Member spots | $20
Join WM&HS for a special small-group tour of the historic Boston Athenæum at 10½ Beacon Street. This institution was founded in 1807 and is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States.
May Day Family Games
Saturday, May 10
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wayland Museum & Historical Society
Celebrate spring with family and friends at an outdoor May Day celebration. The event will kick-off with May Pole decorating, followed by a medley of outdoor activities and games. Events are geared towards elementary school kids and families, but all are invited to attend – you are never to old to play cup-and-ball! Wear sneakers, invite your neighbors, and RSVP here.
Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 14
7:00 PM
Large Hearing Room, Town Building
Join us for our Wayland Museum & Historical Society Annual Meeting. The highlight of the evening, after a short business session, will be a presentation by town surveyor Tom Lashmit, who is responsible for surveying and mapping land, including property lines and topographic features.
If you enjoyed Tom’s talk about Wayland historic maps, you will be pleased by how much more there is to learn about early roads, byways, property markers, and locations in Wayland. Do you know where the Ashen swamp is? What about Hog Lane? How long is a rod ( used to measure your property)? Come and find out!
All are invited to attend at 7 pm. RSVP here.
225 Boston Post Road
School Programs
- WPS Third Grade Program – Wayland April 19, 1775
- Wayland High School History Project
Includes seven volumes of project-based learning completed from 2001-2015 in Kevin Delaney’s US History classes. Each edition took two years to complete and constitutes what we hope is a rich local history archive of oral history, original research, and fascinating storytelling that show how national trends and developments played out in our town and region. Learn more here. - Wayland High School Awards
- North Cemetery
- The Village Evolves
- Wayland and the Civil War
Written by the late Nancy Ashkar in conjunction with the Wayland Historical Society, this program was used for many years by Wayland fifth graders. It has been adapted by Bobby Robinson of the Massachusetts Study Project as a model for use by other schools planning a study of the Civil War from the perspective of their own community. - Civil War Bus Tour, with reference to Wayland Town Character
Historical Tours
HISTORICAL TOURS OF WAYLAND
First issued in 1976 as part of the U.S. bi-centennial celebration, Bobby Robinson’s three historical “tours” (1600s, Revolutionary War period, 19th century development of the two separate town centers) was updated in 2013 with new maps and photographs. Available also from us online or view for free here.
Recorded Programs
The National Experience Right Next Door (Wayland High School History Project)
2025 Kevin Delaney
Wayland and Sudbury and the Dawn of the American Revolution
2025 Jane Sciacca
Enslavement in the Puritan Village
2025 Jane Sciacca
The Railroad That Ran Through Wayland
2025 Rick Conard
Postcards from Cochituate
2024 Sheila Carel
History of Wayland in Maps
2024 Town Surveyor Tom Lashmit
2023 Interview with Louise Brown, WFPL Director Emeritus
RESEARCHING ENSLAVEMENT
2023 Jane Sciacca
LYDIA MARIA CHILD: A RADICAL AMERICAL LIFE
2023 Lydia Moland
LETHAL TIDES: MARY SEARS
2022 Catherine Musemeshe
FLOODING OF THE SUDBURY RIVER
2022 Brian Donahue, Alison Field-Juma and Tom Sciacca
SLAVERY IN COLONIAL SUDBURY
2021 Jane Sciacca
THREE WAYLAND WOMEN
2021 Jane Sciacca
EARLY FARM AND CRAFT TOOLS
2021 Jack Russell
WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE IN WAYLAND
2020 Jane Sciacca
WAYLAND CELEBRATES:
100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
WAYLAND THEN AND NOW
2020 Gretchen Schuler
HISTORY OF FLOODING IN WAYLAND
2011 Tom Sciacca and Sally Newbury
MRS. JESSICA HENDERSON, IF YOU PLEASE
2015 Wayland High School History Project
MASS.MEMORIES ROADSHOW WAYLAND
OVER HERE AND OVER THERE: WWI in Wayland
2016 Wayland High School History Project
WAYLAND HIGH SCHOOL: THEN AND NOW
2012 Ann Knight and Dick Hoyt
MISSILES ON OXBOW: THE NIKE MISSILE SITE IN WAYLAND (RR)
2018 Bob Farrington
THE GHOST OF LYDIA MARIA CHILD (ICB)
2018 Laura Duggan
THE WAYS OF OUR LAND: DUDLEY POND
2018 Sheila Carel
THE VALUE OF THE BOOK
2017 Ray Rickman
IF YOU ATE TODAY…THANK A FARMER Wayland’s Truck Farms and Roadside Stands
2017 Bob Dorey
AQUEDUCTS RUN THROUGH IT
2017 Tom Sciacca
TOYS IN THE ATTIC
2016 Council on Aging
PHYSICK AND CHIRUGERY; PRACTICING MEDICINE 1750-1850
2019 Tony Howes, MD
WAYLAND RAILROAD INTERPRETIVE SITE PT. 1
Rick Conard
WAYLAND RAILROAD INTERPRETIVE SITE PT. 2
Rick Conard
LYDIA MARIA CHILD
2018 Jane Sciacca
TALKING TRASH! GETTING RID OF WAYLAND’S REFUSE A History of Burning, Burying, Recycling, Pig Farms, Composting, Single Stream Recycling, 1-800-JUNK –
2016 Molly Faulkner
For a copy of Faulkner’s presentation:
Word-based copy of presentation
PowerPoint copy of presentation
WAYLAND HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY PROJECT
The Wayland High School History Project includes eleven volumes of project-based learning completed from 2001-2019 in Kevin Delaney’s US History classes. Each edition took two years to complete and constitutes what we hope is a rich local history archive of oral history, original research, and fascinating storytelling that show how national trends and developments played out in our town and region.
- Volume XI: Second World War Stories
- Volume X: METCO at 50
- Volume IX: The Great War Story of Herman Allen
- Volume VIII: Doughboys of Wayland: Stories of the Great War
- Volume VII: Over Here and Over There: Wayland During the WWI Era
- Volume VI: Lt. Col. Martin W. Joyce Papers
- Volume V: 20th Century American Stories
- Volume IV: Growing Up During Hard Times
- Volume III: An Age of Disillusion: Wayland During the Vietnam Era
- Volume II: Post-War Life in a Small Northern Town: Wayland, MA 1946-1960
- Volume I: War on Their Minds: Memories of the WWII Years
FIVE MILES ASTRIDE THE RIVER: A History of Wayland, MA Actual video: 27:00 through 45:00.