Bedford, MA – The Job Lane Farm Museum will officially kick off its 2025 season with tours starting on Sunday, May 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. The museum, located at 295 North Road, invites visitors to step back in time and explore 18th-century New England life and architecture, with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family.
This marks the opening of the museum’s regular season, following an extensive spring cleaning effort by the Friends of the Job Lane House. Volunteers worked diligently to prepare the site, ensuring the historic house and surrounding areas are ready for visitors. The Job Lane House, built circa 1713 and expanded in the 1820s, serves as a window into early American history. A timber-framed barn, constructed in the 1990s, houses exhibits and a gift shop for visitors to enjoy.
Curator Dorothy Africa, a member of the Friends of the Job Lane House, shared that the museum highlights the life of Job Lane, a farmer, deacon, and Minuteman who was, in many ways, an ordinary man of the time. “History isn’t always made by well-known figures like Paul Revere or John Hancock,” said Africa. “The stories of everyday people, like the Lanes and the Duttons, offer an invaluable glimpse into colonial life.”
The museum showcases many original furnishings, tools, and artifacts that represent Bedford’s colonial past. Notable features include Rufus Porter murals, remnants of Lillian Dutton’s herb business, and the Lane family Bible. Visitors can also explore the home’s gardens and browse items in the barn and gift shop.
The museum will be open every second and fourth Sunday of the month, from 2 to 4 p.m., through October. In addition to regular tours, the Friends of the Job Lane House plan a variety of events for the 2025 season, including dress-up days, games, crafts, live music, and expert talks for both children and adults.
“We’re very excited for this year’s events,” said Julia Whiteneck, co-president of the Friends group. “It’s a wonderful place to learn, engage, and experience local history.”
