“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

Please see the Events and Special Tours page for details and tickets.

“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

Please see the Events and Special Tours page for details and tickets.

Relax in Victorian splendor as you stroll the veranda at Hearthstone with a cool drink in hand while listening to performances on our 1875 square grand piano.

Ladies are encouraged to wear their best Victorian hats. Beautiful hats were de rigueur for Victorian ladies. Gents can sport their own boater or bowler. If you do not have a hat, we would be glad to lend you one of our recreations from our collection.

Our docents will be dressed up as well playing the roles of hostesses or the Rogers’ servants as they welcome you into the home while serving complementary lemonade, iced tea, white wine, or mint juleps.

The evenings are about slowing down the pace of life and being immersed in the lavish surroundings of the wonderfully restored 1882 Queen Anne Style home.

Dawn of a New Era Technology Tour - July 19

$15.00

August 2, 1:30 - 3:30 PM

For a decade starting in 1882, Appleton had more electrified buildings than any other city in the world! See how it all started and what made Appleton famous as a place of innovation.

Given by Edison experts Robin & Joan Rolfs, this tour provides an overview of the 142 year old artifacts that still light Hearthstone to this day. The Rolfs will then escort guests to the Vulcan Street Power plant.

The simple joy of sitting on the back porch, enjoying locally made ice cream, on a beautiful summer’s afternoon… What can top that? Um, a little chocolate sauce maybe?

In honor of Hearthstone’s First Lady, Cremora Rogers, Hearthstone will be serving up scoops of delicious, locally made, ice cream (we have found it to be our duty to try local products, sometimes three or four times… just to make sure) at something we call our “Cream Aura” Old Fashion Ice Cream Social.

It will all be very informal. We will be sitting at table and chairs in the backyard of the museum - and on the veranda steps too of course - under the shade of the trees that line the riverbank. The ice cream will be available by the scoop in bowls (the ice cream cone wasn’t invented until 1904!). The event is free but we will be charging a modest amount for the ice cream as a fundraiser (but not the chocolate sauce, that’s on us - Hershey’s Cocoa is very Victorian being started in 1896). There may even be a croquet match or two breaking out.

Pull over, pedal over, or just wander over and join us for a Victorian ice cream social.

(Please note… ICE CREAM QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY. RAIN DATE JULY 28)

“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

Dawn of a New Era Technology Tour - July 19

$15.00

JULY 19, 1:30 - 3:30 PM

For a decade starting in 1882, Appleton had more electrified buildings than any other city in the world! See how it all started and what made Appleton famous as a place of innovation.

Given by Edison experts Robin & Joan Rolfs, this tour provides an overview of the 142 year old artifacts that still light Hearthstone to this day. The Rolfs will then escort guests to the Vulcan Street Power plant.

“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

Relax in Victorian splendor as you stroll the veranda at Hearthstone with a cool drink in hand while listening to performances on our 1875 square grand piano.

Ladies are encouraged to wear their best Victorian hats. Beautiful hats were de rigueur for Victorian ladies. Gents can sport their own boater or bowler. If you do not have a hat, we would be glad to lend you one of our recreations from our collection.

Our docents will be dressed up as well playing the roles of hostesses or the Rogers’ servants as they welcome you into the home while serving complementary lemonade, iced tea, white wine, or mint juleps.

The evenings are about slowing down the pace of life and being immersed in the lavish surroundings of the wonderfully restored 1882 Queen Anne Style home.

“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

“The latest fashion…is absolutely necessary for painting.  It’s what matters most.”

— Édouard Manet, 1881

To mark the 150th anniversary of the First Impressionist Exhibition in Paris and the first public display of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet - from which the art movement gets its name - Hearthstone has unveiled its own new exhibit entitled Cloth and Canvas.

Cloth and Canvas features pieces from Hearthstone’s remarkable clothing collection and pairs them with museum-quality reproductions of famous works of Impressionist art to highlight Hearthstone as a superb clothing museum while also reveling in how a few flecks of paint can become a dress, a hat, a glove.

Importantly, Impressionism did not find commercial success until the new money of the America began to recognize and buy the works for their beauty and importance.

This special tour, led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder, delves into this world of art and fashion.  The exhibit also offers the perfect setting to explore Hearthstone’s possible connection to bringing Impressionism to Chicago, and by extension, to the world.

Hearthstone's Nooks and Crannies: A Behind the Scenes Tour

In this behind the scenes, special limited tour, Hearthstone’s Curation Director Lynne Phillips will take you through the museum to peer, literally, into the nooks and crannies that make Hearthstone so special. Guests will visit the spaces normally not open to the public and hear stories about the restoration of the house as well as the interesting revelations that have been found in the process.

Relax in Victorian splendor as you stroll the veranda at Hearthstone with a cool drink in hand while listening to performances on our 1875 square grand piano.

Ladies are encouraged to wear their best Victorian hats. Beautiful hats were de rigueur for Victorian ladies. Gents can sport their own boater or bowler. If you do not have a hat, we would be glad to lend you one of our recreations from our collection.

Our docents will be dressed up as well playing the roles of hostesses or the Rogers’ servants as they welcome you into the home while serving complementary lemonade, iced tea, white wine, or mint juleps.

The evenings are about slowing down the pace of life and being immersed in the lavish surroundings of the wonderfully restored 1882 Queen Anne Style home.

Hearthstone's Nooks and Crannies: A Behind the Scenes Tour

In this behind the scenes, special limited tour, Hearthstone’s Curation Director Lynne Phillips will take you through the museum to peer, literally, into the nooks and crannies that make Hearthstone so special. Guests will visit the spaces normally not open to the public and hear stories about the restoration of the house as well as the interesting revelations that have been found in the process.

Hearthstone's Nooks and Crannies: A Behind the Scenes Tour

In this behind the scenes, special limited tour, Hearthstone’s Curation Director Lynne Phillips will take you through the museum to peer, literally, into the nooks and crannies that make Hearthstone so special. Guests will visit the spaces normally not open to the public and hear stories about the restoration of the house as well as the interesting revelations that have been found in the process.

When a high-profile political candidate is murdered in her upscale Wisconsin home, all of the evidence points to one man. But when the crime scene is almost too perfect, sometimes you need to view things from a different perspective. Does Lieutenant Kurt Singer, a counterintelligence officer turned Appleton Police Detective, possess the skills to learn the truth?

Hearthstone welcomes Green Bay author David Jones for a book signing. The evening will feature David doing a dramatic reading from his newest novel No Perfect Crime as well as signing copies for purchase.

A special note: A good portion of the novel takes place in Hearthstone and includes a character named Lynne Phillips who just happens to be the museum’s curation director!

The event is free. Seating is on a first come basis. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Please join us for this fun evening of and museums and murder!

Doesn’t Mom deserve a little special treatment? Of course, she does! On Mother’s Day, all moms receive free admission to Hearthstone with a paid admission (because of course you want to go with her). What better way to celebrate Mom’s special day than in the special surroundings of Hearthstone. Plus, our docents will be sharing stories of Hearthstone’s first women - Cremora and Florence Rogers and Mary Deimer.

It’s a Mother’s Day celebration of historic proportions!

Do you revel in HBO’s The Gilded Age? Have you ever wanted to feel like a part of Miss Scarlet or Murdock Mysteries? Or maybe that you just stepped off the pages of a Sherlock Holmes short story or Bram Stoker’s Dracula? You can.

Relax in Victorian splendor as you stroll the veranda at Hearthstone with a cool drink in hand while listening to performances on our 1875 square grand piano.

Ladies are encouraged to wear their best Victorian hats (or their best Kentucky Derby hats… it is the evening before the big race after all). Beautiful hats were de rigueur for Victorian ladies. Gents can sport their own boater or bowler. If you do not have a hat, we would be glad to lend you one of our recreations from our collection.

Our docents will be dressed up as well playing the roles of hostesses or the Rogers’ servants as they welcome you into the home while serving complementary lemonade, iced tea, white wine, or mint juleps.

The evenings are about slowing down the pace of life and being immersed in the lavish surroundings of the wonderfully restored 1882 Queen Anne Style home.

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

This is the last performance for this year.

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

Tickets will be available exclusively on-line on this website starting Jan 9.

Additional performances are planned for other weekend nights.

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

The Foundations of Society – Women’s Undergarments of the Victorian Age

$0.00

The Foundations of Society – Women’s Undergarments of the Victorian Age by Hearthstone volunteer and accomplished seamstress Jordan Rousseau. Ms. Rousseau, who creates bespoke Victorian clothing, will share her expertise and extensive research to detail the literal, and figurative, confining of Victorian women.  The presentation, which reprises and expands her presentation from last year, will include Powerpoint slides as well as a live model demonstration of dressing in Victorian clothing.

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

Tickets will be available exclusively on-line on this website starting Jan 9.

Additional performances are planned for other weekend nights.

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

Hearthstone’s favorite premier event is back and more mysterious than ever! Test your sleuthing skills as you join other guests - all in character and in costume - to solve a murder that happens (almost) right before your very eyes. It is an Agatha Christie novel come to life in the sumptuous surroundings of Hearthstone’s beautiful Victorian interiors (what could be more Agatha Christie than that!).

The night features heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine and soft drinks served by the museum’s volunteers dressed as maids and butlers while guests interact (in character, of course) to figure out who had motive and opportunity to do the dastardly deed. It is a night dedicated to mayhem, murder, and fun!

Help us celebrate 177th birthday of the world’s greatest inventor - Thomas Edison! All tours will include special demonstrations and hands-on exhibits (for the young and young at heart) that illustrate some of Edison’s most important creations. These include the incandescent light bulb, movies, and the phonograph. In fact, Edison experts Rob and Joan Rolfs will be on-hand to demonstrate an Edison phonograph and guests will be able make a recording and then hear themselves on an Edison cylinder!

Join us for a very special day to celebrate a special inventor who had a direct and important connection to Hearthstone.

Giving Tuesday is essential to the future of every non-profit organization. Please consider giving to Hearthstone or one of the other wonderful non-profits that do so much for our community. Any gift you give means so much to all of us. We cannot thank you enough.

As beautiful as they were, Victorian homes could be deadly… as there were perils lurking in every room.

Back by popular demand, this sold-out tour in 2021 and again in 2022 is led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder. The 80-minute tour (one at 11 am and one at 2 pm) follows a day in the life of Henry and Cremora Rogers as they move through their home and encounter hidden dangers at every turn. The tour is alternatingly horrible and hilarious as guests wonder… “What were they thinking!?”

As beautiful as they were, Victorian homes could be deadly… as there were perils lurking in every room.

Back by popular demand, this sold-out tour in 2021 and again in 2022 is led by Hearthstone’s Executive Director George Schroeder. The 80-minute tour (one at 11 am and one at 2 pm) follows a day in the life of Henry and Cremora Rogers as they move through their home and encounter hidden dangers at every turn. The tour is alternatingly horrible and hilarious as guests wonder… “What were they thinking!?”