It was in beautiful, historic Suffield that Dr. Alexander King built his home in 1764 on what has become one of New England's most admired Main Streets. Dr. King was a prominent leader of the local community, as well as a farmer and physician. His fine Georgian Colonial house still stands as an excellent example of the standard center-chimney structure of its day.

King's home, since 1960 the museum of the Suffield Historical Society, is filled with a great collection of early Connecticut Valley furniture. In addition, the museum's galleries display many interesting exhibits of local history.

Especially signficant is the Suffield cigar tobacco exhibit, as the town was for many decades one of the major sources of Connecticut Valley tobacco, as well as the location of the first cigar factory in the United States. Other exhibits include a large gathering of early flasks and bottles, an unusual set of tenth wedding anniversary tinware, and a large collection of Bennington pottery, along with many other examples of local memorabilia.

Summer Exhibit at the King House

This summer's exhibition will showcase "Decorative Arts from Fine to Folk" from the collection of Suffield Historical Society Trustee Bob Stewart. He has collected colorful fabrics and other artifacts from around the world which highlight the crafts of weaving, embroidery, and contemporary print design using subliming inks. Bob has created explanations of several of the craft techniques. These include printing on cloth, brocade weaving on a Chinese Double Draw Loom and fabrics made on simple backstrap looms in Chiapas, Mexico.

Handwork from the Society's collection, primarily embroidery as shown in our many fine samplers, will add to the exhibit. The King House Museum will be open to visitors on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons beginning in May.