The Portsmouth Historical Society is pleased to share the exciting news that three historic Vanderbilt-era vehicles have joined the Society’s collection, offering visitors a rare opportunity to connect with Portsmouth’s Gilded Age past.
The newly added carriages help tell the story of a time when Portsmouth and nearby Aquidneck Island were closely tied to the grand estates, social customs, and transportation traditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These vehicles are more than beautiful examples of craftsmanship. They are artifacts that reflect the people, places, and way of life that helped shape the region’s history.
Visitors to the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum will have the opportunity to view these remarkable pieces up close and consider the role that horse-drawn transportation once played in daily life, recreation, and society. The arrival of the carriages also strengthens the Society’s ability to preserve and interpret Portsmouth’s connection to the Vanderbilt family and the broader Gilded Age era.
The Portsmouth Historical Society is grateful for the opportunity to care for these important historic vehicles and share them with the public. Their new home in Portsmouth ensures that they will remain accessible to the community, students, researchers, and visitors interested in local history.
We invite the public to visit the museum this summer and see these exceptional additions to the collection. They offer another meaningful way to explore Portsmouth’s past and appreciate the importance of preserving the objects and stories that connect us to earlier generations.
Read the full article on East Bay RI News
