Susan Brownell Anthony (1820 – 1906), social reformer and prominent leader of the women’s suffrage movement, was born in Adams, MA. Step back in time to life in the early 19th century and Anthony’s childhood with a visit the Susan B Anthony Birthplace Museum.

Though Susan B Anthony’s greatest achievements occurred well after her childhood years, the seeds of who she became are here in the Berkshires. Anthony was raised in the Quaker tradition, valuing society, humility, simplicity, and especially equality. Precepts that undoubtedly influenced Anthony’s pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement.

The home of her birth is now a museum dedicated to showcasing the story of the great social reformer’s early years.

Susan B Anthony Birthplace Museum

Susan B. Anthony’s birthplace is a rural, 2.5-story, Federal-style home. Anthony’s grandfather built it in 1817 as a gift  to her father. The 1950s and ’60s saw further additions. The restored house opened as a museum in the 2000’s, displaying permanent and changing exhibits. A former garage is now the museum gift shop.

Visitors to the museum will discover Susan B. Anthony’s story through artifacts, ephemera, and memorabilia. You’ll learn about her family’s daily life and the many early influences that had a lasting effect on her life and activism.

Rooms on display in the museum include the kitchen and hearth, a portrait gallery, and the birthing room, where Susan and five of her siblings were born. The Legacy Room contains a timeline of the major events of Anthony’s life from 1820 to 1906 with suffrage postcards, meeting notices, and other fascinating artifacts. You’ll also see Daniel Anthony’s store, which he ran out of the family home,  as it may have looked in in 1817.

The museum hosts a variety of traveling exhibits throughout the year. It is also the site of workshops, lectures, reenactments, and other events. Visit the museum website to learn more. You can also find the museum on Facebook.

Visiting The Museum

The Susan B Anthony Birthplace Museum is located at 67 East Road in Adams, MA. This is just under an hour from our Berkshires bed and breakfast, the Inn at Stockbridge.

Adams, MA is home to a variety of other fascinating attractions, too. Places like Natural Bridge State Park, Berkshire Art Museum, and MASS MoCA. You’ll also be within the vicinity of Mount Greylock; highest point in the state, yet with a summit you can drive to.  

In fact, the drive to Adams is so full of potential things to see and do, it would be very easy to design a day trip around your visit. If this sounds like fun to you, let us know. We’d love to help you plan your itinerary!