Adopt an Artifact
History needs a little help to stand the test of time
History isn’t just words on a page—it’s something you can see, touch, and hold.
At Revolutionary Spaces, we go above and beyond preservation of the Old State House and Old South Meeting House—we also safeguard the artifacts that bring their stories to life. From 18th-century furniture and rare documents to Revolutionary-era tea, our collection holds a tangible connection to the past.
But history needs a little help to stand the test of time. Our team works tirelessly to repair, restore, and protect these priceless objects so they can continue to inspire for generations. Right now, we need your support to fund critical conservation efforts.
Will you help? A gift of $50 or more provides the tools and expertise needed to:
- Repair original furniture from the 18th century
- Restore historical textiles, like a delicate 18th-century wedding dress
- Conserve rare books that shaped the minds of America’s founders and were owned by early revolutionary figures
Your support today keeps these artifacts—and the stories they tell—alive. Donate today! Thank you for being a part of Revolutionary Spaces and helping us protect history for the future.
These are just a selection of some of the objects we are hoping to preserve and conserve. Click on the images below to take a closer look! Your donation supports our efforts to ensure that these objects remain part of our shared history for generations to come.
China platter that belonged to Major-General John Stark, who served in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Stark became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for the key role he played in that 1777 battle.
Conservation Needs: This China platter has a clean break down the center. Collections staff would like to have it repaired and returned to its original condition.
Silk embroidered wedding dress, made and worn in 1731 by Elizabeth (Bull) Price. Bull began hand-stitching and embroidering the dress at the age of 14 and wore it for her wedding four years later. The dress is well-known among textile historians who value it for the fact that it is a rare surviving example of a complete (though later modified) early eighteenth century dress. The dress was also worn at the coronation of King George III and by several later Price family brides.
Conservation Needs: Although the dress was conserved about 10 years ago, some significant staining on the front of the dress has since darkened. Staff would like to have the staining further treated so it is not as visible and will not continue to further discolor the silk.
The Works of Mr. William Shakespeare, Volume the Second and Volume the Third, 1723, first edition of Alexander Pope printing. From the personal collection of Rhode Island Chief Justice and Deputy Governor Jabez Bowen (1739-1815).
Conservation Needs: These two rare first editions were compiled and edited by British poet and political satirist, Alexander Pope. Pope worked with London publisher Jacob Tonson in 1723 to produce the five-volume set, the first to regularize Shakespeare's metre (Pope was later criticized for the liberties he took in editing and removing some of Shakespeare's content). The two volumes in Revolutionary Spaces' collection are in poor condition with loose pages and bindings and water damage. Staff would like to have the books conserved so that they can be used for display and research without a concern of further damage occurring.
Elaborately carved seventeenth century wooden chair with a cane seat and splat bordered with carved Tudor roses. The legs, stretchers, and uprights are all made with well-proportioned spirals with a rosette at each joining. A royal crown is carved into a highly placed stretcher across the front two legs and on the upper back of the chair, designs popular with the first models to come from the Restoration style (c. 1660). This chair was used by the Rev. Roger Price (husband of Elizabeth Bull) prior to the Revolution in his chapel at Hopkinton, MA.
Conservation Needs: The carved crown on the upper back of the chair was broken off at some point while in storage. Staff would like to complete repairs to have the carving restored to its original location on the chair.
Late eighteenth century doll purchased in London and brought to the United States by Edward Blake for his niece, Almira Blake. The doll has a wooden body, leather arms and legs, and a painted plaster face. The doll has its original silk dress, petticoats, and pantalettes, and a beaded choker.
Conservation Needs: The doll is historically significant in that it appears to retain all of its original clothing and paint; because dolls were playthings, eighteenth century dolls are rarely found with their original garments. The plaster face is chipped and unstable and the hair is tangled. The silk of the dress is shattered in places. Staff would like to have the doll conserved to repair the plaster and paint on the face, return the hair to a more original state, and assess whether the silk could be repaired in any way.