Rokeby MuseumAbout Rokeby
From 1793 to 1961, Rokeby was home to four generations of Robinsons — a remarkable family of Quakers, farmers, abolitionists, artists, and authors. Today, the Robinson family’s home is a National Historic Landmark, designated for its exceptional Underground Railroad history. Rokeby is among the best-documented Underground Railroad sites in the country, one the National Park Service has described as:
“unrivaled among known sites for its historical integrity and the poignancy of the stories it tells.”
Telling those stories is at the center of the Museum’s mission, which is to “connect visitors with the human experience of the Underground Railroad and with the lives of the Robinsons, who lived on and farmed this land for nearly 200 years.” Guided by Rachel Gilpin and Rowland Thomas Robinson’s commitment to speaking truth to power, today’s Rokeby is committed to serving as a center for the exploration and discussion of contemporary social justice issues.
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Today is International Museums Day! This year`s theme is "Museums Uniting a Divided World," and in that spirit, Rokeby Museum encourages all of our visitors to explore our latest exhibit, "Help Each Other." A collaboration with @quakerpirate Todd Drake, "Help Each Other" is a call for each of us to embrace empathy, to condemn war, and to believe in hope.
The center of the exhibit is a Quaker-inspired discussion circle, which emphasizes equality and brotherhood between the sitters. It`s our hope that visitors will take time to truly experience the exhibit and share their thoughts and feelings with others, whether they be friends, neighbors, or strangers.
We live in a time where museums find themselves accused of promoting "divisive" or "unpatriotic" perspectives, especially surrounding the time of enslavement. This exhibit is a reminder that while our history and the actions of our predecessors may be difficult to grapple with at times, the struggle to understand can be one that unifies, not divides, us.
Rokeby Museum is open 10-5, seven days a week, until October 11th.
#rokeby #museum #history #quaker #grafitti #empathy #exhibit #discussion #understanding #truth #InternationalMuseumDay
May 18
Rokeby Museum is officially open for our 2026 season! From now until October 11th, Rokeby will be open 7 days a week, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Immerse yourself in the struggle against slavery in our main exhibit, "Seeking Freedom: The Underground Railroad and the Legacy of an Abolitionist Family"
Admire the art of our newest exhibit, “Help Each Other,” a collaboration with the @quakerpirate Todd Drake. Then, explore the grounds to see some of his outdoor installations.
Take a guided tour of the historic Robinson home, offered twice daily, Wednesday to Monday, 11:00am and 1:30pm
Pair your visit with a walk on one of our interpretative nature trails (Bring appropriate footwear!)
Stay tuned for news on our upcoming events, beginning with our annual Sheep & Wool Day festival, Saturday, June 6th!
#rokeby #museum #history #announcement #opening #art #quaker #familyfun #housetour #Vermont #nature #naturetrail
May 16
It`s time! Rokeby Museum opens tomorrow, May 16th, 10:00 - 5:00 for our 2026 season. We`ll be open 7 days a week until October 11th, so make sure you stop by and visit!
Don`t miss the debut of our brand new seasonal exhibit, "Help Each Other," featuring the art of the @quakerpirate, Todd Drake! The exhibit will include a selection of Drake`s work, a graffiti wall, and a Quaker-style discussion circle. Take a seat and share your impressions with friends, neighbors, or even strangers.
Rokeby Museum members will get a special early look at the exhibit opening tonight, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, with a special talk from Todd Drake himself!
#rokeby #museum #event #announcement #art #quaker #pirate #opening #gallery #exhibit #discussion #CallToAction
May 15
Rokeby Museum is almost open! In just five days, our grounds, exhibits, and historic outbuildings will again be open daily, 10 - 5, from May to October. Join us Saturday, May 16th, for the official start of our 2026 season.
As we put the finishing touches on this year`s exhibits, Rokeby is excited to host our new artist in residence, the @quakerpirate, Todd Drake! Drake will be developing outdoor art installations to complement an exhibit and visitor experience of his work, "Help Each Other." Drake has claimed the Other House, perhaps one of the oldest buildings on site, as his studio. As the Other House has served all number of purposes in its lifetime (milking room, worker lodging, guesthouse), we couldn`t think of a more fitting location for his transformative art!
Can`t wait for the weekend? Feel free to stop by this week to explore our grounds, walk our nature trails, and watch the Quaker Pirate in action. And don`t forget to come back on Saturday to experience the whole site!
#rokeby #museum #announcement #opening #art #grafitti #quaker #artistinresidence #empathy #sitesofconscience
May 11
Happy Mother`s Day from Rokeby Museum! This tender photo depicts three generations of Robinsons: Anna Stevens Robinson (1841–1920), her daughter Molly Robinson Perkins (1884–1931), and her grandson Llewellyn Perkins (1914-1970).
Stop by Rokeby Museum today for an early opening of our exhibit and historic house! Join us at 11:00am and 1:30pm for a tour and learn all about the Robinson family, including the amazing mothers who made this house a home.
Mothers get free admission all day!
#rokeby #museum #event #announcement #mothersday #familyfun #activities #mothers #housetour
May 10
Rokeby Museum continues our series on Rowland E. Robinson (1833-1900) with an excerpt from his 1896 work, "In New England Field and Woods."
MAY DAYS
“…The gray haze of undergrowth and lofty ramage is turning to a misty green, and the shadows of opening buds knot the meshed shadows of twigs on the brown forest floor, which is splashed with white moose-flowers and buds of bloodroot, like ivory-tipped arrows, each in a green quiver, and yellow adder-tongues bending above their mottled beds, and rusty trails of arbutus leaves leading to the secret of their hidden bloom, which their fragrance half betrays.
Marsh marigolds lengthen their golden chain, link by link, along the ditches. The maples are yellow with paler bloom, and the graceful birches are bent with their light burden of tassels. The dandelion answers the sun, the violet the sky. Blossom and greenness are everywhere; even the brown paths of the plough and harrow are greening with springing grain.
We listen to the cuckoo`s monotonous flute among the white drifts of orchard bloom and the incessant murmur of bees, the oriole`s half plaintive carol as of departed joys in the elms, and the jubilant song of the bobolink in the meadows, where he is not an outlaw but a welcome guest, mingling his glad notes with the merry voices of flower-gathering children, as by and by he will with the ringing cadence of the scythe and the vibrant chirr of the mower. Down by the flooded marshes the scarlet of the water maples and the flash of the starling`s wing are repeated in the broad mirror of the still water. The turtle basks on the long incline of stranded logs...
...Sun and sky, forest, field, and water, bird and blossom, declare the fullness of spring and the coming of summer.”
“May Days”, In New England Fields and Woods, 52 - 56
#rokeby #museum #rowlanderobinson #springvibes #literature #series #nature #Vermont #May
May 9
