Our historic house and 50 acres offer family-friendly programming. From Mansion tours to open-ended nature play, we have something for families of all ages and abilities.
Please also check the What's On page for other family-friendly events.
Take-A-Walk Backpacks Rentals
Explore Gore Place with family-friendly History and STEAM activities and earn your Gore Place badge! Take-a-Walk backpacks are portable kits of activities, field guides, tools, and materials that will help you enjoy and learn about Gore Place. Identify trees, make a bird’s nest, start an herb journal, and explore for nature treasures. Activities are designed to suit a range of ages and learners with support from a caregiver. Recommended for ages 3-12.
Ring the bell at the door of the mansion to rent a bag. Please be ready to leave an ID or similar collateral with us until you return the bag.
Rental Cost: $5 per bag per hour
Regular Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., bags must be returned by 3 p.m.; Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., bags must be returned by 2 p.m.
Visit our Story Trail!
Stroll along the Story Trail on our estate, where you can read a book from cover to cover while moving along the Trail. This Trail will feature one new book each season. Watch for books in multiple translations!
Current book: The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Story Trail Admission: Free.
Location: Find the first page of the book posted on a slanted board near Gore Place's Nature Playscape, which is located beside the museum's main parking lot. Follow the story along the Perimeter Walk. To reach the parking lot, enter at our main entrance at 52 Gore St, Waltham.
Hours: Available every day from dawn to dusk.
The Nature Playscape
The Nature Playscape is a shaded outdoor play area located at the northwest corner of the estate. The soft chip play area has benches and a variety of natural elements for imaginary play. A log can be a balance beam and a stump can be a table. The adjoining north lawn provides a flat, grassy space to extend activities beyond the shady grove. The Nature Playscape attracts families daily even when there is no scheduled program.
Click here to join us for Tot Time At The Nature Playscape!
Explore age-appropriate art, science, engineering, and nature play projects with our educators. Activities are open-ended and allow children to do as little or as much as they like. Each session has different activities as well as some returning favorites. Designed for children ages 2-6 years old, with an adult.
Click here and learn about our Babywearing Tours
Are you a new parent? Looking to get out of the house and be with other adults in a museum? Come to our special babywearing tour. We’ll see our gorgeous 1806 Mansion, and we won’t mind if your baby sleeps – or cries – through our tour!
Buy tickets here for Saturday Family Time
Explore and learn with your family at Gore Place! Activities change each week but will include hands-on activities, visits to the farm, learning about our sheep, and more!
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