Bristol Historical & Preservation Society in RI
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    • EVENTS
      • CALENDAR
      • BRITS ATTACK BRISTOL!
      • BRITS ATTACK SPONSORSHIPS
      • UPCOMING LECTURES
      • WALKING TOURS
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      • EXHIBITS
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      • COLLECTIONS
    • POZZI CENTER
    • LEARN MORE
      • RESEARCH & REPRODUCTION
      • GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
      • PLAQUE PROGRAM
      • PANDORA'S BLOG
      • TALES FROM JAIL
      • OUR STORY
      • CONTACT US
Bristol Historical & Preservation Society in RI
  • Home
  • EVENTS
    • CALENDAR
    • BRITS ATTACK BRISTOL!
    • BRITS ATTACK SPONSORSHIPS
    • UPCOMING LECTURES
    • WALKING TOURS
    • GENEALOGY CLUB
    • HISTORY BOOK CLUB
  • MEMBERSHIP/DONATIONS
    • MEMBERSHIP
    • DONATIONS
  • EXHIBITS/COLLECTIONS
    • EXHIBITS
    • TIMELINE OF ENSLAVEMENT
    • COLLECTIONS
  • POZZI CENTER
  • LEARN MORE
    • RESEARCH & REPRODUCTION
    • GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
    • PLAQUE PROGRAM
    • PANDORA'S BLOG
    • TALES FROM JAIL
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTACT US

NEW EXHIBIT COMING SOON

What do 200 year old Fijian war clubs, etched glass cups from the World’s Fair of 1893, 19th century wooden water pipes from Bristol, and a collection of sand from beaches all over the world have in common? 


They are all in the BH&PS collections! 


COLLECTORS OF CURIOSITIES:

THE HISTORY OF THE WUNDERKAMMER


A Wunderkammer, or "cabinet of curiosities," was a collection of unusual, rare, and sometimes bizarre objects typically amassed by wealthy individuals or scholars during the 16th to 18th centuries. These collections often included artifacts from the natural world, exotic items from far-off places, anatomical specimens, rare minerals, artworks, and antiquities. 


Wunderkammers served both as a reflection of the collector's interests and an attempt to make sense of the world through the lens of wonder and discovery.


In the spirit of the Wunderkammer, the BH&PS is opening its own "cabinet" to share our most interesting, curious and diverse objects from our collections including  200-year-old Fijian war clubs, etched glass cups from the World’s Fair of 1893, 19th century wooden water pipes from Bristol, and a collection of sand from beaches all over the world. 


The exhibit will display what drives humans to collect and what the consequences of collecting might be. How were these collections begun and how did they metamorphose into our modern museums all over the world? 


Discover information from interesting collectors right here in Bristol, learn more about Rhode Island Day at that World’s Fair of 1893, and see for yourself just how the collections at the BH&PS itself serve as a very special cabinet of Bristol history.  


Lastly, be inspired to learn how to make your own Wunderkammer collection, and be sure to check our calendar as we begin to announce some of our line-up of events coming up in 2025 about this fabulous exhibit.


Check back for dates of our opening and special events surrounding this exhibit. The exhibit will open as soon as the repairs to our exhibit room floor are complete.



Image is from the Sir Ashton Lever Collection, 1775, at Leicester Square in London, with over 27,000 objects.

PAST EXHIBITS

PAST EXHIBIT

Our 2024 exhibit "PLAY!"  presented the wide range of  fascinating toys from the Society's collections, 


We all know that the nature of play has changed over time. This extraordinary exhibit featured activities which were popular here in Bristol long ago.  Visitors could see for themselves how toys and play can be different when viewed through the lens of history, sociology, anthropology, education, folklore, philosophy, psychology, and even literature.

PAST EXHIBIT

BRISTOL VETERANS AND THE EVOLUTION OF MILITARY FUNERARY RITES 


The challenges of military service are well known. But what about when a soldier dies in combat? This exhibit illuminates what happens to Veterans who make the ultimate sacrifice and how the practices of caring for our military dead have changed alongside changing tactics of war.


PAST EXHIBIT

A HISTORY OF BRISTOL'S SCHOOLS FROM 1680 TO 1800


Students in class at the Burton School located at 140 High Street, Bristol.

PAST EXHIBIT

LOST MAIN STREET: MOM & POP BUSINESSES OF BRISTOL'S PAST

As part of a RI Council for the Humanities Grant, the BH&PS created a "walk" through of LOST MAIN STREET.

PAST EXHIBIT

DIFFERENT TOOLS, DIFFERENT VIEWS


Doughnut mold made from salvaged German medals and bullet casing by Corporal Jack [Graro].

PAST EXHIBIT

THE FACES OF THE BRISTOL RUBBER INDUSTRY


Rubber worker standing next to a 1000-pound ball of rubber.

PAST EXHIBIT

NEVER DONE: WOMEN'S WORK


The extraordinary photograph above pictures a woman applying wallpaper assisted by an unknown man.


OUR MISSION


The mission of the Society is to stimulate interest in the history of Bristol, Rhode Island, through education, research, and the collection and preservation of historic objects.


The Bristol Historical & Preservation Society is a 501(c)(3) Organization.

Copyright © 2018 Bristol Historical & Preservation Society - All Rights Reserved.

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