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Hassanamisco Homestead Restoration Project
Campaign
The Nipmuc Nation and the Hassanamisco Indian Museum
Committee are working toward restoring the 200+ year-old
Hassanamisco Homestead (or the Cisco Homestead) located
on the tribe’s three-acre reservation in Grafton,
Massachusetts.
The Homestead is an important structure believed to be
the oldest surviving timber-framed building built for
and continuously occupied by Native Americans in the New
England region. It provides important information about
the early “English” houses of New England Indians, the
ways they were utilized and ultimately changed. For
this reason, the preservation of the building and
prevention of further damage and loss of this important
structure is imperative.
In addition to serving as a homestead to the Cisco
family, who served as leaders of the tribe from the late
19th century until the 1980s, this historic
structure has also housed a tribal museum since 1962.
The museum’s collections consist of over 3000 items that
include books, manuscripts, photographs, furniture, and
archaeological and ethnographic material. The museum
and reservation have been a favorite destination for
tourists, scout troops, school groups, and other
organizations for decades. Both the Homestead and the
reservation are presently under evaluation for inclusion
on the National Register of Historic Places under the
category of Traditional Cultural Places.
The rate of deterioration of the Homestead has forced
the building to be closed to the public, and it is
estimated that this restoration project and reopening of
the Museum will cost approximately $300,000.
For further information on how to assist with this
project,
contact the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Office at 774.293.1600,
ext. 10
or Project Coordinator Rae Gould at 860.443.4646
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