THE SYLVANUS THAYER BIRTHPLACE
Thayer House and well in rear yard Looking North Looking South A classic New England "Salt Box" The General Sylvanus Thayer BIrthplace and Museum, located at 786 Washington Street (commonly known locally as Thayer House), is a principal landmark in the Town of Braintree. The original house, built in 1720 by Nathaniel Thayer, was a two-story structure consisting of a hall and parlor on the first floor, and two bedchambers on the second floor. Subsequently, a front vestibule was added and a large keeping room (kitchen) was constructed across the( rear of the house, together with a rare sunken buttery, spare room, carriage shed, and shoe shop. General Sylvanus Thayer , the “Father of West Point,” was born in the house in 1785. Since the move to the present site, a sizeable basement exhibit space has been added. Here we have the Braintree Room, the Military Room and the 19th Century Room. These spaces artfully display a wide range of pictures and artifacts that show significant and fascinating aspects of local and national history. Included in the Society's rotating collections is one of antique ladies’ fans, manufactured by Braintree companies that were industry leaders in their day, is especially popular. Sylvanus Thayer advocated engineering education. His birthplace holds exhibits on the railway, military history, and coopers, as well as circa 1785 period rooms. The society offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours of the Thayer House. |