American Museum and Gardens

American Museum, Bath

Built in 1820, Claverton Manor has housed the American Museum & Gardens for over 50 years. Eighteen period rooms document the development of American decorative arts from the 1680s to the 1860s. Among the items on display are examples of folk and Native American art, and an extensive collection of quilts. Over 200 quilts are on display, with pieces of traditional Shaker furniture, Native American art, and old maps of the New World.

The museum opened in 1961 with the intention of bolstering the historic link between the US and the UK. It is the only museum devoted to American arts outside the US.

The museum's collection is displayed in a lovely suite of authentic period rooms within Claverton Manor. In the basement is the intriguing 'American Heritage Exhibition', which recounts the tale of the Founding Fathers, the history of Native Americans and the story of the American Civil War. There is an audio guide to help you enjoy the museum, and room stewards are on hand to answer questions.

American Gardens

Homesick for American landscapes? Or curious about the flora of the New World? The gardens at the American Museum are home to a collection of North American trees and shrubs, as well as a recreation of the garden at Mount Vernon, Virginia home of George Washington. There are 120 acres of gardens in total, with 40 open to visitors.