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Join us for our September First Friday event! We will be hosting Bob Keefe and the Surf Renegades in our gardens with artwork by Donna Nicholas in our gift shop. Refreshments will be provided and rooms in the Museum will be open for interpretation. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for our August First Friday Event! We will be hosting multi-instrumentalist Kevin Dorsey in our gardens with art by Sally Stormon in our gift shop. Two rooms in the Museum will be open for interpretation and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for July First Friday! We will be hosting Colleen Kattau & Dos XX performing what they like to call "Americaña, aka "gringa moves from the heart" in our gardens, and art by Bre Fleuff in our gift shop. Refreshments will be provided and one room in the Museum will be open for interpretation. We look forward to seeing you there!

As part of the Pathway Through History weekend come and see what is in bloom—history and flowers alike— at the Seward House gardens and grounds with Facilities Manager Mitch Maniccia. Mitch will lead a newly-designed walking tour through the historic landscape, describing the Seward’s vision of “wild nature” for their sprawling acres, and the changes made to the house and outbuildings during the 19th century.

The night of April 14th, 1865 is engrained in historic memory. From the coordinated attack that led to President Lincoln being shot and John Wilkes Booth making his way across the stage of Ford’s Theatre as he escaped DC, the vicious knife attack on Secretary of State William H. Seward, leaving him wounded along with four other victims, to the debated involvement of figures such as Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, the conspiracy targeting important officials of the United States Federal Government remains a point of intrigue for historical researchers and museum visitors alike.

Join a number of Auburn’s historical sites for a virtual camp experience! The Cayuga Museum, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Seward House Museum, and Seymour Library are teaming up to bring history to life for children approximately ages 8-10. Campers will be provided kits with a week’s worth of activities and supplies, all of which will be used through the online guidance of site staff.

Due to our First Friday event from 5-8PM, the 4 o'clock tour is no longer available. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

The Seward House Museum is pleased to announce the return of First Friday! We are so excited to start this First Friday season off on a high note as we feature art by Arthur the Artist in our gift shop and a live musical performance by Brian Francis in our gardens! We will be having one room in the Museum open for interpretation, and will be providing refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there as we welcome the return of summer! 

William Henry Seward was no stranger to the shadowy world of espionage. As Secretary of State during the Civil War, he built a massive intelligence-gathering spy ring abroad to thwart Confederate influence. But at the same time, a network of southern operatives were busily working against him. Few were more intriguing or powerful than Rose Greenhow. Once a Washington socialite and personal friend of Seward’s, she dramatically set herself against him once the war began.

Mr. Seward spent his 68th birthday with an usual houseguest: Swiss portrait artist Frank Buscher. It was May 1869, and Seward had just retired from Washington and returned home to Auburn. Buchser spent those first months by his side while completing his own project: a tour of America spent painting Civil War scenes. Among other sights, he captured Generals Robert E. Lee and William T. Sherman, scenes from the wartorn countryside, and former Secretary of State Seward. Today the SHM has a few pieces from Buchser’s period of residence, while other portraits made their way back to Switzerland.

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