The Trustees - Crane Estate

The Trustees - Crane Estate For information, hours, events, tickets, and more, please visit our website at thetrustees.org/craneestate! http://www.facebook.com/thetrustees
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Welcome to the Facebook community for the Trustees of Reservations' Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The spectacular Crane Estate encompasses more than 2,100 acres in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The Estate is made up of three properties: Castle Hill, a National Historic Landmark that is the home of The Great House, a spectacular venue for weddings and corporate events, guided tours, and progra

ms. Crane Beach, a popular public beach and summer destination; and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a natural treasure boasting many rare plant and animal species. The Trustees of Reservations preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. We'd love to hear from you in our main Trustees Facebook community, too.

Enjoy some beautiful staff pictures from a recent CraneOutdoors kayak trip! Join one of our peaceful paddles and make me...
06/20/2026

Enjoy some beautiful staff pictures from a recent CraneOutdoors kayak trip! Join one of our peaceful paddles and make memories that will last a lifetime 🛶🌅

Register: https://thetrustees.org/program/craneoutdoors/

Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, a day that celebrates and honors Black freedom, resilience, achievement, and joy. June...
06/19/2026

Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, a day that celebrates and honors Black freedom, resilience, achievement, and joy.

Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, and it remains a time for reflection and rejoicing, for education.

Wherever you find yourself this Juneteenth, we invite you to spend the day however feels right for you: reflecting, celebrating, learning, or simply being present with the people around you. Gatherings like this are how a community holds the weight of the past and the joy of the present at the same time. We invite you to reflect on the ongoing pursuit of equity, justice, and belonging while enjoying the beauty of the shared spaces that connect us all.

06/18/2026

This week in our "Staff Spotlight" series, hear from Theo (a.k.a. Norman), Historical Interpreter, Event Assistant, and Customer Service Representative at the Crane Estate. Theo shares some of his favorite stories about his favorite room in the Great House, the Library.

Follow along to hear from staff across the Crane Estate as they share what makes the property so special.

06/17/2026

Castle Hill Picnic Concerts begin in just one week! 🎶🍻🌊

Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and set up on the lawn. While here, explore the gardens, walk the 1/2-mile-long Grand Allee, try a landscape-themed eye spy, picnic, and dance on the grass.

Thursday, 6/25 - The Far Out
Thursday, 7/2 - Voodoo Lounge
Thursday, 7/9 - Studio Two
Wednesday, 7/15 - Disco Dream
Thursday, 7/16 - What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?
Wednesday, 7/22 - Los Sugar Kings
Thursday, 7/23 - Fortune
Thursday, 7/30 - Beantown Swing Orchestra
Thursday, 8/6 - Soul Rebel Project
Thursday, 8/13 - Soul City
Thursday, 8/20 - Entrain
Thursday, 8/27 - Orville Giddings Band

Tickets sell fast! https://thetrustees.org/program/concerts/

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a CraneOutdoors hike or kayak trip!In honor of Juneteenth, join us for a kayaking and...
06/17/2026

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a CraneOutdoors hike or kayak trip!

In honor of Juneteenth, join us for a kayaking and hiking tour focused on the history of Jane, Violet, and their family. Come learn more about this important history and visit the site at which this story took place.

Register: thetrustees.org/program/craneoutdoors/

📸: Stoney Stone

Join us tomorrow evening for the release of Gardens of the Gilded Age by Jana Milbocker 🌸Step back into America’s golden...
06/16/2026

Join us tomorrow evening for the release of Gardens of the Gilded Age by Jana Milbocker 🌸

Step back into America’s golden era with author, garden designer, and speaker Jana Milbocker as she presents her newest book, Gardens of the Gilded Age. In this richly illustrated talk, Jana explores the breathtaking estates and legendary landscapes created for families such as the Cranes, Vanderbilts, and Rockefellers-alongside the visionary architects and designers who brought their grandeur to life. Discover the stories behind these magnificent gardens and the people who shaped them, then meet the author during a post-talk book signing.

Pre-order your book for pick-up at the event. Additional copies will be available for purchase in the Castle Hill Gift Shop.

🌸Arrive early and explore the gardens and grounds.
🌸Enjoy complimentary cookies and lemonade.
🌸Make it an occasion-bring your friends and don your finest garden hat or fascinator! Take a commemorative photo together at our “flower photo arch”.
🌸Talk to our Horticulturalist team in the gardens.

Wednesday, June 17 | 6PM
Tickets: https://thetrustees.org/event/445542/

Did you know that the Great House at Castle Hill is also open on weekdays?Guided tours of the Great House and Castle Hil...
06/16/2026

Did you know that the Great House at Castle Hill is also open on weekdays?

Guided tours of the Great House and Castle Hill Grounds are offered every day that the house is open. From traveling back in time and learning about the Crane family in the 1920s or experiencing the entirety of the grounds from a golf cart, we have a tour for you!

Returning this year due to popular demand is the Highlights on the Hill tour! Sit back and relax in our tour cart as you experience all that Castle Hill has to offer. Accompanied by one of our knowledgeable tour guides, you will have the opportunity to visit the end of the Grand Alleé, Barn Complex, and some behind-the-scenes roads that are normally only accessible by foot.

Out of the 7 guided tours we offer, which is your favorite?

Visit our website to learn more about our guided tours: https://thetrustees.org/program/castle-hill-tours/

Please note that entry to the first floor of the Great House is included in your grounds admission ticket.

Castle Hill Hours:
Great House: Tuesday-Sunday & Holiday Mondays 10AM - 4PM
Grounds & Gardens: Daily 9AM - 5PM (Last entry at 4PM)

Thanks to the advocacy efforts of Maddie Jay, a student from Essex, a plaque has been installed on Choate Island to hono...
06/15/2026

Thanks to the advocacy efforts of Maddie Jay, a student from Essex, a plaque has been installed on Choate Island to honor the lives of Jane & Violet, two girls who were enslaved, and died and were buried on the island in the 1750s. In May 2025 Maddie reached out to The Trustees to advocate for a historic marker recognizing Jane & Violet to be installed on Choate Island, and through her project, connected with Debbie Bynoe, a descendent of Jane & Violet's parents, Ned & Sabina. In the year since Maddie's original outreach to The Trustees, Education Manager Val Perini, with the help of colleagues, has worked with Maddie & Debbie to further research and share the story of Jane & Violet, via a lecture, interpretation, and a bronze plaque installed on Choate Island in May 2026. Maddie's actions remind us that one person - no matter how old or young - can make a big difference in their community and in the lives of others.

You can learn more about this story and view the newly installed bronze marker this Saturday, June 20th on the CraneOutdoors: Juneteenth Choate Island Kayak and Hike. Sign up here to join us. https://thetrustees.org/event/446638/

It's the perfect time of year to have a picnic at Castle Hill! 🧺🥪🧃🍇Whether it's setting up a blanket at the end of the G...
06/14/2026

It's the perfect time of year to have a picnic at Castle Hill! 🧺🥪🧃🍇

Whether it's setting up a blanket at the end of the Grand Alleé, finding the perfect bench in one of our gardens, or enjoying beautiful views from a table at the Casino Complex, there are so many picturesque spots to set up the perfect picnic!

Some picnic tips:
☀️ You may bring your own food or purchase food from one of the many local restaurants in the Ipswich/Essex area
☀️ Light snacks and cold beverages are available for purchase at the Castle Hill Gift Shop
☀️ Please, no alcohol

Please note that Bluewater Kitchen is no longer serving food at Castle Hill.

Due to popular demand, an additional evening of Classical at Crane Isn't a Drag with Dr. Viola Voilà has been added for ...
06/13/2026

Due to popular demand, an additional evening of Classical at Crane Isn't a Drag with Dr. Viola Voilà has been added for July 26. 🎻🎹✨

Join us for an evening of music with Dr. Viola Voilà featuring a classical repertoire on viola and piano in the Great House Ballroom. Pianist Eion Clark and clarinetist Dr. Claire Annette will accompany Dr. Viola Voilà.

The July 26 Concert, Carpe Diem “Long Live Life”, will include: William Grant’s Still Here’s One, Ulysses Kay’s Sonatine, Paul Hindemith’s Trauermusik, Libby Larsen’s Black Birds, Red Hills, Max Bruch’s 8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, & Piano (Selections), and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida.

Tickets: https://thetrustees.org/event/448127/

Address

290 Argilla Road
Ipswich, MA
01938

Telephone

(978) 356-4351

Website

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