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Join Us at the Homestead!
Join Us at the Homestead!
The Sweat-Morin Homestead first opened our doors to the public at our grand opening on July 19 of 2025. We are now open for tours of the historic house, barn, and property Saturdays from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.
We also partner with the Mousam Way Land Trust on guided walks of the Virginia Morin Preserve.
In addition, we host many popular Sanford-Springvale Historical Society events focused on daily life during the colonial period.
Please visit us in at 374 School Street in Sanford, Maine!
An Old-Fashioned Plowing Demonstration
An Old-Fashioned Plowing Demonstration
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Experience the sights and sounds of rural agriculture with an old-fashioned plowing demonstration at the Sweat-Morin Homestead. This special event features the impressive strength of a team of oxen paired with an old-fashioned plow, providing a glimpse into the past at the property once owned by Reverend Moses Sweat, Sanford’s first Congregational minister.
In addition to the plowing demonstration at 10:00 AM, guests are invited to tour the meticulously restored grounds until 2:00 PM — including the historic home, carriage house, barn, and family cemetery — or walk the expansive wooded trails.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Plowing Demonstration: 10:00 AM
Homestead Tours: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead house and barn are handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at an-old-fashioned-plowing-demonstration.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please email info@sweatmorinhomestead.org.
A Guided Walk in the Spring Woods of the Virginia Morin Preserve
A Guided Walk in the Spring Woods of the Virginia Morin Preserve
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Join Mousam Way Land Trust and Sweat-Morin Homestead for a seasonal guided walk along the trails of the Virginia Morin Preserve!
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, retired arborist Kurt Woltersdorf will lead a guided walk on the trails of the Virginia Morin Preserve in South Sanford. The walk is sponsored by the Mousam Way Land Trust in conjunction with the Sweat-Morin Homestead.
Woltersdorf has a degree in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University. He manages about 250 acres in South Sanford for wildlife and timber production. He is an Appalachian Trail section hiker and has a particular interest in ecological silviculture and managing for old-growth forest characteristics.
The walk will begin at 10:00 AM in the parking lot of the Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street in Sanford. It will be approximately two hours in length, but the trails will allow anyone to leave earlier if necessary.
The Virginia Morin Preserve is the result of a 2022 donation from Mrs. Morin’s estate and totals about 100 acres of undisturbed woodland dedicated to remaining undeveloped. The existing trails on the property have been extended with two new loop sections. The trails now total a little less than two miles in length.
The preserve has a number of interesting features including extensive groves of very large hemlock and white pine, stands of white and red oak, and several wetlands. Wildlife is abundant especially deer and wild turkey.
This is the second of our popular guided walks highlighting different seasons of the year at the Virginia Morin Preserve. Come and explore nature’s beauty with us!
EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Event Starts: 10:00 AM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at a-guided-walk-in-the-spring-woods.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please email info@sweatmorinhomestead.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Mousam Way Land Trust. We thank them for their generous support.
Saturday Tours of the Homestead
Saturday Tours of the Homestead
Saturdays from April through October
The historic Sweat-Morin Homestead is open Saturdays from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM from April through October.
Stop by 374 School Street in Sanford, Maine to take a tour, walk the trails, learn about ongoing projects, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities!
EVENT DETAILS
Saturdays from April through October
Time: 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead house and barn are handicapped accessible.
The British and Pequawkets at Phillipstown: Trading Post Protocols
The British and Pequawkets at Phillipstown: Trading Post Protocols
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Hear the story of the Pequawket Indians and British regulars and their trading practices at truck houses in York County and New Hampshire. This program will help introduce participants to the cultural origins of customs and beliefs; the chronology of major events and people in Maine history; the cultural backgrounds of the peoples and groups involved in the trade; examples of cultural conflict and cooperation; how cultures differ in their use of similar environments; and how different ways of knowing and believing have influenced human history. Participants will learn about each culture in groups and then come together to role-play trading in 18th-century Southern Maine.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Event Starts: 10:00 AM & 1:00 PM (30-participant limit per time slot)
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at the-british-and-pequawkets-at-phillipstown.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Smoke and Savour: Life in a 1700s Era Kitchen
Smoke and Savour: Life in a 1700s Era Kitchen
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Learn about cooking in the 1700s, when women were responsible for starting and maintaining the kitchen fire, carrying water, gathering fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and grabbing meat from the smokehouse. All of this would be done by breakfast — it was much more difficult and time-consuming than what we do today, even when we try out a recipe for the first time. And following recipes was not always “easy as pie,” either — they were usually written in paragraphs and included a description of the process. Join us as we make some tried-and-true recipes, such as Indian Meal Pudding. Samples and hands-on assistance will be needed!
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Event Open: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at smoke-and-savour.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Colonial Clothing Demonstration: Dressing Up in the 1700s
Colonial Clothing Demonstration: Dressing Up in the 1700s
Saturday, July 25, 2026
What did Moses Sweat, the owner of the Sweat-Morin Homestead, wear while working out in his fields? What kinds of clothing were worn and where? How was it all made in 1786? Reenactors Sara and Bob Donovan will model and explain colonial attire for men and women, piece by piece, and from head to toe.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Event Open: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at colonial-clothing-demonstration.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Colonial Gender Identity: Cultural, Religious and Familial Outlooks in the Colonial Era
Colonial Gender Identity: Cultural, Religious and Familial Outlooks in the Colonial Era
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Explore the 18th-century Americas, when gender identity was defined by a strict, patriarchal structure in which men held public power and women were restricted to domestic, private roles. Religion reinforced these hierarchies, defining female virtue through motherhood and piety, while legal frameworks often rendered women secondary to men.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Event Starts: 10:00 AM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at colonial-gender-identity.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Revolutionary War Militia: Rest Your Flintlocks!
Revolutionary War Militia: Rest Your Flintlocks!
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Step back with us to 1775, when military decorum and assigned duties within the rebel units gradually improved from a collection of militia farmers and yeomen to the beginnings of a coordinated and effective fighting force. Officers of the Continental Army, former merchants, planters, lawyers, farmers, and legislatures realized the need for organized camp life. If a regiment learned to adhere to a strict routine of duties while in camp, then field and armament drills in preparation for battle would be a natural spinoff. Discipline, routine, and respect for the pecking order of command were the ingredients that over time would mold a country’s citizenry into an army of resistance. The soldier’s life was not allowed to be passed in idleness. Uniforms and arms required daily attention before the hour for parade through constant drilling. The endless duties connected with cooking, obtaining fuel, and caring for the camp provided much work for all. Attendees of this program will learn how to drill with muskets, saw wood for the campfire, examine what the soldiers carried in their haversacks, and see what they ate while at camp.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, September 19, 2026
House Tour: 10:00 AM
Program: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at revolutionary-war-militia.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Tavern Night: Raise Your Flask!
Tavern Night: Raise Your Flask!
Saturday, October 30 , 2026
Celebrate Halloween in your favorite 18th-century outfit and enjoy Holy Moses Ale, hard cider, tasty colonial snacks, scary stories from old, and a bonfire to ward off evil spirits.
EVENT DETAILS
Friday, October 30 , 2026
Event Open: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at tavern-night.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Past Events
Past Events
Holy Moses: A Colonial Pastor's Homestead and Grounds in 1786
Holy Moses: A Colonial Pastor's Homestead and Grounds in 1786
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Please join us at Sweat-Morin Homestead, as we participate in Jane’s Walk ME! Take a tour and step back into the 18th century by exploring the home of Reverend Moses Sweat, Sanford’s first Congregational minister. The meticulously restored Sweat-Morin Homestead offers a rare look at colonial life, including a carriage house, historic barn, family cemetery, and expansive wooded trails.
The historic home has been furnished with a mix of authentic pieces and period correct replicas. Inside, you will find original woodwork paint colors and the traditional colonial layout, including the keeping room, back kitchen, birthing room, and parlor. Architectural features include three working fireplaces and massive 32-foot ceiling beams.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR
The Historic Barn: Constructed with original timber framing, the barn features unique reverse-board-and-batten sides.
Demonstrations: Watch history come to life with live demonstrations of a barn loom and two working spinning wheels.
Scholarly Legacy: Learn about the fascinating life of Reverend Sweat, an intellectual leader who was granted a master’s degree from Harvard University.
The Landscape: Situated on 100 acres, the property represents the original plot size mandated by Massachusetts law for an "orthodox" (Congregational) minister.
Walking Trails: Visitors are also invited to walk approximately two miles of scenic trails winding through the historic property.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Event Starts: 10:30 AM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead house and barn are handicapped accessible. The dirt road out to the cemetery is not terribly rough. The trails are moderately accessible — visitors have walked portions of the trails with a walker, but they are not wheelchair friendly.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at holy-moses-a-colonial-pastors-homestead-and-grounds-in-1786.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please email info@sweatmorinhomestead.org.
This is a participating Jane's Walk ME event.
WHAT IS JANE’S WALK?
Jane’s Walk is a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement. The annual Jane’s Walk festival takes place the first weekend in May, in more than 500 cities and towns around the globe.
WHO WAS JANE JACOBS?
Jane Jacobs was a community activist and writer who lived from 1916 – 2006. She is best known for galvanizing her neighbors to stop a highway from being built through their community. She believed in the power of individuals to influence the places they live. Today, her principles underpin the participatory planning approaches that have been embraced in communities around the world.
Gardening Tips from 1776
Gardening Tips from 1776
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Please join Sweat-Morin Homestead's Barbara Sutcliffe for "Gardening Tips from 1776" at 3:00 PM, during the Sanford Garden Fair on March 28!
This will be a unique session taking a look back at colonial horticultural techniques that are still relevant today. Whether you're a history buff or a modern gardener looking for time-tested secrets, this highlight of the afternoon offers a fascinating bridge between the past and your own backyard.
The fair takes place at the Sanford Memorial Gymnasium, with doors open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Beyond the colonial gardening session, visitors can also attend "Containers Through the Seasons" at 11:00 AM and "Art in the Garden" at 1:00 PM.
Sponsored by the Sanford-Springvale Beautification Program, the event features a wide array of agricultural vendors, food, raffles, door prizes, and activities for kids — making it a perfect spring outing for the whole community!
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Garden Fair: 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
Gardening Tips from 1776: 3:00 PM
Address: Sanford Memorial Gymnasium, 678 Main Street, Sanford, ME
TICKETS
$5.00 at the event (free for children under 12)
All proceeds directly benefit the Sullivan Memorial Garden in the Sanford Main Street Marketplace.
A Guided Walk in the Winter Woods of the Virginia Morin Preserve
A Guided Walk in the Winter Woods of the Virginia Morin Preserve
Sunday, February 15, 2026
On Sunday, February 15, retired arborist Kurt Woltersdorf will lead a guided walk on the trails of the Virginia Morin Preserve in South Sanford. The walk is sponsored by the Mousam Way Land Trust in conjunction with the Sweat-Morin Homestead.
Woltersdorf has a degree in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University. He manages about 250 acres in South Sanford for wildlife and timber production. He is an Appalachian Trail section hiker and has a particular interest in ecological silviculture and managing for old-growth forest characteristics.
The walk will begin at 1:30 PM in the parking lot of the Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street in Sanford. It will be approximately two hours in length, but the trails will allow anyone to leave earlier if necessary. The walk is free but due to limited winter parking, please sign up on Eventbrite to reserve a parking spot. There is space for only 25 cars; carpooling is encouraged. Following the walk, participants can enjoy hot chocolate and cookies at the Homestead.
The Virginia Morin Preserve is the result of a 2022 donation from Mrs. Morin’s estate and totals about 100 acres of undisturbed woodland dedicated to remaining undeveloped. The existing trails on the property have been extended with two new loop sections. The trails now total a little less than two miles in length.
The preserve has a number of interesting features including extensive groves of very large hemlock and white pine, stands of white and red oak, and several wetlands. Wildlife is abundant especially deer and wild turkey.
This is the first of what will be several guided walks highlighting different seasons of the year at the Virginia Morin Preserve and Sweat-Morin Homestead.
EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
Winter parking is limited to the 25 cars, so carpooling is encouraged.
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at a-guided-walk-in-the-winter-woods.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance helps us prepare for the number of attendees, as winter parking is limited to a maximum of 25 cars. For questions, please email info@sweatmorinhomestead.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Mousam Way Land Trust.
Colonial Tavern Night
Colonial Tavern Night
Saturday, November 1, 2025
The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society is teaming up with us for our Colonial Tavern Night. Join us for an evening of merriment as the Sweat-Morin Homestead invites you to the Tavern to enjoy a sip of their new Holy Moses Ale, hard cider, and colonial tavern food. There will be tours of the homestead, the telling of the “Sanford Witch” story, and other spooky happenings! A nighttime stroll in the Sweat family cemetery ends the evening. This event is for 21+ only.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Tavern Doors Open: 5:00 PM
Cemetery Walk: 6:30 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
ADMISSION
Sign up at colonial-tavern-night.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is open to the public, but donations are suggested at the event.
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
18th Century Harvest Day
18th Century Harvest Day
Sunday, October 19, 2025
The Sanford-Springvale Historical Society is teaming up with the historic Sweat-Morin Homestead to host a special Harvest Day event. Join us for a unique look at how people prepared for winter in the 18th century. We'll be demonstrating chores like wood splitting, haying, cider making, spinning, and harvesting — all using authentic tools and techniques from the era. There will also be a hearth cooking demo.
EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Event Open: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at 18th-century-harvest-day.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
A Day in the Life of an 18th Century Servant
A Day in the Life of an 18th Century Servant
Saturday, August 2, 2025
This program will help participants understand the nature of daily life among the servants who worked for the more ‘upper crust’ population of our area. You’ll prepare food or do kitchen chores such as making butter, nipping sugar, and making pickles. Additional activities will include working with textile weaving and spinning, playing colonial games, exploring English country dancing, and engaging in other typical 18th century activities.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at a-day-in-the-life-of-an-18th-century-servant.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
Sweat-Morin Homestead Grand Opening
Sweat-Morin Homestead Grand Opening
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Please stop by to help us celebrate the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year restoration project — and get a glimpse of how early settlers lived in Sanford just after the American Revolution!
Tour the restored 1786 home of Reverend Moses Sweat, the first Congregational minister of Sanford.
Explore the restored barn and cemetery.
Walk the trails on the Mousam Way Land Trust’s Morin Preserve.
View a behind-the-scenes slideshow of the restoration project.
Enjoy light refreshments and snacks.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at sweat-morin-homestead.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please email barbarajsutcliffe@gmail.com.
Download and share the grand opening flyer.
Colonial Dame School
Colonial Dame School
Saturday, July 12, 2025
A special program for all ages! Children will have a great time learning early Colonial lessons and playing period games. Adults will also participate, learn more about the “Dame,” and tour the historic Sweat-Morin Homestead.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at colonial-dame-school.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
The Age of Medicine & Midwifery
The Age of Medicine & Midwifery
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Participants will learn how to develop skills and abilities required to become a midwife by 18th century rural community standards. Identifying medicinal plants and preparing simple remedies will be demonstrated. These guided hands-on activities will focus on keeping ‘cool’ and will help to better understand the role of women during colonial times.
EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead is handicapped accessible.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at the-age-of-medicine-and-midwifery.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
This program is presented in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust.
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