Historical Furnishings and Decorative Arts The historic
furnishings and decorative arts in the museum collections date
from the mid eighteenth to early twentieth century. The majority
of the furnishings came into the house between 1837 and 1928,
and were acquired by the Longfellow family by purchase,
inheritance, or gift. The Longfellows possessed a reverence for
the past. For them, having antique objects and furniture
stimulated their awareness of America's past and their house's
association with George Washington and the American Revolution.
The family's cosmopolitan interests are also reflected by many
items from around the world within the rooms. All of the
exhibited pieces of furniture are from the house, and are placed
in their historical locations within the rooms. There are over
450 items ranging from utilitarian to high-style pieces. The
collection serves as a history of decorative styles over the
years, beginning with the William and Mary Transitional style to
the Arts and Crafts style of the 1920s.