Situated on 120 acres of land approximately two miles from Bath's city center, is the American Museum in Britain. Also known as Claverton manor, this museum has a commanding view of the hills around the University of Bath. The original house was constructed in 1340 and then rebuilt in 1758 by Ralph Allen. The museum was founded in 1961 by American Dallas Pratt and Britain John Judkyn and is touted as having "...the finest collection of American decorative arts (folk and historic) outside of the United States." In addition to focusing on the history of the United States between 1690 and 1860, the museum has recreated rooms from the early days of the manor. We caught the free shuttle bus from the city center out to the museum and spent a number of hours exploring this wonderful building and its surrounding grounds.
Claverton Manor is home to the American Museum in Britain...
...which overlooks the Avon River valley
This is NOT the free shuttle bus to the museum from Bath's city center.
The central staircase off of the main foyer.
This period room recreates what the kitchen of the early manor house would have looked like.
18th century parlor/ music room with furniture created by Duncan Phyfe.
Master bedroom with a trundle bed and cradle .
The main portion of the museum is dedicated to American history...including this late 19th century buckskin dress
Former slave, Nancy Burns (1800-1849) worked for Pierre Van Cortland and his family after gaining her freedom.
The kerchief she is wearing in the portrait has survived the years and is on display in the museum next to the painting.
Cyrus Dallin's "Appeal to the Great Spirit" ( circa 1900).
Frederic Remington's "The Cheyenne" in from of a late 19th century water color entitled "The Prospector" by an unknown artist.
One room in the museum is devoted to the art of American quilt making...
...many of which we found exquisite!
In a separate building on the grounds was a exhibit covering the history of toys in America.
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