The American Museum and Gardens (formerly known as the American Museum in Britain) is a museum in a country house on the outskirts of Bath that has exhibits of American decorative arts including patchwork quilts and Shaker furniture. It is the only museum of American decorative arts outside the United States.
![The American Museum and Gardens in Bath, Somerset (Photo: Don Cload [CC BY-SA 2.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/american-museum-bath.jpg)
The American Museum and Gardens in Bath, Somerset (Photo: Don Cload [CC BY-SA 2.0])
What to see at the American Museum and Gardens
The American Museum focuses on exhibits depicting the United States prior to the 1880s. It is arranged in a series of rooms, each dedicated to a particular period from around 1690 until 1860 and it is noted for its displays of American decorative arts including patchwork quilts and Shaker furniture.
Temporary exhibitions at the American Museum
There is also a programme of temporary exhibitions, which often focus on more recent aspects of American history. Current and planned exhibitions include:
American Road Trip
The American Road Trip exhibition (9 March–31 December 2024) delves into the origins and narratives of this quintessentially American experience, showcasing the cultural phenomenon of the road trip. The exhibition features interactive elements, such as large-scale travel games and road trip memorabilia, including a 1958 Harley Davidson Duo Glide motorcycle on loan from the Haynes Motor Museum.
The house and gardens
The museum is located at Claverton Manor, a Grade I listed country house that was built in the 19th century and offers lovely views of the Somerset countryside and the River Avon. The house is set among extensive parkland and gardens, which have been landscaped to represent different aspects of both English and American garden design including a replica of George Washington’s garden at Mount Vernon.
Visiting the American Museum and Gardens
The American Museum and Gardens is located at Claverton Manor on the outskirts of Bath. Although it is in an idyllic setting surrounded by countryside, the museum is only 4km (2½ miles) from the city centre. It takes less than an hour to walk here or you can drive in around 10–15 minutes. However, it is harder to get here by public transport as the closest bus stop is a 10–15-minute walk from the museum.
All the museum buildings are wheelchair accessible and most of the gardens are also accessible for visitors in wheelchairs.
The museum’s Garden Cafe is a lovely spot for a light meal and the museum also has its own on-site gift shop.
Allow around three hours to visit the museum plus additional time to travel here from the centre of Bath.
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