What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10:30am - 11:30am 2pm - 3pm Wednesday 10:30am - 11:30am 2pm - 3pm Thursday 10:30am - 11:30am 2pm - 3pm Friday 10:30am - 11:30am 2pm - 3pm Saturday 10:30am - 11:30am 2pm - 3pm

Willard House and Clock Museum

Home
United States
Grafton, MA
Willard House and Clock Museum

Call Directions Website

Step back in time and see where clockmaking began in Central Massachusetts. The Willard Clock Museum https://linktr.ee/Wh.cm

11/13/2026

'Tis the season for many things, but today it is a New England favorite: Indian Pudding. The long and the short of how this dish came to be is thus:
Much of the thirteen colonies were settled by the English, and the English LOVE puddings, it was a standard food form, and a boiled wheat pudding called hasty pudding was very popular. In "the New World" wheat was harder to produce, but the natives grew/used maize throughout. The settlers began to substitute maize for wheat and a new pudding variation was born, sometimes sweet with sugar/maple syrup and fruit, sometimes savory with meat and drippings. New England, as part of the triangle trade, had abundant molasses which they used to sweeten many dishes. Maize pudding plus molasses (and spices) gave us Indian Pudding!

This is a video collaboration between two creators I am fond of, feel free to check it out.
https://youtu.be/fU43YzYm57s?si=f4P1UZoVbdzJ-jvv

11/12/2026

The Art of Clockmaking: Patience, Precision, and a Steady Hand.

What does it take to restore a precious timekeeper? Sometimes, it means repairing something almost too small to see.

David G. Gow Memorial Scholarship recipient Adrian Kison recently practiced the meticulous art of replacing broken teeth on a clock wheel. Each tooth measured just 30 thousandths of an inch in thickness and height!

The process requires extraordinary patience and precision—carefully cutting, filing, fitting, and soldering new teeth without damaging the neighboring ones.

The trick is using files thin enough to create the tooth profile while not accidentally filing the existing adjacent teeth. The project took nearly seven hours, Adrian explains.

It's an exercise he plans to practice weekly as he works toward becoming a certified clockmaker.

This is the craftsmanship the Gow horological scholarship is committed to preserving and passing along to future generations. Learn more about the scholarship recipients at https://willardhouse.org/scholarship-recipients.

Preserve the Past. Teach the Craft. Inspire the Future.

11/11/2026

A Time to Remember. A Legacy of Service.

This , the Willard House & Clock Museum honors all who have served our nation.

From Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron Willard answering the Lexington Alarm in 1775 to Simon Willard Jr.’s military service, the Willard family has a proud history of answering the call of duty.

US History is closer than you think! Make time to visit the Willard House & Clock Museum in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Step inside the historic Willard homestead, discover the family's remarkable contributions to American history, and experience the craftsmanship that helped define a nation.

Plan your visit and discover history where it happened! https://willardhouse.org/contact

11/10/2026

We're in Good Company — and Right on Time!

We're delighted to see the Willard House & Clock Museum featured on the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association's Pinterest page for member institutions! https://ow.ly/sc6t51057aG

Did you know that for as little as $100, a Journeyman Membership at the Willard House & Clock Museum opens the door to more than 1,500 museums and cultural institutions across North America?

Your NARM reciprocal membership benefits include:

Free general admission to participating museums and cultural institutions.

Museum shop discounts at participating locations.

Special member pricing on select exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and events. See the NARM page for restrictions: https://ow.ly/Orai51057aE

It's a wonderful way to explore history, art, science, and culture while supporting your favorite local museum.

One membership. More than 1,500 destinations. Countless discoveries.

Become a Journeyman Member of the Willard House & Clock Museum today. It's a timely investment that keeps on giving! Join WHCM at https://ow.ly/b9C851057aF

Preserve the Past. Teach the Craft. Inspire the Future.

11/08/2026

May the beauty of Diwali fill your world with boundless joy and illuminate your path to success. Happy Diwali from Willard House and Clock Museum.

11/05/2026

The book of the month is "John Minott: Boston Ornamental and Clock Dial Painter." This fully illustrated volume with colored photographs by Paul Foley details the career and works of Willard collaborator John Minott through his successes and failures.

See the full description and purchase here: http://ow.ly/EOGs50N8Ylx

Also, be sure to check out Mr. Foley's other works in our shop:
"Simon Willard's Patent Alarm Time Pieces!"

11/04/2026

Good News! We’re Giving You More Time!

We know life gets busy! Several applicants have asked whether we could extend the November 4th deadline for the $10,000 David G. Gow Memorial Scholarship for Horology.

The answer is YES!

We’re extending the application deadline by one full week to November 11!

This nationwide scholarship supports U.S.-based students pursuing professional careers in clockmaking, helping the next generation of clockmakers advance their skills and keep the craft thriving.

NEW Application Deadline: November 11

Scholarship Award: $10,000

Award Announcement: December 15

More time. More opportunity. Keep the craft ticking!

Learn More: https://willardhouse.org/david-gow-scholarship

11/04/2026

Preserving Time, One Clock at a Time!

Today is National Ask a Conservator Day, a day celebrating the skilled professionals who preserve our cultural heritage for future generations.

At Willard House & Clock Museum, Executive Director Robert C. Cheney brings decades of expertise as a third-generation clockmaker and respected authority on early American clocks to the specialized art of clock conservation.

Robert practices an approach known as sympathetic conservation—respecting a clock's original craftsmanship, materials, character, and history while carefully addressing its preservation needs - and you will see that in our collection.

Unlike restoration that seeks to make an antique look new again, sympathetic conservation embraces the passage of time. Every worn gear, aged surface, and handmade component can reveal something about the clockmaker, the clock's journey, and the generations who treasured it.

The goal isn't to erase the centuries. It's to preserve the evidence of them.

Robert's work reminds us that conserving a historic clock involves much more than keeping it ticking. It's about safeguarding the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and stories that make each timepiece an irreplaceable part of American history.

At Willard House & Clock Museum, that's how we Preserve the Past. Teach the Craft. Inspire the Future.

Have you ever wondered what goes into conserving a centuries-old clock? Share your questions in the comments or send us a note at [email protected].

11/03/2026

It's Time to Make Your Voice Heard!

At the Willard House & Clock Museum, we know a thing or two about the importance of time.

For centuries, the Willard family crafted clocks that helped Americans keep track of their days. Today, on Election Day, we encourage everyone to take a little time for something equally important — making your voice heard.

Democracy depends on participation, and every vote is an opportunity to help shape our future.

Make time for what matters. Get out and vote!

Image: Discourse.net

11/01/2026

It’s time again to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday morning, and get an extra hour of sleep!

Here is a little history about Daylight Saving Time (http://ow.ly/PQta50LsqLa) and how to appropriately set your clock/timepiece for the occasion (http://ow.ly/XiQU50LsqL8).

Address

11 Willard Street
Grafton, MA
01536

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10:30am - 11:30am
	2pm - 3pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 11:30am
	2pm - 3pm
Thursday	10:30am - 11:30am
	2pm - 3pm
Friday	10:30am - 11:30am
	2pm - 3pm
Saturday	10:30am - 11:30am
	2pm - 3pm

Telephone

+15088393500

Website

http://willardhouse.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Willard House and Clock Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.