American Museum, Bath (must see)

The American Museum is a unique cultural institution located in Claverton, near Bath. It stands as a notable museum dedicated to American art and culture, housed in the historical Claverton Manor. This 19th-century house, designed by English architect Jeffry Wyatville for John Vivian in 1819-20, is perched on the west slope of the Avon valley, offering picturesque views of the surrounding landscape and the River Avon.

Founded by Dallas Pratt, an American psychiatrist and heir to a Standard Oil fortune, and John Judkyn, a British designer and antiques dealer who later became an American citizen, the museum opened its doors on July 1, 1961. It holds the distinction of being the only museum outside the United States that focuses exclusively on American decorative arts.

The museum's collections are both diverse and historically significant. They include a wide array of American cultural artifacts, decorative arts, and antiques. One of the highlights is a series of Period Rooms, which span a timeline from around 1690 to 1860. These rooms are not mere displays; they are reconstructions of historic American interiors, offering immersive glimpses into the past. Visitors can explore various settings, such as a late seventeenth-century Puritan home, an eighteenth-century tavern, and a lavish New Orleans bedroom from around 1860.

Additionally, the museum is renowned for its extensive collections of American furniture, quilts, and folk art. This includes over 200 quilts and textiles, with 50 permanently on display, a significant collection of over 200 antique historical maps, and an impressive array of American folk art, the most significant collection of its kind in Europe.

Each year, the museum organizes a special exhibition that delves into more recent aspects of American history. These exhibitions are held in the museum's external gallery, a separate structure from the main manor house, which also hosts the museum's gift shop.