The American Museum and Gardens

A heavy shower soon after breakfast so much of Bath disappeared from view. It had eased as we set off across the Avon to The American Museum and Gardens, somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for some time. 

It is set in Claverton Manor near the University and was a one time Domestic Science College, becoming a College of Education (Home Ec) in the early ‘70s. How appropriate, I could have gone there!

We went straight to the American Garden Deli for coffee as the rain stopped and the sun was appearing.
First stop was the lower garden including the Arboretum, Parklands and Wilderness trail. We immediately noticed the lovely views over the Limpley Stoke Valley.
The more formal gardens included the Mount Vernon garden based on the Upper Gardens of George Washington's home at Mount Vernon, Virgina.

In the Coach House was the ‘Gert LUG’ Lego exhibition. This was a play on the Bristolian term ‘Gert Lush’, meaning great. LUG is an acronym for Lego Users Group and this group was from Bristol. At the other end of the park was a more permanent display for the summer called ‘American Bricks’, again Lego representing well known American buildings and sights. Extra. The Hollywood sign contains 31,000 bricks!

We returned to the deli and had some lunch - an American Museum Frank - before entering the museum itself.

Starting in the basement we visited the 17th/18th century including Clonkey’s Tavern from Massachusetts. Rooms have been recreated from actual buildings across the eras and social standing of the times with everything brought from the US including the floorboards!
On the first floor was the Textile Room, over 50 of the 200 + 18th - 20 century quilts owned by the museum are on display in book style cases. Covered with protective plastic they are not easy to photograph but I’ve added a few in the extra collage. Can’t deny that this was one of my reasons for wanting to visit. There were rugs and Navajo weavings on display too.

Everything has been collected by two wealthy American, men living in Bath, who decided they needed somewhere close to Bristol (for transport links) to display it all.

Back to the terrace outside the deli for tea and cake and more of the garden views to end a great day out and a good start to our holiday, definitely something for everyone and even some sunshine!

Grace did make her flight from Edinburgh after just 1.5 hours sleep! She’s joined the family now and the girls were pleased to see her.