The Duxbury Rural and Historical Society was founded in 1883 as an improvement society, and by the 1890s, had an increasing interest in conservation and historical projects. The earliest land acquisition was around 1895, making DRHS one of the oldest land conservation entities in America! This was done at a time in Duxbury’s history when there were no other conservation organizations able to engage in this type of endeavor.
Today, the DRHS is joined by many other conservation entities and our role has evolved, but the DRHS still owns more than 150 acres of land in Duxbury and Plymouth. Different parcels serve different purposes: some are maintained in conjunction with historic buildings; some are for recreation, and are open for public use; a few are reserved for the use of DRHS Members; and, many are held in preservation for the benefit of the wider community.
The DRHS has an active Lands Committee which is charged with creating processes and procedures for responsible land management of DRHS holdings. Any questions about DRHS lands should be directed to the Executive Director, Sabrina Kaplan, at 781-934-6106 or skaplan@duxburyhistory.org.
All use of lands is subject to responsible use, as well as rules and regulations. All users are advised that they use the land “at their own risk.”
