The Governor Bellingham-Cary House

Check out our events: EVENT CALENDAR

Janet Sartor has been the curator of the Governor Bellingham-Cary House since November 2024. Museums and art schools have been at the center of her career for more than 30 years, having worked in conservation at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and  in educational programming at the Harvard Art Museums, and at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.  Upon retirement in 2024, she started volunteering at the Governor Bellingham-Cary House and was soon invited to join the Board of Trustees in the position of curator.  Janet has a BFA in sculpture and a MFA in Italian Literature from the University of Oregon.  She also studied art conservation at l’Istituto per l’Arte e il Ristauro in Florence, Italy. We are excited to showcase our new logo that bridges a rich heritage in Colonial America with the present day GBCH.

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The Bellingham-Cary House

The Governor Bellingham- Cary House and surrounding acres in Chelsea have been witness to over 350 years of American history.  From the beginning of European settlement in the early 17th century, when it was a bountiful place full of natural resources to the bustling 21st century city today, it has evolved and persevered.

The Cary family lived here from the 1760s until the beginning of the 20th century.  Their home, known lovingly as “the Retreat”, was a bucolic oasis remembered fondly by both family and friends alike.

For over a century, the Governor Bellingham-Cary House Association has cared for this singular piece of our nation’s history.  Registered as a National Landmark property, numerous preservation and conservation grants have helped to preserve both the building and its contents to serve as a window to the past for the over 1,000 people, including school children, who visit here every year.

It is open for sponsored events and open houses throughout the year, as well as by appointment. Check our Facebook page and events section of this website for upcoming events.

Photographs are courtesy of Jarrod Staples Photography, Matt Frank Photography, Marianne Salza and Charlie Chapman.