We all have our dreams, James Madison Beebe, a successful businessman in industrial era 1860s Boston, dreamed of leaving the crowded, pungent city for the fair breezes of Falmouth where under construction was his 17,000 sf stick-style Victorian summer mansion. Subsequent owners each had their dreams; health spa, theater group, etc. Saved from demolition, Highfield is a stellar example of a historic site that actively participates in community and commercial life.

During reconstruction, modifications were made to accomodate large groups; otherwise, the original details were faithfully reproduced. Two former bedrooms were allotted for exhibits, and a film was commissioned.

Rebecca Migdal, our material culture consultant, had a vision where visitors explored a semi-private space to learn about the experience and aspirations of the 19th-century women who lived here. Content•Design’s mandate was to go beyond the Beebe family and celebrate Highfield’s architectural significance as a place of retreat and creativity. Our art sources drew upon collections from the Woods Hole and Falmouth Historical Societies, Stanford University. Come visit and tell us if our rich, floor-to-ceiling murals devoted to Creativity, Retreat, Community, and Architecture induce a dream-like state to you, the visitor!