The story of the Narragansett Historical Society began long before the Society itself was organized.

In the late nineteenth century, Templeton resident Hosea Lane created a local museum to preserve the town's history and artifacts. As the years passed, the collection grew, reflecting the rich agricultural, industrial, and civic heritage of Templeton and its surrounding villages.

Recognizing the importance of protecting these pieces of local history for future generations, Templeton residents gathered in 1924 at the home of Helen Parkhurst to reorganize the collection and establish what would become the Narragansett Historical Society.

The Society took its name from Narragansett Township No. 6, the colonial settlement that eventually became the Town of Templeton. From its earliest days, the Society was dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped our community.

For many years, meetings were held in private homes and the Society's collections were housed in several locations throughout town, including the second floor of the Boynton Library. As the collections continued to grow, members dreamed of creating a permanent home where Templeton's history could be preserved and shared with the public.

That dream became reality with the purchase and restoration of the historic Boynton House at 1 Boynton Road. Through generous community support and countless volunteer hours, the Society established a permanent museum where artifacts, photographs, documents, furniture, and family treasures could be brought together under one roof.

In 1934, the Society was formally incorporated, with Mrs. Henry Kirke White serving as its first president. Over the decades, dedicated volunteers and members have continued to expand the collections, restore historic buildings, and create educational programs that connect the community with its past.

Today, more than one hundred years after its founding, the Narragansett Historical Society remains committed to preserving Templeton's history for future generations. Through museum exhibits, research, special events, restoration projects, and community partnerships, the Society continues the work begun by those early preservationists in 1924.

We believe that history is more than the story of the past—it is the foundation of our community and a gift to future generations.