The museum houses a premier collection of over 200 American quilts, considered one of the finest outside the United States.
The estate grounds include a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon garden, maintained with historically accurate plantings.
Claverton Manor, the site's main building, was designed by architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville in 1820.
The museum was founded in 1961 by an American, Dr. Dallas Pratt, and a British citizen, John Judkyn, to promote Anglo-American understanding.
The collection includes authentic Native American objects dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The site features a rare collection of 19th-century American children's toys and folk art figures.
The gardens were redesigned in recent years by landscape architect Dan Pearson.
The American Museum & Gardens is the only museum in the UK dedicated entirely to American history and decorative arts. Housed in the grade I-listed Claverton Manor, the museum showcases a collection of 18th- to 20th-century American folk art, quilts, and period rooms. The estate features extensive grounds, including a replica of George Washington’s upper garden at Mount Vernon. A dedicated gallery hosts rotating exhibitions that explore various facets of the American experience. The site provides views over the Limpley Stoke Valley and the River Avon. Visitors can view an extensive collection of historical maps and rare Americana artifacts. The landscape includes a woodland walk and an arboretum with specimen trees.
The terrace overlooking the Limpley Stoke Valley offers the most expansive view of the surrounding landscape.
Check the museum's events calendar before visiting to time your trip with seasonal floral displays in the gardens.
Wear sturdy walking shoes to fully explore the steep, sloping paths of the arboretum and woodland areas.
Plan your visit to coincide with the changing exhibitions in the New Gallery, as these are temporary.
Do not attempt to walk from central Bath, as the museum is located at the top of a significant hill with no pedestrian-friendly route.
Closed on Mondays during the off-season; the museum is generally closed for a period during mid-winter.
