Gilbert Stuart, who was born on December 3, 1755, in the colonial-era house located on the property, became a famous American portraitist of the 18th and 19th centuries.

[3] He ground dried tobacco leaves into snuff, a fine powder used widely in the colonial era, and his was actually the first such mill in America.

Tours of the museum include the operation of the mills, explanation of the fish ladder, talks about the life and artwork of Gilbert Stuart, as well as some descriptions of the colonial furnishings and objects.

The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace used to operate a unique junior docent program, in which children and adolescents could volunteer to give interpretive tours of the museum dressed in colonial attire.

The grounds also feature an herb garden, a timber dam, and a boat dock, from which rowboats can be rented by museum members for use on nearby Carr Pond.