Reed Homestead

The house is notable mainly for its well-preserved murals on the second floor, attributed to Rufus Porter, founder of Scientific American magazine.

Although it is believed that about 160 Porter murals once existed in homes throughout New England, most have subsequently been destroyed by wallpapering or fading due to sunlight.

Nearly everything inside is original, from the wide pine floors to the crown glass windows to the mammy bench in the kitchen.

Some modernization has taken place (e.g. electricity was installed in the 1920s) but the house retains much of its nineteenth century flavor.

Today, the home is a nonprofit house museum operated by the Townsend Historical Society.