In 1951, the Society acquired the Rogers Mansion, built in 1843, and exhibited furnishings donated by local families. During that decade the Society acquired and restored two historical properties with the help of Southampton summer resident Henry Frances DuPont, founder of the Winterthur Museum. They were the Thomas Halsey Homestead, built in 1660, and the Elias Pelletreau Shop, erected in 1686. After extensive restorations, the buildings were open to the public during the summer months with exhibits of colonial-era furnishings and tools. By the 1990's, the Rogers Mansion property had expanded to include 12 historical structures including a one-room schoolhouse, a colonial-era barn, and a 19th-century paint shop. The museum is open year-round with changing exhibits on historic topics, a research center and extensive education programs for school children and adults.