The Society, a wealth of information about Braintree history and U.S. military history in particular, was founded in 1930 as a non-profit dedicated to the care, preservation and communication of the town's history. Its offices are located at the Gilbert Bean Museum & Research Center off Washington St. behind the fire department headquarters. The research library downstairs in the museum is filled with artifacts, documents and photos from the Revolutionary War through Vietnam. There is an especially deep trove of weapons and documents from World War I and II. Upstairs is a museum shop and a Civil War exhibit.
The Sylvanus Thayer House is on the same property as the Gilbert Bean Museum and showcases 18th-century farming life through the lens of General Thayer, the father of West Point, who was born in the house in 1785. The Thayer House and the Gilbert Bean Museum both offer open admission on certain days, as well as guided tours.
Contact the society for information about membership or to schedule a research session in the library.