Built in 1754 with just two front rooms and a lean-to kitchen, and expanded in 1802, this home has more intact original detail than any other building open to the public in Deerfield.

When built in 1717, the robin's-egg-blue structure had an unpainted exterior. The house's front section dates to 1747. The paint was added around 1803 by a newly settled attorney who hoped the color would attract attention to himself and his practice.

Historic Deerfield's Main Street shows shifting architectural tastes in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The 1799 home was the first in the village to be made of brick.

One of Deerfield's iconic wooden structures, this former ale house has a Federal-style door from 1796.

The Georgian style home was updated in 1805 with a front-door fanlight, the outer "glass" band of which is painted on because the first-floor ceiling was too low for a full-height window.

Unlike other homes in town, this 1848 model has Gothic details.

The 1734 reproduction doorway is typical of those found in the area after 1750.

This home, built in 1730, has always been one of Deerfield's grandest.

Another door at the Barnard Tavern.

This home survived the 1704 massacre but was dismantled in 1848 after preservationists failed to raise funds to save it; it was finally rebuilt in 1929.

While Deerfield's earliest houses have simple interiors, much of the village's later furniture and finishes reflect its growing prosperity.

The salmon-colored trim in the Wells-Thorn House was a sign of prestige in the 18th century since paint was so costly.

Henry and Helen Flynt of Connecticut are largely to thank for the preservation of nearly a dozen houses in Deerfield. While their son was studying at a nearby school, they bought and faithfully restored the homes, and then stocked them with their extensive, ever expanding collections of Early American furniture, silver and textiles. Here, the Flynts' delftware is displayed in the Ashley House kitchen.

A Williams House bedroom has reproduction wallpaper and linens, and the original carpet. 

Above a Stebbins House mantel, wallpaper by Joseph Dufour creates an elegant illusion.

This early-1790s chime clock, housed with Henry Flynt's metalware collection, has a silver face and plays one of six songs every three hours.

A bedroom in the Williams House, as it would have looked circa 1820.

"Venetian Scenes," another wallpaper by Dufour, is original to the Williams House neoclassical parlor.

The stars-and-moons wallpaper in the Williams House dining room was reproduced from fragments found on-site.

A four-poster steals the show in the otherwise austere south bedchamber of the Ashley House, the home of Deerfield's minister from 1732 until 1780. A bed-hanging, such as this reproduction made of blue resist-dyed union cloth, not only dressed up the room, but also helped sleepers stay warm on cold nights.

This Joseph Dufour wallpaper -- created with a combination of paint, stencil, and block printing -- was made in 1804 for the Stebbins House. At the time, it was the largest panoramic wallpaper. The 20 panels depict scenes from the Pacific Islands of Tonga and French Polynesia, all based on the recently released logs of explorer Captain James Cook.

The Flynts were passionate collectors of everything from imported ceramics to full houses. As a result, Deerfield offers a treasure trove of decorative arts.

Henry Flynt was especially interested in American metalware, and an entire house is dedicated to a collection of 4,000 pieces of silver and other items.

Helen Flynt was enamored of textiles and amassed a staggering collection of meticulous embroidery, quilts, and clothing, including this circa 1830 quilted corset.

Deerfield has 162 pieces of English creamware, nearly the entire range of forms in which it was produced.

Some collections, such as the delftware, are shown in situ; this barber's bowl, which features all the tools of the trade, can be seen in the Ashley House.

Among the most highly valued antiques on display is the period New England furniture; the mirror, chairs, and washstand in this Williams House bedroom are regional pieces that date from 1810 to 1820.

This house, which Historic Deerfield moved from its original location in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1950, features the Apprentice's Workshop, which offers hands-on lessons in architectural woodworking, ceramics, and weaving.

A Colonial home built in 1734, this was the residence of Historic Deerfield's founders, Henry and Helen Flynt.

Restoration work is a constant at Historic Deerfield. Here, a ballroom in the 1795 Barnard Tavern is being brought back to its former glory.

Inside an upstairs bed chamber at Williams House, a hand-woven blanket with crewelwork flowers and vines dresses up the bed.

The spare south parlor of the Wells-Thorn House was designed to reflect life in 1775.

Historic Deerfield's extensive collection of English creamware includes an enviable array of 18th-century dessert dishes and tea-making articles.

Historic Deerfield's Henry Needham Flynt Silver and Metalware Collection includes more than 4,000 pieces of Early American and English silver.

A detail of scenic French wallpaper by Joseph Dufour in the center hall of Stebbins House depicts the adventures of 18th-century explorer Captain James Cook.

A display in the 1734 Ashley House is filled with 18th-century English and Dutch delftware dishes.

Early-19th-century French wallpaper by Joseph Dufour creates the illusion of swagged fabric in a bedroom at Stebbins House.

Part of an exhibition at the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, this display highlights the many types of wood used in Early American furniture, along with the leaves from those trees.

An inlaid candlestand with a flip-up top, made in southern New Hampshire in the early 19th century.

A collection of finely crafted Early American furniture, many of local Central Massachusetts origin, on view at the Flynt Center of Early New England Life.

A pier table by Charles-Honore Lannuier, made in New York in the early 19th century, which has been taken apart to reveal the original construction techniques.

Historic Deerfield's impressive textile collection includes a wide range of bedcovers, including elaborate bedspreads with printed and painted patterns, left, and toned-down monochromatic designs, right, that were made in the area.

This gown from the early 1700s, made from a lavish green-and-white silk, is known as a bizarre for its unusual, fanciful pattern.

A white linen frock, from the mid-1800s, on display in the Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery. The vest includes removable pads to help enhance the wearer's chest.

This reticule, a dainty purse from the early 19th century, is made from transparent cotton netting, except for a raised floral pattern in the center.

A man's knitted indoor stocking cap made from brightly dyed cotton yarns.

This pair of 17th-century kid-leather gloves, embroidered with a floral motif, was originally acquired by Historic Deerfield cofounder Helen Flynt, who had a passion for textiles.

An early-19th-century woman's riding hat, made in Providence, Rhode Island, from bleached beaver fur.

Where to Stay: The Deerfield Inn offers a traditional country welcome and makes an ideal base for exploring. The 1884 building also houses the town's only restaurant, Champney's. 81 Main Street, 800-926-3865 or deerfieldinn.com

When to Go: Historic Deerfield's houses are open from April to November, but there is no better time to visit than foliage season in early fall.

What to Do: Organized along a mile-long main street, Historic Deerfield is best explored on foot. To see the surrounding area's landscape, take the Channing Blake Meadow Walk from town, past farmland, to the Deerfield River.