Meet Your Site Manager: Dan Santos

Every historic site has a story—and so do the people who care for them. Meet Dan Santos, Southern New England Regional Site Administrator at Historic New England. He has been with the organization for almost nineteen years, and manages Arnold House in Lincoln, Rhode Island; Clemence-Irons House in Johnston, Rhode Island; and Winslow Crocker House in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. When Dan isn’t leading a program or hosting local college or university groups at one of his sites, he enjoys volunteering at local history and heritage organizations in his community, including the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society and the Holy Ghost Brotherhood of Charity, as well as spending time with his family, especially cheering on his children at their sporting events.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be a site manager at Historic New England.

I was raised on a family farm in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and I grew up with a great appreciation for the history of our New England landscapes and the people who lived on and with the land. I was the rare preteen and teenager who, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, would answer, “I would like to work at a museum.” After graduating from Villanova University, I was fortunate to enter directly into the museum field. I am proud to have spent most of my career serving the public and sharing the history of our region with others at great organizations like the Rhode Island Historical Society and, of course, Historic New England.

Which parts of your work do you find most rewarding and the most challenging?

The most exciting and rewarding part of my work is bringing to light and life the research completed as part of our Recovering New England’s Voices initiative. All of our historic properties have been impacted by this important work of broadening the stories that we share to include the history of everyone in our region. The most challenging part of my work is also exciting—our Southern New England region is a huge expanse, which stretches from eastern to western Massachusetts and includes the entire states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. I am on the road quite a bit, but I love engaging with every one of our amazing communities.

When you think about your sites, what is one favorite thing that comes to mind?

One of my favorite objects in Historic New England’s collection is the Thacher cradle at Winslow Crocker House, because of what it represents: hope, new life, and a meaningful link to family. 

What are some of the best ways you’ve found to connect neighbors and community members with Historic New England’s sites? 

Some of my favorite events at our sites are our community open houses, such as when we open Arnold House for the local Memorial Day Parade. Welcoming neighbors and seeing the Arnold House lawn and Lincoln’s Gateway Park filled with people always makes me happy. Similarly, Great Road Day at Arnold House and All Around the Common and the Yarmouth Port Christmas Stroll at Winslow Crocker House are wonderful community-focused events, where we also partner with other local historical organizations and businesses.

Are there any new tours, programs, or surprises visitors can look forward to this season?

Make sure to visit Winslow Crocker House this season to see our sand sculpture, part of the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail. This year’s sculpture will highlight an important part of the American Revolution and its link to Winslow Crocker House: privateering!

Do you have a favorite local spot or activity near your sites that you like to recommend to friends or visitors?

One of my favorite places to visit and experience the beautiful Southern New England landscape is on Cape Cod, near Winslow Crocker House—the boardwalk at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouth Port. The beach and surrounding land were generously donated to the town by members of the Thacher family, who are connected to Winslow Crocker House. I also love the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve at Rome Point in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, a 230-acre nature preserve just down the road from Casey Farm. This undeveloped land is home to a variety of local wildlife. Follow the hiking trails to Narragansett Bay beachfront. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a harbor seal sunning itself on an offshore rock!

To learn more about these and other events at Dan’s sites, visit HistoricNewEngland.org/Events.