The place now known as Wrentham is located within the homeland of the Wampanoag people. The Wampanoag people traversed this area for millennia, along with the Nipmuc, Massachusetts, and Narragansett peoples, using the land for hunting and fishing grounds. What was originally a crossroads for the Indigenous peoples of New England became a settlement for English colonists in the 1600s. Wrentham was colonized initially as part of the Dedham community. In 1673, Wrentham incorporated as a town and since that time, has grown from an agricultural community to a bustling town center connected to other parts of New England by rail first and eventually Routes 1 and 1A and Interstates 495 and 95. These transportation improvements would eventually attract both industrial manufacturing opportunities and tourists drawn to the beautiful lakes and natural resources in the valley’s foothills.
Today, Wrentham continues to value the Town’s unique heritage, largely through the Town’s Historical Commission and Cultural Council. The Commission is charged with preserving, maintaining, displaying, collecting, and sharing Town history. Wrentham’s Cultural Council awards state-funded grants for cultural programming in the Town and works with the Historical Commission to host events and curate exhibits at the Old Fiske Library/Museum.