Friday, October 16, 2026
68 ° Rain
68 ° Rain
The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center has selected Adams-Bickel Contractors to oversee renovations at Highland Farm, the historic Doylestown home where composer and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II lived and worked for the final 20 years of his life.
Construction is expected to begin soon. Period Architecture, Ltd. a Philadelphia-based firm specializing in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, is serving as the project’s architect.
Adams-Bickel Contractors has worked on other Bucks County cultural landmarks, including the Michener Art Museum and the County Theater.
The nonprofit museum is working to preserve the property and develop it as a center for musical theater history and education.
Since acquiring Highland Farm, the organization has collected historical artifacts and memorabilia connected to Hammerstein and his family, including the songwriter’s original writing desk. It has also expanded its educational programming, which includes a youth solo contest, a young playwrights festival, family sing-alongs and workshops.
The organization has partnered with local cultural institutions, including the Michener Art Museum, Bucks County Playhouse and Pearl S. Buck House.
The renovation is being funded through public funding, donations designated for the project and other contributions, according to the organization. The nonprofit is also seeking donations to support its educational programs and future development plans.
Highland Farm is a nationally recognized historic property and an important part of American musical theatre history. Hammerstein lived at the farm with his wife, Dorothy, and their family from 1940 until his death in 1960. During those years, he wrote some of his most celebrated work, mentored a young Stephen Sondheim, and continued the creative partnerships and humanitarian work that shaped his legacy.
Donations are needed to support the nonprofit’s growing educational programs and the future development of Highland Farm. To learn more about the renovation project, educational programs, or to make a donation, visit hammersteinmuseum.org.
