Thornton W. Burgess was a conservationist and children’s author who lived from 1874 to 1965 and became especially known for animal stories, including Peter Rabbit tales influenced by Beatrix Potter. In East Sandwich, Massachusetts, a Colonial-style house beside Shawme Pond—the landscape that inspired the “Smiling Pool” in his stories—served from 1974 as a museum interpreting his life and work. Although Burgess never lived in the house, it had belonged to one of his aunts. The site also featured a small library, an art gallery, and a jam shop, and by 2024 its name reflected the broader organization preserving his legacy.