Custom House Maritime Museum
Navigate through history
Navigate Through Maritime History
The Maritime heritage in Newburyport, Massachusetts runs deep.
As the eastern seacoast’s first major commercial port, and the birthplace of the U.S. Coastguard, there is plenty to preserve and celebrate.
Much of this history can be seen at the Custom House Maritime Museum in downtown Newburyport. This includes an extensive collection of maritime art, model clipper ships and displays from infamous shipwrecks such as the Carlyle Ship Collection of Duncan McFarlane.
Built in 1835, the Custom House served as a place to promote overseas trade and tax collection of imported goods on the Newburyport waterfront.
After a long period of transition, the Newburyport Maritime Society was founded in 1968 to restore and manage the Custom House, now regarded as a premiere maritime museum.
Open year round, the museum not only serves as an educational center and research facility, but also as a meeting place for professional and social gatherings.
Custom tours and museum rentals for concerts, weddings and other special events make the Custom House a true treasure of Newburyport.
The museum also hosts a bevy of maritime events in honor of our local Coast Guard men and women who protect our waters. You can view the Maritime Museum’s calendar of events here.
The Newburyport Maritime Society devoted to, “connecting the past to the living history of today through new relationships with local artistic, business and environmental organizations.”
Live
The Custom House Maritime Museum
25 Water Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978.462.8681
info@thechmm.org
Open Year Round!
January-April on Saturday (10am-4pm) and Sunday & Holiday Mondays (12-4pm)
May-December on Tuesday – Saturday (10am-4pm) and Sunday & Holiday Mondays (12-4pm)
Parking is available at local parking lots.
Admission is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for seniors and students. Active military members and kids under 6 are free.
Custom House Maritime Museum
Royal Treatment @ The Maritime Tea Events
Be treated like Lord and Lady Grantham by attending a Maritime Tea Wednesday event at the Custom House Maritime Museum. Did you enjoy the last six years of Downton Abbey? Are you feeling a bit less complete now that it is finished? Well, you only need to attend one of the Maritime Tea Wednesday events at the Custom House Maritime Museum.
The tea will be British and the fare will be scrummy, a proper tea indeed. There will also be a light presentation for your pleasure and classical music to accompany your indulgence in one of the greatest pleasures, a tea laid out for you. With historical presentations that will range from special viewings of certain antiquities to excerpts from journals kept by the incredible people of Newburyport of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, you will be transported in time as well as learn about the this great city.
The Maritime Tea Wednesday events will also be a lovely place for guest to hobnob and reacquaint themselves with one another. As the tea events are taking place inside the historic Custom House Maritime Museum, guest will also come to realize how special this building has been, and is today. Do not hesitate to reserve your place for one of the upcoming Maritime Tea Wednesday events and relive those glorious Edwardian days with a maritime flair. Tea, Cakes and Maritime History…
January 10th, 17th & 31st – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
February 14th & 28th – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
March 14th & 28th – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
April 11th & 25th – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Cost is $15 per person for both Members and Guests
Custom House Maritime Museum – 25 Water Street Newburyport MA.
Reservations are necessary with limited seating – ring now 1 . 978 . 462 . 8681
The Custom Hose Maritime Museum is managed by the Newburyport Maritime Society, Inc., a 501 © (3) corporation established in 1968 to preserve, protect, interpret and celebrate our maritime heritage and its role in American history. The historic Federal Custom House in the heart of downtown Newburyport was designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Treasury Building. It was built in 1835 to serve the growing overseas trade and to collect taxes on imported goods coming into the waterfont.
The museum is open to the public year round for events and activities – from January through April every Saturday from 10am-4pm and Sunday (plus holiday Mondays) 12-4pm; and from May through December on Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-4pm and Sunday (and holiday Mondays) 12 to 4pm.
Museum admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Museum members, active military members and children under 6 are admitted free. For more information, visit us online at the museum website at www.thechmm.org or facebook.com\thechmm, or call 978-462-8681, or email info@thechmm.org.
Tall Ships Visit Newburyport – Experience Our Maritime History – May 24th – 29th 2017
Thanks to the Custom House Maritime Museum, the Greater Newburyport Community and curious visitors from near and far, will once again be able to experience Newburyport’s maritime history through tours and events associated with the visit of Tall Ships: Schooner Alabama and Schooner Adventure. Enjoy tours and special events May 24th through May 29th. Newburyport […]
The Adventures of Piratess Tilly: Easter Island – Book Launch and Fundraiser for Cure SPG47
Award-winning Newburyport author Elizabeth Lorayne will launch and sign her new children’s picture book, The Adventures of Piratess Tilly: Easter Island – where haiku meets girl-empowerment, science and exploration, at the Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water Street, Newburyport on Saturday, May 13th, from 10:00 am – 12 pm. “Piratess Tilly—the refreshingly bold, smart heroine” […]
Painting Lessons Amongst Maritime History
The Custom House Maritime Museum is very pleased to present Artist Johanne Cassia, who will be giving painting lessons four times a year, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, here at the Custom House Maritime Museum. Johannes style is the quintessential New England folk style. This is your chance to be given instruction by a revered […]