Massachusetts - Museums and Galleries in North of Boston/Merrimack Valley

Sandy Bay Historical Society and Museum
40 King Street
Rockport, MA  01966
Phone: 978-546-9533

Open: Mid-June-mid-September, Monday-Saturday, 2– 5 p.m. and by appointment

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Period rooms; exhibits on local history, fishing, and granite industries; exhibition gallery.Admission charge.

The House of the Seven Gables
115 Derby Street
Salem, MA  01970
Phone: 978-744-0991
Fax: 978-741-4350

Cross the threshold into one of the most famous structures in America & experience the countless surprises hidden beneath its legendary gables

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Discover The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts. This seaside historic site showcases the seventeenth century Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, forever immortalized as “The House of the Seven Gables” by author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Professional guides welcome guests year round to explore Salem’s architecture, maritime history, and the literary legacy of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Admission also includes a visit to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birthplace to learn more about how the author’s life and experiences in Salem influenced his work. Adding to the site’s charm are three-season gardens and a unique museum store. Open mid-January through December, 10:00am-5:00pm, with extended hours until 7:00pm, July-October.

Tsongas Industrial History Center at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum
115 John Street
Lowell, MA  01852
Phone: 978-970-5080

Open: Call for appointment to visit

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Activities and exhibits highlight the history of industry and industrial development in New England and the United States. Admission charge.

Wenham Museum
132 Main Street
Wenham, MA  01984
Phone: 978-468-2377

Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays

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Museum of social history from 175h century to present. Claflin-Richard House (c. 1690); world-renowned doll collection, dollhouse, costumers, model trains, toys. Conant photography collection, family discovery, and changing exhibits. Admission charge.

Whistler House Museum of Art
243 Worthen Street
Lowell, MA  01852
Phone: 978-452-1741

Open: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

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The birthplace of James Abbott McNeil Whistler. Exhibits of Whistler's and other's artwork. Open seasonally. Admission charge.

Witch Dungeon Museum
16 Lynde Street
Salem, MA  01970
Phone: 978-741-3570

Open: April through November, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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This museum features a tour of the dungeon where those accused of witchcraft were held. Reenactment of the trial is also part of the exhibits. There is an admission charge.

DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
51 Sandy Pond Road
Lincoln, MA  01773
Phone: 781-259-8355

Open: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on selected Monday holidays. Call ahead for seasonal changes in hours.

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Museum of modern art focuses on New England artists. There is an admission fee, but the outdoor sculpture garden is free.

Hammond Castle Museum
80 Hesperus Avenue
Gloucester, MA  01930
Phone: 978-283-7673

Open: Late April to late June, Saturdays and Sundays only, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; late June to Labor Day, daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Labor Day through April

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John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle between the years 1926 and 1929 to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. Visitors to Hammond Castle Museum may explore the castle on a self-guided tour of eight rooms including the great hall, indoor courtyard, Renaissance dining room, two guest bedrooms, the inventions exhibit room, and the tower galleries. Visitors may also enjoy the beauty of the castle grounds and a view of the Atlantic shore line.

Heard House Museum
54 South Main Street
Ipswich, MA  01938
Phone: 978-356-2811

Open: Memorial Day through Columbus Day, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m.; Sunday 1-3 p.m.

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Built in 1800, this home contains a collection of antique furniture from China and Colonial America. Visitors will also find a display of carriages. Admission charge.

Addison Gallery of American Art
180 Main Street
Andover, MA  01810
Phone: 508-759-4015

Open: Labor Day – July 31, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; closed August 1 through Labor Day, Mondays and national holidays, December 24

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Paintings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography by American artists from Colonial times to the present. Works by John Singleton Copley, Paul Revere, James Whistler, Edward Hopper, Frank Stella, and Alexander Calder displayed on a rotating basis. Admission is free.

American Textile Museum
491 Dutton Street
Lowell, MA  01854
Phone: 978-441-0400

Open: Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sundays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and holidays.

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This museum details the history of the textile industry in America, long the major economic force in New England. Visitors will see examples of machinery and products from different periods in history, as well as an operating weaving room and wool mill. Admission charge.

Andover Historical Society
97 Main Street
Andover, MA  01810
Phone: 978-475-2236

Open: Guided tours, Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.; museum closed in August

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This home, built in 1819, features 19th century artifacts and furnishings. A 19th-century barn is also on the property.

Bartlett Museum
270 Main Street
Amesbury, MA  01913
Phone: 978-388-4528

Open: Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, Friday-Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.; holidays, 1-4 p.m.; other times by appointment

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Museum features collections of horse-drawn carriages and Native American artifacts. Open seasonally. Admission is free.

Concord Museum
Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road
Concord, MA  01742
Phone: 978-369-9763
Fax: 978-369-9660

Exploring historic Concord? Begin at the Concord Museum!

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For a small town, Concord has a big history. From the “shot heard round the world” to the writers of the American literary renaissance, things have happened here, words have been spoken here and books have been written here which changed the face of a nation. Over time, Concord has become a symbol of liberty and intellectual freedom. And nowhere is that important heritage captured more dramatically than at the Concord Museum. An inspiring collection of American treasures includes the 1775 “one, if by land, two, if by sea” Revere lantern, Thoreau’s Walden desk and Emerson’s Study. Linger in engaging history galleries, enjoy the beauty of Concord antiques, and create your own memories with family-friendly activities. Open daily year round.

Cushing House Museum
98 High Street
Newburyport, MA  01950
Phone: 978-462-2681

Open: Individuals and groups under 10 people, May 1-October 31, Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; closed holidays

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This mansion, built in 1808, features antique furniture, artwork and a carriage house. Open seasonally. Admission charge.

Custom House Maritime Museum
25 Water Street
Newburyport, MA  01950
Phone: 978-462-8681

Open: Call ahead for hours of operation

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Follow the history of maritime Massachusetts through the exhibits at this museum. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Lynn Museum & Historical Society
590 Washington St.
Lynn, MA  01901
Phone: 781-581-6200

Open: daily, year-round, noon-4 p.m. daily throughout the year, closed holidays

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Four rooms exhibit items tracing Lynn's history over a span of 100 years, from 1776 to 1876. Admission charge.

National Heritage Museum
33 Marrett Road, Route 2A
Lexington, MA  02421
Phone: 781-861-6559

Open: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

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American history exhibits; films, shows, and concerts; permanent exhibit on freemasonry and the American Revolution. Admission is free.

New England Quilt Museum
18 Shattuck Street
Lowell, MA  01852
Phone: 978-452-4207

Open: May through December; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays

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The New England Quilt Museum presents, interprets, and celebrates American quilting past and present. Admission charge.

Paper House
52 Pigeon Hill Street
Rockport, MA  01966
Phone: 978-546-2629

Open: April 1 to October 31, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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This home and everything in it are entirely made out of newspaper. Open seasonally. Admission by donation.

Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square
Salem, MA  01970
Phone: 978-745-1876

Open: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

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Exhibits feature Asian art, history and ethnology, also maritime history. There is an admission charge.