A Living Legacy

Founded in 1937, the Essex Historical Society began with a simple idea: that local history matters. In 1976, it expanded into the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, bringing new life to old stories.

The 1993 acquisition of the Story shipyard brought the museum to the river’s edge, where rising tides, skilled hands, and deep roots continue to shape the work.

Today, the work continues across a growing campus. We teach, build, restore, and care for the land and water that shaped the nation. Fifty years in, the past is still at work here... and the future is taking shape.

Public tours run May through October. From November through April the site remains active with programs, research visits by appointment, and special events.

Step into a world shaped by salt marshes, shipwrights, and stories. The Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum invites you to explore centuries of craftsmanship, community, and connection to the Essex River. Join us this season to experience history where it is still being made.

Preserve the Past - Engage the Present - Build the Future