2026 Museum Hours:
Exhibits OPEN
Wednesday: 11a - 5p
Thursday: 11a - 5p
Friday: 11a - 5p
Saturday: 11a - 5p
Sunday: 11a - 5p
Monday: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday: CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Parking on site for museum visitors!
2026 General Admission Rates
Members: Complimentary Admission
Individual: $15
Student >5, Senior, Veteran: $10
Kids < 5yrs: Complimentary Admission
CARD to culture: Complimentary Admission
CARD TO CULTURE - At the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum (EHSSM), we uphold the belief that access to culture plays a vital role in public health, committing ourselves to make our cultural programming accessible to all members of our community, as we recognize that financial barriers should never impede participation. That's why we're thrilled to be part of the Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program, a collaborative effort with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health's WIC Nutrition Program, and the Massachusetts Health Connector, alongside hundreds of cultural organizations.
We proudly offer free general admission to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders, ensuring that all community members have the opportunity to explore and engage with our rich maritime heritage and educational offerings.
Address & Phone
(978) 768-7541
Email: office@essexshipbuilding.org
Address: 66 Main St, Essex, MA 01929
Now Booking Group Tours for 2026 SEASON May-Oct
Group tours can be scheduled for $25 per person.
Minimum of 10 visitors.
We can tailor the tour to your group’s needs, the average tour is about 1 - 1.5 hours in length. For more information and to plan a group tour please contact us at
office@essexshipbuilding.org or fill out the form below with “TOUR” in the subject line. BOOK TODAY! TOUR SLOTS FILL UP FAST!
Call: 978-768-7541
Looking for things to do in Essex MA, Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester by the Sea, Salem, Ipswich, Newburyport, or on Cape Ann and the North Shore of Massachusetts? Visit the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, a family friendly maritime museum, historic shipyard, and hands on cultural attraction located directly on the Essex River. Explore a real working waterfront where traditional wooden boatbuilding, maritime heritage, environmental education, and New England craftsmanship are still alive today.
EHSSM offers hands on exhibits, historic buildings, wooden boats in progress, interactive learning experiences, educational programs, family activities, guided tours, local history exhibits, environmental stewardship programs, seasonal festivals, school vacation activities, and community events for visitors of all ages. Watch shipwrights at work, learn about the birthplace of the American fishing schooner, and discover over 350 years of continuous shipbuilding history in Essex, Massachusetts.
Perfect for families, tourists, history lovers, boaters, artists, students, educators, and anyone searching for authentic things to do near Gloucester, Salem, Rockport, Crane Beach, or the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. EHSSM is one of the most unique museums on the North Shore, blending maritime culture, living history, woodworking, traditional crafts, ecology, and the story of New England’s working waterfront communities.
Visitors can experience:
• Historic shipbuilding demonstrations
• Hands on family friendly exhibits
• Maritime and local history
• Wooden boatbuilding and preservation
• School field trips and educational programs
• Environmental and salt marsh education
• Seasonal events and festivals
• Rainy day activities on Cape Ann
• Cultural attractions near Gloucester and Salem
• Traditional craftsmanship and folkways
• Museum programs for children and adults
• Historic waterfront tours
• Community events and live demonstrations
The Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum is open seasonally and welcomes visitors looking for meaningful, educational, and memorable experiences on Cape Ann. Whether you are planning a family outing, weekend trip, school visit, cultural tour, or coastal New England vacation, EHSSM offers a rare opportunity to step inside a living shipyard where real boats, real tools, and real stories connect the past, present, and future of the Essex River and the Massachusetts coast.
