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Touch tank, walk-in models, play space & more

SEAFARING SOIREE gala:  letter of thanks, photo montage & drone video

Custom House Maritime Museum Exhibits

Get a virtual sneak peak at our exhibits through Curator Kevin’s video tour.

Moseley Gallery

The Moseley Gallery is our largest gallery, providing many highlights of what made Newburyport a rich maritime town. This includes the Newburyport Marine Society and cutting-edge ships like the Dreadnought.

Marquand Gallery

The Custom House’s Marquand Gallery details Newburyport’s golden age—the first 50 years after its founding before and during the Revolutionary War.

Coast Guard Gallery

This gallery shows off many aspects of the U.S. Coast Guard. Founded in 1791 as the United States Revenue Service in Newburyport, the Coast Guard got its name change from President Woodrow Wilson in 1915.

Collector of Customs Gallery

The Collector of Customs Gallery talks about what our museum building was used for. Ship captains coming to or from other parts of the globe would need to stop at the Customs House and pay taxes on the goods being imported or exported.

Learn 10,000+ Years of Newburyport History in 5 Minutes

In the video above, Curator Kevin tells the story of Newburyport and the exciting collections of the Custom House Maritime Museum.

The CHMM has multiple galleries, each focused thematically on historical narratives unique to the Custom House and its collection.

Want to Plan Your Event?

Upcoming Events

At the CHMM unless otherwise noted, please check the website for details.

Wednesday, March 19th: 12pm

A Village Talk on Whales and Whaling

At the Newburyport Senior Center.

by Graham McKay, of Lowell’s Boat Shop, and Bethany Groff Dorau, Museum of Old Newbury. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

Unveiling of a major donation of a James E. Buttersworth oil on canvas.

at Museum of Old Newbury. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

Historic New England, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive independent historic preservation organization in the country, is in a time of transformation. Bold new initiatives deepening and expanding visitor experience, tackling climate action, and launching major redevelopment projects in Haverhill and Boston, are all underway. In Haverhill, a Gateway City in Essex County, Historic New England is leveraging its existing collections center and with culture as its catalyst, is creating the Historic New England Center for Preservation and Collections at the heart of a new downtown cultural district in the former shoe manufacturing capital. The public-private effort, perhaps the region’s largest culture-driven project, is gathering national attention.

As a leader in preservation from national park stewardship to New York City advocacy, Vin Cipolla presents the exciting work happening at Historic New England within the broader context of opportunities and threats facing preservation and cultural heritage in our country today.

Vin Cipolla was appointed President and CEO of Historic New England in 2020. A lifelong preservationist and cultural leader, Mr. Cipolla was the President and CEO of the National Park Foundation (and later its citizen Chairman), and President and CEO of the Municipal Art Society of New York, the oldest, and only city-wide, preservation organization in New York City. Among his leadership roles in both public and private sectors, he was also an Executive Director with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York and was the Chairman and President of the ICA/Boston for nine years. He taught at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University.

Members & Donor Preview Party. Reserve your spot, details to come.

The museum will be festooned with floral displays. Tickets: $50pp includes hors d'oeuvres and complimentary drinks.

Thursday, May 15th at 7pm

Nbpt’s Road to Revolution, Part IV—Black Newburyporters

at City Hall auditorium. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. (Registration details will be provided shortly.)

Thursday, May 22nd at 7pm

Nbpt’s Road to Revolution, Part V—Powder and Shot

at Museum of Old Newbury. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. (Registration details will be provided shortly.)

Exhibition dedicated to Curator Kevin MacDonald (1970-2025).

The Playwrights Collaborative returns to the CHMM, details TBD.

Friday, June 18th at 7pm

Nbpt’s Road to Revolution, Part VI—Bunker Hill: Heroes and Cowards

at Firehouse Center for the Arts. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. (Registration details will be provided shortly.)

Saturday, June 28th - 10am

250th ANNIVERSARY REVOLUTIONARY WAR PARADE

Location and muster TBD. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and the Newburyport Cultural Council.

Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit

  • Museum Hours

Thurs-Sat: 10AM-5PM
Sun: 12PM-5PM

  • Tickets
Through December 31st, admission has been reduced to $0 thanks to the support of our generous sponsors.
  • Parking

City parking is available adjacent to the museum. View parking lot directions.

Docent-led Tours

Join our volunteer docents for a tour of the museum. Registration is not required and tours are on a first come, first served basis. Tours are included with admission.

Contact 978-462-8681 or [email protected] for special arrangements and private tours.

Accessibility

Accessibility: The CHMM building is not ADA compliant due to the configuration and physical constraints of this unique and historic building.