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THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF NEWBURYPORT HISTORY

Timeline Gallery

Thurs-Sat: 10-5, Sun: 12-5

EXPLORE OUR TIMELINE GALLERY

Curator Kevin’s Video Tour

Curator Kevin's Video Tour

Curator Kevin Says: The Custom House’s Timeline Gallery takes you through thousands of years of Newburyport history through a variety of artifacts.

What Will You Learn?

The first gallery across from our visitor’s center welcomes you to explore a historic timeline from pre-historic times to the present. People inhabited the area around the mouth of the Merrimack River for thousands of years. Colonialists from Europe settled it in 1635.

The city of Newburyport eventually became a thriving seaport known for international trade—particularly for shipbuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In this gallery, you’ll enjoy a walk through history.

View Additional Custom House Galleries

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.

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.