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Our rich maritime history, curated by the Custom House Maritime Museum

From High Street to the shores of the Merrimack, the neighborhoods of Newburyport are steeped in maritime history, rich with stories of the people who helped build this city, explored these waters, and founded our nation. From its settlement to its rise as a maritime hub, and to its rebirth, the CHMM tells this story.
Newburyport Women at Sea

Newburyport Women at Sea

Newburyport merchants began to sail for China, Burma, and India more regularly, and were gone for longer periods of time. Like the whaling wives of Nantucket and New Bedford, Newburyport’s merchant wives began to desire to travel with their husbands, and to make a home at sea.

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Newburyport’s Many Shipyards

Newburyport’s Many Shipyards

Among many “firsts” associated with Newburyport’s many shipyards was the building and launching of the first US Revenue Cutter in 1791 – the USRC Massachusetts – from the yard of Searle and Tyler, near today’s Waterfront Park. The US Coast Guard considers this to be the first ship launched into its service...

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From the Custom House Archive

Staff and volunteers are frequently updating the museum’s exhibits and galleries. Take a look back through our archives.

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.

Baker Gallery

The Baker Gallery highlights the museum’s largest artifact—our museum building. It was built in 1835 by federal architect Robert Mills. Mills also designed the Treasury building and the Washington Monument.

Timeline Gallery

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.

Bushee Gallery

In the Bushee Gallery, you will learn about the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. You’ll also explore souvenirs brought back by local sea captains in the 1800s.