Exhibits

Learn about the rich maritime history of Cape Cod by visiting one of our exhibits.

These silent sentinels are the most iconic images of Cape Cod. They’re on our license plates, potato chip bags, and on the sign welcoming visitors to the Cape. Gift shops are loaded with lighthouse-themed trinkets, and artists have used them as inspiration. But for many, the history of these lighthouses, the bureaucracy that managed them, and the brave men and women who worked around the clock to maintain these vital aids to navigation remain a mystery.

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Lighthouses of Cape Cod

Sailing Against the Tide spotlights the stories of groundbreaking women who helped shape the unique maritime history and culture of the Cape and Islands. These pioneering scientists, artists, businesswomen, community leaders, philanthropists, military women, and more not only influenced the history of our community, but broadly impacted their professions and causes.

This exhibit is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

Sailing Against the Tide: Women of Cape Cod & the Islands

Prior to the Railroad Wharf in Hyannis Port, the nearest port for ships traveling to and from Nantucket was New Bedford, 80 nautical miles away. With the arrival of the Old Colony Railroad in the village of Hyannis, it made sense to extend the tracks a mile or so south and build a large wharf to shorten the trip to just 25 miles. After construction, the wharf became a major port of call for passengers and freight between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, connected to Boston and other cities by train.

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Hyannis Port Railroad Wharf: 1854-1937

Every year, the Cape's sandy beaches are the temporary homes to thousands of migratory shorebirds. In this exhibit, learn about the different types of shorebirds that call the Cape home, the food they eat, and the incredible journeys they make to get here. Then learn about threats facing shorebird populations and what you can do to protect the beaches we all share.

Shorebirds of Cape Cod

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Cape Cod has always been a danger to ships and sailors. Starting in the 18th century, volunteers of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stepped up to save lives. Learn how these early rescues inspired big changes that led to the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard!

A Selfless Mission: Cape Cod’s Lifesaving Legacy

The Portland Gale was a massive storm that struck the coast of New England in November of 1898. With enormous storm surges and hurricane-force winds, the Portland Gale destroyed shorefront homes and infrastructure, killed more than 400 people, and sank 150 vessels, including the coastal passenger steamship SS Portland. In Provincetown, the storm demolished nine wharves, while the beaches of the Outer Cape were littered with wreckage from ships and damaged structures. Our exhibit includes a scale model of the Portland, artifact, and underwater footage of the wreck, which lies within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

The 19th Century’s Perfect Storm: The Portland Gale of 1898

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Modern technology makes it easy for modern travelers to find their way. But what happens when your equipment fails? Learn how mariners have always innovated to both find their fixed location and use dead reckoning to navigate at sea. From Polynesian wayfarers using stick charts to modern radar and GPS, the history of navigation spotlights human creativity and ingenuity to make life and commerce on the water safe and accessible.

Where Are We? And Where Are We Going?

The History of Maritime Navigation

This scrimshaw exhibit is the largest private collection of scrimshaw displayed on Cape Cod. Collected by Elizabeth and William Graham over ten years of marriage, this extensive collection includes carved ivory, whale teeth, bone, baleen, and other material used by sailors as a way to pass the long months at sea.

Elizabeth and William Graham Scrimshaw Collection

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Our working wood boat shop hosts a variety of wood boat workshops throughout the year.

Visitors can see small boats being built and restored as well as learn about the various wood working and boat building techniques.

Cook Boat Shop

Have you visited our Historic Boat Barn? We have every Cape Cod wood boat represented — some boats over 100 years old.

A must-see if you love Cape Cod and maritime history!

Historic Watercraft of Cape Cod

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Exhibits

Learn about the rich maritime history of Cape Cod by visiting one of our exhibits.

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