Custom House Maritime Museum A View of the Museum from Water St.

Exhibits

The Custom House Maritime Museum opens the door to the past so we can better understand our maritime heritage. This transformation takes place with your first steps into the museum. Look up and see the night sky over Newburyport harbor. These stars, not a GPS system, were the navigation tools of sailors.


The Bushee Gallery

The Bushee Gallery features our changing exhibits.

Schooner Model Boat Exhibit

Schooner Model Boat Exhibit

June 19, 2008 – August 31, 2008

"Oh how she scoons over the water!"

See why schooners became the vessel of choice for 18th and...


Learn more.

The Moseley Gallery

A model ship

The Moseley Gallery contains the Hall of Ships. This gallery has an outstanding collection of model clipper ships, including the famous Dreadnought. Built in Newburyport, it was the fastest ship of its time. Collections of models, portraits, and half hulls provide a “one of a kind” perspective into these historic ships.

The Brown Gallery

The shores off Newburyport have kept the Coast Guard busy over the years. The Brown Gallery houses a collection of shipwreck and salvage items.

The Custom Collectors Office

The Custom Collectors Office includes their “office equipment,” unique artifacts from far-away voyages and a remarkable portrait collection of early Newburyport sea captains.


The Baker Gallery

a Coast Guard uniform

In the Baker Gallery, a diorama of the Currier shipyard brings you back to the 19th century Newburyport shipyard that built more ships than any other U.S. shipyard of that time.

The Coast Guard Room

Newburyport is the official birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard. In the Coast Guard Room, see models of Coast Guard ships, historical artwork, photos of the Coast Guard in action and more.

The Marquand Library

John P. Marquand portrait

Sit and ponder the multi-generational link from 18th century sea captain to prominent 20th century author in the Marquand Library. Daniel Marquand was one of the 18th century’s most successful shipping magnates. Descendent John P. Marquand wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Late George Apley.