Friendly staff. I appreciated the effort put forth to remember Essex's shipbuilding past. They could use some more informational material to read if you choose to do the self-guided tour as there wasn't much explaining the tools and things they had on display. I would recommend the guided tour as I'm sure the tour guide goes through all the information you would miss doing the self-guided one. Definitely a small museum but it's nice in that it's not overwhelming with content to read.
Great history and place for an event
This is a small, very focused museum with a working shipyard. We did a self-guided tour and learned a lot about shipbuilding and the history of this industry in Essex. I think we spent a little over an hour exploring the grounds and museum. I enjoy woodworking and used to help my father repair his wooden boat when I was young, so I personally got a lot out of the experience.
Seems like this place needs more work before opening up again
If the names "Bluenose" and "Thebaud" are familiar to you, if you know the difference between "Chewbacca" and "Chebacco", then you'll be right at home here. The museum is an all too brief look at the schooner building industry that defines Essex. There's enough to be educational, but you'll leave hankering for more. The exhibits are fascinating. The ship models are beautiful. Do yourself a favor and take the guided tour. Justin is a font of knowledge, some first-hand and some told to him by those who were "there", and he really brings the exhibits to life. Then, if you haven't already, go sail on "Ardelle" out of Gloucester, or "Fame" out Salem; both were built the old-fashioned way right across the creek at Harold Burnham's shop.
The place was just rebuilt. But it seemed to be neglected. Most of the displays stood without any explanations and where rotten and ugly.
The Essex Historical Society And Shipbuilding Museum is a US Museum based in Essex, Massachusetts. The Essex Historical Society And Shipbuilding Museum is located at 66 Main St, Essex, MA 01929, USA.
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