The Atwood Museum is Closed for the Season
Thank you for a great summer!
OPEN FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
Become a Member
Donate Today
Location & Hours
Tuesday Talks
Summer Music Series
Giving an awesome experience at the museum is our top priority. Here is a recent review:
“A Gem of a local museum”
There are plenty of reasons the Atwood Museum won the Tripadvisor award. It is a wonderful museum telling the story of the Chatham area. The docents are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The exhibits are interesting and extremely well-designed. The Gallery Barn contained an amazing exhibition of murals about the community by a local artist. Our hats are off the the volunteers and board of directors who manage, run, and maintain this gem of a local museum.
Richard F. (Sept. 21, 2023)
Become an active member for easier and more convenient processing.
Exhibits returning this year include:
– History & Beyond: Telling Our Story – Chatham Historical Society
– Land Ho! Chatham: A Shipping and Fishing Community
NEW EXHIBITS:
– A Place to Hang Your Hat: The history of hats from our Costume and Textile collection
– Children’s Room: An activity room dedicated to our young visitors
WELCOME BACK!
Get our free monthly newsletter and periodic updates.
Learn more about our Museum in under two minutes: here.
The Nickerson North Beach Camp – Experience a Chatham treasure at the Atwood
About the Chatham Historical Society
The Chatham Historical Society was organized in 1923. Three years later, the society acquired the Atwood House – a gambrel-roofed house built in 1752. Except for the addition of essential electricity, the old Atwood House is unchanged from when it was built and is furnished throughout as it was during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Over the years, museum galleries have been added to the original structure without affecting its integrity. As a result of the major expansion and renovation to the museum completed in 2005, there are now eight galleries with permanent exhibits, plus a large special exhibit gallery that doubles as a meeting room seating up to 100 people.
On the grounds are the mid-20th century Nickerson North Beach Camp, the Chatham School Bells display, and the Chatham Light Display, featuring the lantern house from Chatham’s twin light with its original Fresnel lens, which flashes its beam whenever the museum is open.
The reception room of the museum houses a unique gift shop featuring tasteful gifts, books, and fashion accessories that relate to our collections. It is not necessary to pay admission to visit the shop. Read more…
The mission of the Chatham Historical Society is to inform and educate present and future generations about the history and culture of Chatham and vicinity by collecting and preserving records of earlier generations and by exhibiting and interpreting art, artifacts, archives and places of historical interest.
Bringing History To Life!
Sponsors
Gift Shop
Research