Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Hyannis, MA
Its waterfront location at the Hyannis Town Marina and Harbor, puts you in the perfect mood to learn about Cape Cod’s Maritime History. It’s most impressive exhibit is the remains of the 17th century Sparrowhawk, the only surviving remains of the wooden trans-Atlantic vessel. You’ll marvel at the courage of those brave enough to get into such a small vessel and cross the treacherous Atlantic Ocean! A second exhibit Transformations: from Farmer to Seafarer Cape Cod 1639-1739 is told from both a European and Native American persspective. The catboat Sarah is available for small classes of students for a hand-on lesson in line-fishing, scallop dragging, and crabbing. Admission is only $5 for Adults, Students and Seniors $4, Children under 6 Free. The Cape Cod Maritime Museum is open the entire year.
Cahooon Museum of American Art, Cotuit, MA
Ralph and Martha Cahoon are two well-known American folk artists, who located their home and studio in what’s now known as the Cahoon Museum of American Art. The home was built in 1775 and was originally a tavern on the stagecoach line between Hyannis and Sandwich. Today it is an art museum housing that houses several permanent collections in addition to selected works of Ralph Cahoon and Martha Cahoon include: American School Paintings, Maritime Paintings, and American Impressionism. Collection highlights include folk paintings by Matthew Prior, Erastus Salisbury Field, and Levi Wells. Admission is only $5 for Adults, Students and Seniors $4, Children Under 6 Free. The Cahoon Museum of American Art is open the entire year.
Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, MA
Located in the Historic Sandwich Town Center, the Sandwich Glass Museum celebrates the century-old tradition of glass-blowing on Cape Cod. The Boston and Sandwich Glass Company operated by Deming Jarves transformed Sandwich from a farming village to a factory town in 1825. Jarves selected Sandwich because of the shallow harbor and promise of the Cape Cod Canal, which would make it easy to transport the glass around the world. (It’s a myth that the beach sand was the reason.) Today the Sandwich Glass Museum houses a stunning collection of Sandwich Glass totalling over 5,000 pieces created between 1825 and 1888. Glass blowing exhibitions are also given.. Admission is only $5, Children 6-12 $1.25, Under 6 Free. Sandwich Glass Museum is closed January.
Woods Hole Historical Museum, Falmouth MA
Operated by the Wood Hole Historical Society, this local museum has a very nautical feel. The Swift Barn, built in 1877, is now home to the Small Boat Museum. Permanent exhibits include an 1890s Woods Hole Spritsail boat (SPY); a Herreshoff 12 1/2, a Cape Cod Knockabout, a Mirror dinghy, a 1922 Old Town canoe, a Woods Hole Chamberlain dory and many boat models and maritime artifacts. Other small boats on the museum’s campus include two more Cape Cod Knockabouts, two Beetle cat boats under restoration and a 1905 Spritsail boat.
This is a very kid-friendly museum with several interactive exhibits. Kids can climb aboard the Cape Cod Knockabout Penguin and sail the Sound in their imaginations. You can take a try at tying knots: the bowline and the clove hitch, and feel the Power of Pulleys.
The Museum is open Mid-June to Mid-October.
