Atwood House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atwood Museum |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Colonial with gambrel roof and modern additions |
| Address | 347 Stage Harbor Road |
| Town or city | Chatham, Massachusetts |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 41°40′24″N 69°57′55″W / 41.673274°N 69.965237°W |
| Completed | c. 1752 |
| Renovated | 1949, 2005 |
| Owner | Chatham Historical Society (MA) |
| Other information | |
| Parking | yes |
The Atwood Museum in Chatham, Massachusetts is a special place managed by the Chatham Historical Society. This society bought the property in 1926. Their goal was to protect the old home of Captain Joseph Atwood and to show off important items and papers about Chatham's history. The main part of the museum is the original house, built around 1752. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in Chatham! The museum has been open to everyone since it was bought. You can visit from mid-June to mid-October. If you are a researcher, you can visit all year by making an appointment.
Contents
Discovering the Atwood Museum
A Glimpse into the Past
The Atwood Museum helps us learn about the past of Chatham, Massachusetts. It is owned by the Chatham Historical Society. In 1926, the society bought the house of Captain Joseph Atwood. He lived from 1720 to 1794. The society wanted to save the property. They also wanted to show and keep old items and papers. These items tell the story of Chatham's history.
The oldest part of the museum is the original house. It was built around 1752. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in Chatham. The museum has been open to the public since the society bought it.
What You Can Explore
Over the years, the museum has been updated and made bigger. These changes added more space for all the collections. In 2005, a big expansion happened. This added large rooms that show the history of fishing in the area. You can see displays of old tools. There are also exhibits about the life and work of a famous local writer, Joseph Crosby Lincoln.
Outside the museum, you can explore a special herb garden. It looks just like gardens from long ago. You can also see the top part of a lighthouse! This is the turret from Chatham's famous Twin Light. This lighthouse helped guide ships from 1808 to 1923. You can visit the lighthouse turret when the museum is open.
The museum also has a gift shop. Here, you can find unique gifts, books, and fashion items. These items are all connected to the museum's collections.
Accessibility for Visitors
The museum buildings are easy to get around. They are wheelchair accessible. This means everyone can enjoy visiting. The buildings are also air-conditioned. This makes your visit comfortable, especially on warm days.
