Cape Ann Museum facts for kids
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Cape Ann Museum
Captain Elias Davis House (left); 1936 addition (center); 1968 addition (right) |
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| Established | 1875 |
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| Location | 27 Pleasant Street Gloucester, Massachusetts |
| Type | Local museum |
| Public transit access |
Newburyport/Rockport Line
Gloucester Station  CATA Post Office - City Hall, Main St & Pleasant St |
The Cape Ann Museum is a cool place in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's like a treasure chest filled with art and history! The museum shows off amazing art from artists who lived and worked around Cape Ann. This includes groups like the Rocky Neck Art Colony and the Folly Cove Designers. The museum also has awesome objects from Gloucester's past. You can learn about its famous fishing and maritime history. Plus, see how granite was quarried in the area.
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The Museum's Story
The Cape Ann Museum started way back in 1875. It was first called the Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association. Dr. Herman E. Davidson was its first president.
In 1923, the museum moved to its current spot. This is the Captain Elias Davis House at 27 Pleasant Street. Around this time, it also got the collection from the Gloucester Historical Society. Its name changed to the Cape Ann Scientific, Literary, and Historical Society. Later, it became the Cape Ann Historical Association. The museum grew its collection of American art and historical items. It gathered objects about the culture, life, and industries of Cape Ann.
In 1937, Alfred Mansfield Brooks became the curator and president. For 30 years, he collected the most paintings by Fitz Henry Lane in the United States. In 2007, the museum changed its name again. It became the Cape Ann Museum to show what it collects and teaches today.
Captain Elias Davis House
The Captain Elias Davis House was built in 1804. A successful sea captain named Elias Davis built it. This house holds many of the museum's furniture and decorative art pieces. Many items inside belonged to Elias Davis and his family. The house is right next to the main museum galleries. Six of its 12 rooms are open for visitors to explore.
Museum Growth
The Cape Ann Museum has grown a lot over the years. It expanded its space five times between 1936 and 2014. This helped it fit more collections and offer more programs.
- 1936: A two-story building was added behind the Elias Davis House. This new part had more exhibit space and an auditorium. It was connected to the Davis House soon after it was built. A new entrance was also added. Catalina Davis helped pay for this expansion. She also gave many family treasures to the museum.
- 1968: The museum bought the land next to the Davis House. They built a four-story building there. This new section has gallery space and storage. The first floor gallery now shows art by Fitz Henry Lane.
- 1989-1993: The museum bought another building on Elm Street. Over the next four years, the museum buildings were greatly improved. They made exhibition spaces bigger and added a new education room. They also created office space and put in an elevator. A third-story link connected the buildings. The Library and Archives also got bigger.
- 2002-2014: Over about ten years, the museum kept improving. They updated galleries in 2002. An outdoor sculpture court was added in 2006. In 2011, a landscaped park and sculpture garden opened across the street. A new main gallery was created between 2013 and 2014. They also made a special gallery for the huge Fresnel lens from the Thacher Island Lighthouse.
Cape Ann Museum Green
On September 17, 2020, the Cape Ann Museum opened its new campus. It's called the Cape Ann Museum Green. You can find it off Grant Circle and Route 128 in Gloucester. This four-acre green space is home to three historic buildings. These are the White-Ellery House (built in 1710), a barn (around 1740), and the Babson-Alling House (around 1740).
The Green also has the Janet and William Ellery James Center. This 12,000 square foot building holds the museum's collections and archives. It was designed by a Boston company called designLAB. Part of this building has 2,000 square feet for exhibits and programs.
What You Can See
The museum has many amazing things to explore! Here are some highlights:
- The biggest collection of Fitz Henry Lane's paintings. He painted beautiful seascapes and landscapes.
- A small model of Gloucester port from the 1800s. It shows how the harbor looked back then.
- The actual Cape Ann dory used by Alfred Johnson. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean in this small boat in 1876!
- The original Fresnel lens from Thacher Island. This huge lens helped guide ships for many years.
- Sample books and displays from the Folly Cove Designers. They were a group of talented textile artists.
- Artworks by famous artists like Gilbert Stuart, Winslow Homer, Cecilia Beaux, Frank Duveneck, John Sloan, Milton Avery, and Stuart Davis.
See also
