Peabody Museum of Salem facts for kids
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Peabody Museum of Salem
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View of East India Marine Hall exterior, 2013
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Essex St., Salem, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000783 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
The Peabody Museum of Salem was a famous museum in Salem, Massachusetts. It was also known as the Peabody Academy of Science before 1915. This museum was a special place that collected and showed many interesting objects.
It took over from an older group called the East India Marine Society. This society started in 1799 and had many cool items from sea voyages. These items were kept in a building called the East India Marine Hall, built in 1825. In 1992, the Peabody Museum joined with another group, the Essex Institute. Together, they formed the Peabody Essex Museum. The East India Marine Hall is now part of this new museum. It is a very important historical site. It holds the record for being the oldest museum collection in the United States that has been open continuously.
History of the Museum
The Peabody Academy of Science started in 1868. It received money from a kind man named George Peabody of London. He wanted to help spread "science and useful knowledge" in the area of Essex County.
The academy had a museum with many different collections. You could see animals, fossils, and plants. There were also cultural items from different parts of the world. These included things like weapons, clothing, tools, statues, and musical instruments. In 1915, the academy changed its name to the "Peabody Museum of Salem."
By 1949, the museum had three main types of collections. These were:
- Items about different cultures (ethnology)
- Objects related to sea history (maritime history)
- Exhibits about nature (natural history)
The museum's cultural collection had items from places like Hawaii, Japan, the Marquesas Islands, and New Zealand. The museum showed its collections in the East India Marine Hall. In 1953, new areas called the Crowninshield Galleries were added.
In 1984, the China Trade Museum from Milton, Massachusetts joined with the Peabody Museum. Then, in 1992, the Peabody Museum merged with the Essex Institute. This created the Peabody Essex Museum that we know today.
East India Marine Hall
The East India Marine Hall was built between 1824 and 1825. It was made for the East India Marine Society to keep their special collection. The building was designed by Thomas Waldron Sumner. It is located on Essex Street and is now part of the Peabody Essex Museum.
When it was first built, it was a two-story building. The front part facing Essex Street was made of granite. The sides were made of brick. It was about 45 feet wide and 100 feet long. The front of the building still looks much like it did originally. It has six rectangular windows on the first floor. The second floor has seven tall, round-arch windows.
The inside of the building has changed a lot over the years. The first floor used to have shops. But in 1867, it was changed into a museum space. New entrances were added at that time. The first floor is now fully connected to the newer parts of the Peabody Essex Museum. The upper floor was designed as a large open room for events. It has always been used as a big gallery space for exhibits.
The East India Marine Hall is very important. In 1965, it was named a National Historic Landmark. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. This is because it is one of the oldest museum spaces in the United States that has been used continuously.
See also
- American Neptune, a journal published by the museum
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Massachusetts
Images for kids
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Map of part of the Museum of the Peabody Academy of Science, 1879
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Interior, Peabody Academy, 1880
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Emblem of the Peabody Academy of Science, 19th century
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Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1910s
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Peabody Museum Marine Room, circa 1920
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Peabody Museum Marine Room, circa 1920
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Peabody Museum half hulls built between 1809-1870 of Salem ships
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Logo, 1921
