Cape Ann Museum & Cam Green Reviews

Great small museum with such a wonderful selection of Gloucester history. You'll learn things you never knew even if you've lived here your entire life. Beautifully curated - I wouldn't miss it.

Beautiful museum which is right in the heart of Gloucester. There is a small courtyard with a cozy, casual eatery two doors down. The museum has terrific guides and exhibits. Incredible set up of Fitz Henry Lane paintings with historically correct furniture. It also features the Gloucester fishing fleet, current and past artists ( including a fascinating room about the Folly Cove designers), a real fresnel lens, model antique boats, and so much more!

We took the free 1 hour overview tour at 2 PM on a Sunday. This was a great introduction to the museum however the docent forgot to take us to the attached colonial house which one can only see on tour. This was a disappointment. We spent an additional 1 hour 45 min in the museum so I do not consider it a small museum at all, as some have indicated. Enjoyed the granite exposition on the LL as well as the maritime section. There is a good sized gift shop behind the entry area.

A beautiful facility filled with seascapes and other original oil and pastel paintings, as well as a nice display of ship models and other historical pieces.

Theis is one of the finest small museums in America. It has a superb collection of Fitz Henry (hugh) Lane materpieces. It has a great colection of locval arrt going back for two centries, including many fine recen pieces. The museum also has a great collection of material that tie into Gloucester's fishing past, including a wonderful library and archive repository.

The Cape Ann museum is a great place if you're new to town, have lived there for years, or even if you're just visiting. The layout is easy to follow with a lot of information and history to absorb. There is no doubt you will leave with a better understanding of the Cape Ann area and a deeper love for the area as well. I used a lot of the information I learned in a presentation to students I work with who volunteer in Gloucester. It gave it more depth! Would definitely recommend!

Hadn't been here in many years but made a point of getting back to see the Winslow Homer exhibit that reunited the two sections of the painting that he cut in two after it was trashed by critics. Very nicely done exhibit. The museum had been expanded since my last visit, so it seemed like there was more of the collection on display.

What a lovely little museum this is - not only is there a great local art collection but there are also fascinating artefacts of the Cape's maritime history. We loved it. Especially interesting was the docent tour - a knowledgable lady with great presence.

The museum is spacious and offers a great combination of art and history.

The museum and gallery features artists with a local connection. There are many fine portraits, maritime scenes and other exhibits with real boats, an actual Fresnel lens and historical movies. Highly recommend it for anyone who likes to understand the history of the Cape Ann area

This museum is great. Its collection focuses on Gloucester itself, with an outstanding number of Lane paintings. The building itself is interesting and very modern in feel. Docents lead tours every hour, and the tours are highly recommended.

Cape Ann Museum has an exquisite collection of beautiful paintings, sculpture and photographs as well as history of Gloucester Sea Life and the many fascinating subjects it touches. My husband was so excited to see the giant Fresnel Light (from a Lighthouse) on display. There was an on-going movie about the quarry enterprises that the railroad and ships took part in to supply granite for building in major cities. What drew us into the heart of Gloucester to find Cape Ann Museum however was the special exhibit of Jeremy Adams, master organ and harpsichord builder. This exhibit was so special and the items displayed were breathtakingly beautiful. Truly a "perfect storm" of fascination awaits you here. Totally recommend.

I grew up in the area, Ipswich, and I am embarrassed to say this was my first visit. I had seen a PBS NewsHour segment on the Winslow Homer exhibit (which has now sadly closed) and decided to visit. This is a gem of a museum, well worth a stop when in the Cape Ann area. Great tour at 11 am. Interesting art work, ship and other models and items associated with the fishing industry.

I enjoyed taking a spin through here. It was small but easily digestable. The museum itself was user-friendly, and the collection covered a pretty wide variety. There was a good chunk of Fitz Hugh Lane and his 19th-century contemporaries but more of the museum was newer art- including a nice temporary exhibit if local artists.

Great selection of art and fishing history. Small museum but packed in a lot. Loved the Folly Cove designers room.

As a local it was interesting to see paintings that depicted Gloucester many years ago. From documenting historical fishing boats and docks to the people that manned them was very cool.

As part of my visit to Gloucester, I spent time visiting this museum.
Well worth the trip.
Many paintings by painters I had never heard of. I love seeing views of the area painted by women as well as men.

This is a nice museum focused on artists with connections to Cape Ann, along with local maritime items. This is a well curated museum with a number of nice items in its permanent collection, and generally offers interesting exhibitions.

This is a real treasure-house of a museum. We visited it once on a rainy afternoon and fell in love with it. On our next trip, even with the sun out, we plunged back inside. It's got rooms full of Fitz Henry Lane paintings of the Gloucester Harbor to give you a real feel of the place in the 19th century. Plenty of period furniture. And there is a big room dedicated to Cape Ann's maritime heroes--a small dory which one Cape Ann captain rowed across the Atlantic. If you're a fan of T. S. Eliot, then you know he wrote one of his Four Quartets, "The Dry Salvages" about three small islands just off the Cape Ann Coast. Well in the museum they have the actual wooden statue of "Our Lady of Good Voyage" which Eliot describes in his poem.

While on a New England roadtrip in September, we visited the Cape Ann Museum to see the Edward Hopper and Cape Ann: Illuminating an American Landscape. We've visited the Edward Hopper House museum in Nyack, NY as well as seen seen other Hopper exhibitions and works during our travels. The exhibit was most interesting, especially to be able afterwards to walk about the town and see some of the sites Hopper painted. Since CAM is a museum of American Art, we walked through every gallery and nook and cranny to see the nice array of art by local and regional artists in their Maritime and Fisheries Galleries, the Fitz Henry Lane Gallery, and more.

Very interesting local museum partially in an historic house. Lots of Great exhibits about the area, it's history, commerce, famous people, yacht racing, and lots of local art! Well worth the visit.

This is not the modest regional museum you might expect. The museum has a huge selection of Fitz Henry Lane oils, the only extant British Redcoat in the US, Paul Revere silver, and ship passports signed by Presidents John Adams and James Madison. The last are only viewable via a docent tour of the Davis House, which is free at scheduled times. The museum is small, so you will not be overwhelmed. Of course, a wonderful collection of Cape Ann historical, cultural, and occupational artifacts.

Situated in the middle of Gloucester (with a convenient parking lot just across the street), this surprisingly large museum offers an entirely satisfying introduction to the pleasures of Cape Ann's maritime history and art. Changing exhibitions feature artists of note. Also, be sure not to miss the permanent collection of Fitz Hugh Lane seascapes. Extraordinary!

Art, quarries and fishing are found in Gloucester. How Cape Ann became an economic engine to the region is learned. A very good way to spend a couple of hours before your next stop.

We were impressed with the permanent collection, which well illustrates works portraying the Gloucester area. Well laid out and lit.

This is a special place, curated with extreme sensitivity in a fascinating way. There are paintings, extraordinary lighthouse lenses, carved boat prow figureheads, diaries of settlers, and much more. A very comfortable place, and not crowded.

This museum has been around for as long as I can remember, a great amount of history can be experienced by taking a slow walk around all the exhibits, for many people in town they would probably not even know that some of these events happened a good place to look back in time

Make this museum your initial destination and then afterwards explore Gloucester... We started by walking through the large collection of 19th century local artist Fitz Henry Lane's paintings and lithographs... a wonderfully curated permanent exhibition that goes deeply into the artist's life and work... we then took Docent Tony's 11:00 tour, which introduced us to the Museum's other treasures... finally we toured the Captain Elias Davis house (1804) which houses much of the Museum's collection of furniture and decorative arts... The history of Gloucester's fishing industry on the second floor is a "must", featuring two boats that crossed the Atlantic in solo voyage, maritime history, ship models, and more... There were interesting new exhibitions as well... and an excellent bookstore...

Visited specifically to see a Homer exhibit, which was outstanding and very well curated. It was arranged chronologically and really demonstrated his developing career and focus on New England. Other museum exhibits were well done, depicting the local maritime heritage and history. Highly recommended.

Interesting exhibits. We particularly enjoyed the fishing history and memorabilia as well as the large lighthouse lens and the current exhibit of harpsichords by Jeremy Adams. The Captain Ellis Davis House may only be visited as part of the daily highlights tour. We would suggest finding out when the tour is scheduled to be actually entering the House so you can skip the docent highlight tour and better spend your time visiting the outstanding collection and discovering the museum on your own. Do not skip the granite exhibit in the auditorium which was unfortunately discounted by our docent. The docent tour wasted 30 minutes that could better be spent seeing and reading about whatever is important to you. On a very positive note, the wall and item text throughout the museum was in an easy to read type style and size, on a proper background color, and non-glare surface and there was large print versions of the text easily available. Most museums do not pay as much attention to older people or people with any vision impairment. If they do, they do not accomplish it as well as the Cape Ann Museum does. The museum allows you to leave and return on the same day, which is a major plus.

We had been many years ago, but were drawn back by a special exhibit showcasing Homer's beach paintings. The collection of local painter Fitz Henry Lane paintings was there to see as well. Though we found the gallery a bit cramped, we were glad we made the trip and we enjoyed our visit.

This is a hidden gem. We thoroughly enjoy the exhibit of Cape Ann art & will return to see the other exhibits. The space was well designed and the exhibit worth the trip from Boston.

We arrived here late afternoon after visiting Rockport. I wish we had gotten here earlier. This is a well thought-out museum with a mixture of local historical artwork, historical artifacts, diaramas and videos. There's a little of everything for anyone to enjoy. If you want a good feel of what Gloucester was like in its heyday and even today, you need to start here.

We were unsure of what to expect, but were pleased with what we found. This museum is filled with beautiful artwork from oil paintings to sculpture, ranging from historical to modern. The atmosphere was peaceful and thought provoking and the staff was friendly and helpful.

Come to this museum as the first thing that you do when visiting Cape Ann. It will place everything else you see in perspective. The museum encompasses the fishing industry, the granite quarrying, a little natural history, fine art, local contemporary art, the artist communities, and all facets of local history. Pay for parking across the street, but it's only 50 cents/hour.....

This incredible gem was awesome to visit before the remodeling it just went
through. I am a resident of Gloucester and visit several times a year as the
exhibits change. I have not been this year but am looking forward to seeing
the improvements. It is a light, airy museum and just the right size to
thoroughly enjoy (even if museums are not your thing!)

I've visited Cape Ann twice now in the past 2 years and I've been to the CAM both times. I love museums and this place is just a treasure! I have become a big fan of Fitz Hugh Lane and this museum showcases him and others like him. If you are into the history of Cape Ann, fishing, boats and gorgeous art, then definitely check this place out. Cute little gift shop too, with some wonderful gifts for yourself and others!

Thought it would be locally focused (which it is) but with a depth that was unexpected. Learn about the local art community and learn a little about Gloucester history (including fishing) at the same time. Well worth the 2 hours spent. Could have stayed for another hour easily.

What a gem of a museum!! First time visitors from away and even locals gasp at the works and their beautiful display. Right now (December 2017) there is a wonderful show of Gloucester's own, Fitz Henry Lane 's paintings and drawings. It includes furniture of the period. The permanent collection exhibitions work of the area's maritime history, local painters, the Folly Cove Print Designers and oh, so much more. Don't forget to go in the gift shop for really unique artistic items and books.

This is quite an amazing small museum. It is part art, part history, part decorative arts and a library with a great collection of local records that will fascinate genealogists and historicans. There are some things that will appeal to children and there was a guided tour at 11am on the day we visited.

I thoroughly enjoyed this special exhibit pairing floral artists with works of art and archival material. However, Cape Ann Museum is a "must see" for anyone visiting the area any time of year. My favorite permanent exhibit is the Fitz Henry paintings.

Hidden Gem in historic seaside working harbor of Gloucester, MA. Amazing works including Fitz Hugh Lane and John Singer Sargent. Great little museum. Great Art collection and Maritime history.

Our visit to the Cape Ann museum was an unexpected afternoon of enjoyment. We arrived as a tour was commencing, and spent the next hour listening to amazing stories about Cape Ann life and a vast array of paintings and exhibits representing the story of Cape Inn. Your ticket is good for the entire day, and allowed us to re-visit areas that were of particular interest. We had visited Cape Ann numerous times but it took a rainstorm to bring us to this hidden gem

This museum is a little gem. I call it the museum for people who aren't crazy about museum visits. Not just paintings, although they are wonderful, but furniture and artifacts that give a really good idea of Gloucester and its history. Not to be missed, and not expensive.

This is a smaller scale museum in the middle of town. Municipal parking is across the street ($1 for 2 hours). Beautiful inside with varied exhibits. Reception suggested we start at the top and work our way down as many exhibits are on half levels between floors so you take a lot of stairs. There is an elevator, but not sure about wheelchair accessibility everywhere. Worth the stop - we spent about 90 minutes there.

One of my favorite stops on any Gloucester tour for visitors is the Cape Ann Museum.
It has an astonishing collection of paintings, especially maritime work, and a really rich array of items and information about Cape Ann's history as a fishing village. The recent renovation and expansion took a great museum and made it a hundred times better. Visitors are always stunned by the sheer quality and quantity of work tucked into a side street in downtown.

We visited the museum and took the docent's tour which was very informative. I was surprised, however, that she didn't even mention the 3 Winslow Homer's and the Edward Hopper! Learned quite a bit about the various artists of the Cape Ann area of which there were many. I was especially interested in the Folly Cove Designers beautiful textiles. There were also artifacts such as a Fresnel lens that was used in one of the two Thatcher Island lighthouses. The museum has just had a major renovation and was well-laid out with many period pieces of furniture as part of the exhibits. I f you are at all interested in maritime history, this museum is a must.

In a lovely physical center, this small museum does credit to the numerous artists who called Cape Ann home, as well as galleries about the maritime heritage of the peninsula. Carefully curated, this is an outstanding attraction.

This newly renovated and expanded facility is exceptional for sure.

The displays of the great history of Gloucester / Cape Ann artists are superb; open, spread-out and nicely captioned.

Enjoyed the films about the granite industry but wished there had been more information on this part of Cape Ann's history.

The docent service available at scheduled times was exceptional and greatly enhanced our visit. We highly recommend taking advantage of this service (Than you so much Elaine!).

The museum mixes outstanding paintings with special exhibits about the Cape Ann area. Plan your visit to take a docent lead tour, you will learn more details than any
brochures can ever give you. The building itself is beautiful and special exhibits include
history on the fishing industry and the granite business.

They have a conducted tour at 2pm which we unfortunately missed. Even so we spent a pleasant 1.5 hours admiring the works of art, furniture and some maritime equipment here and learning a little about the history of Gloucester. The admission fee is $8 for residents and $10 for non residents, a reasonable price to pay for an interesting visit. The beautiful City Hall Building which was built sometime after a fire destroyed the original one in 1869 is just across the street.

Visited Gloucester and Cape Ann to stay with friends just before Christmas and a visit to the museum was suggested. I have a reluctance to visit small municipal museums both in the UK and France finding them run by retired well wishers who have a narrow interest in a limited dusty collection. Not here, in Cape Ann, located in the town centre. Externally the museum is well presented, the brickwork facade clean and neat with a number of interesting and exiting sculptures reflecting the maritime location and industry of CA. The museum staff were welcoming and offered information when required. It is a mixed collection on several floors showing the story of the town and its surroundings, its arts, culture and industries. Paintings by well known artist visitors to the town although not necessarily seascapes, extremely well lit and displayed with sufficient narrative information alongside to enable further research. A comprehensive display of the fishing industry includes models,tools boats and old photos, together with the history of Fresnel and his lens designs for lighthouses. To me the curator and his or her team have put together a superb museum that will be difficult to surpass, not just the artifacts they have collected but the way they are displayed and lit. Well done CAM. I was unable to visit a temporary exhibition since the last one had finished.

This was my second visit to the Cape Ann Museum. That was worrisome for a small place, but it did not disappoint. The woman who welcomed us was incredibly friendly and helpful. The space itself is fantastic with perfect light. And the variety of works and exhibits for such a small museum is impressive. The art will call you directly and is well worth your time. But take a look at the exhibit about granite quarrying, then follow up with a visit to the old quarry at Halibut Point.

This is a small local museum and art gallery that is the perfect size - takes 1-2 hours to visit and offers an interesting overview of the area and insight into the lives of Cape Ann fisherfolk. I'm amazed by the transAtlantic vessels on display and the stories of the voyages. Definitely worth a visit.

Visited here to see the exhibit on Homer. It is superb. Also, the collection of Fitz Hugh Lane is worth seeing. Clean restrooms in museum (first floor and lower level). Limited parking available in a small lot directly opposite the museum. Pay with quarters in kiosk at the lot. The kiosk will NOT take bills (even though it is designed for same). 50c per hour. You need about two hours for the museum. Small gift shop. Pleasant staff.

Gloucester is North America's oldest fishing port. The significance of this is captured through art, sculpture, furniture, and incredible relics of the past that communicate the culture of this wonderful city in a moving and entertaining fashion. If possible, arrange a visit that includes a brief tour with a docent to acquire an overview of the museum. Extraordinary paintings by Fitz Henry Lane and other artists focus on what was and still is magnificent and authentic about Cape Ann. Prepare for a unique experience. You will want to return. Be sure and try one of several special small restaurants in the area to extent your visit. Passports is one of the best by any standard

This was my second time at this museum and I continue to be SO impressed! They have a great balance between historical relevance and captivating, beautiful art. The lines are very clean and the look of the museum itself appears very modern despite being in an old building. There is tons of natural light and they make extremely good use of the space - Don’t fail to turn every corner and take a peek even if you think it’s just the restroom, or elevator. However, it’s not at all crowded! It’s very smartly arranged and curated. There are hands-on and captivating displays for children, too. We feel like we saw some beautiful things AND learned a lot about the rich cultural & artistic history of Cape Ann. (BTW - free admission for service members)

A very well run museum filled with the works of local artists from the past as well as current. Many artifacts, maritime history and local lore. Conveniently located within walking distance to other parts of Gloucester. Close to restaurants and the Pleasant Street Tea House. Well worth a visit.

A rainy day alternative to the North Shore, this museum is all about the ships and fishery up to about 100 years ago. Gorgeous paintings, mostly by local artist F.H. Lang, actual artifacts, boats, and models illustrate the era. I'm a maritime lover, so this was right up my alley. Highlights: the huge first order Fresnel lens from a lighthouse, the sailboat of the first single-handed trans-Atlantic crossing about 200 years ago, very detailed models of a fishing dock. Child Alert: the actual models and artifacts were interesting to my 12 year-old, but the painting galleries mostly left him bored.

Pleasant little museum with locally relevant arts, crafts, and historical exhibits, a nice gallery with women artists' focus, in a good location with easy parking. Nice gift shop with friendly, knowledgeable local staff.

My friend and I went for the Winslow Homer exhibit! We were able to join a tour group with a very knowledgeable, entertaining docent! She took as through the Henry Fitz Lane gallery on the way to the Homer exhibit. The exhibits are awe inspiring! The Gloucester history exhibits are unique and well designed! Great take for the whole family! What a gem in Gloucester!

I have visited the CAM a number of times, both before and after its extensive renovation. The CAM is a hidden jewel on the North Shore, an hour north of Boston. It features a huge collection of Fitz Henry Lane landscapes, plus a treasure trove of other regional artists. But it is also a museum of the history of Cape Ann, its maritime and granite industry and its culture.

High quality museum with lovely collections! Historically important artist relevant to Cape Ann area. Very special.

Exhibits about Gloucester history, every detail handcrafted and or authentically preserved. It is an education for every local resident as well as tourists. You will learn about the seafaring world, ethnic customs from St. Peters Day Fiestas, to gig (dory) rowers competitions, delight in the miniature sea and land scapes artistically painted on oars hand painted by exceptionally talented locals and world renown artists. Several floors of alcoves and walls of outstanding images to enjoy along with native birds and habitats. Family worthy A+.

Wonderful museum that combines art and history. Has a lot of history of the fishing industry that Gloucester is known for. Fascinating and well laid out. Also had beautiful paintings and sculptures not related to history. Has 3 floors of exhibits with elevator -- fully accessible. We drove by it 2 or 3 times before we found it, but so glad we perservered! Parking is limited to the street. It's closed on Monday's, so plan accordingly.

The Cape Ann Museum is a nice little museum and a very good introduction to the history and importance of this area. I would love to see it have a few more child-friendly and hands-on exhibits, but it held the attention of the two kids accompanying me for a while.

For such a small town I was amazed by this museum. No expense has been spared. Great artworks, graphics. Just top notch!

It's a nice museum in a very nice town. We found particularly interesting the maritime part of the museum and the video dedicated to fishing. Don't miss it.

Nothing you will not find in the basements of the average house. There is not enough about the history of the area, the early beginnings.

This is a small town with a superb museum telling the story of trips to the ocean and how this fishing town grew up. Uncommonly good displays; unique artifacts; clear explanations on display with some local art work.

A spacious and well-planned museum. There is an emphasis on art and a good story. I loved to find out a story behind the exhibits, be it a boat, a chair, an oar, or a painting. Do not miss this gem.

The museum has interesting paintings, sculptures and other objects. We went on a guided tour with a docent. He really knew his stuff and interacted with us instead of just giving a spiel.

This lovely museum has an extensive collection of materials portraying Gloucester's maritime history, as well as a nice array of work from the many artists attracted to the lovely light on Cape Ann. If you are interested in any of these topics, make plans to visit and allow at least 2.5 hours for the visit.

This is a lovely, albeit small, museum in the heart of downtown Gloucester. It celebrates Gloucester's maritime history and has wonderful exhibits depicting the most courageous and meaningful events in Gloucester's long fishing tradition. Fitz Henry Lane is Gloucester's most recognized artist and many of his works are housed here. Gloucester has natural lighting, granite formations and a working harbor that draws artists back year after year.

This is not a rush through place. Well, you shouldn't rush through. This museum has a wealth of history and needs time to be appreciated. Worth the price of admission.

Totally enjoyed this museum. Not very big but still 3 floors. Be sure you go to first floor where there was a loop movie about the second major industry in cape Ann...granite. Enjoyed learning about the many ethnicities who populated the area. Staff was very nice and we had an enjoyable couple of hours. Directly across from city hall.

We had no idea of the extent of the collection in this charming museum. Be sure to take one of the short guided tours! They also have a wonderful gift shop.

Great place to learn about the towns beginning. Well laid out and knowledgable staff. Has a well stocked archive to find out family history and old residents. The Quarry history was interesting as well. Cool models!

With the renovation several years ago, this museum became even more of a must-see destination. The Fitz Henry Lane collection is unparalleled. The special exhibits are consistently excellent. The lectures, walks and other programming enrich one's experience of the museum and the city. Cape Ann Museum does a great job of showing and explaining the deep history of America's oldest seaport.

We were prompted by review in one of the Boston papers on a special exhibit called Rock Bound featuring some famous American artists who have summered in Cape Ann towns of Gloucester or Rockport for a number of years. That exhibit will close Oct. 29, 2017. There are some wonderful works very well displayed that feature the rocky coast and workplaces of the area. The permanent collection was also a great treat nicely displayed in the 4 floors of the museum. Seascapes abound featuring local star Fitz Henry Lane and other more modern painters. There are interesting displays of many aspects of the fishing industry and Gloucester is still a working fishing port. There is also good coverage of the local granite quarrying industry. The museum is located just a couple of blocks off of Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Main Street has a good number of shops and restaurants to visit as well. The museum is a great place to spend 2 - 3 hours. We certainly agree with others who rate this as an outstanding regional museum.

This museum is a real gem for understanding the development of Cape Ann, the history and fisheries. What is unique is the blend of history and the fine art that came from the area. Grant, Fitz Henry Lane, Sloan, and many others. Older kids could enjoy the fishing displays plus get a bit of art without either overwhelming.

The National Geographic supported Kodachromes that Nathan Benn shot in the late 70s was a wonderful exhibit. They even had several copies of the NG magazine around that featured the shots.

I also enjoyed Voicing the Woods, which was an exhibit of mostly keyboard instruments that had been designed by Jeremy Adams.

I also joined a tour (late) that explained things about the permanent collection and its connection to a couple of the Kodachromes which was quite a treat!

This was my third visit to the museum but will not be my last.

You are immediately surprised with the size of the galleries in what looks like a small museum at the front door. The artists are more local. The impressionist area is a real surprise and wonderful. There are enough chairs around to sit and admire the art. A real treat is the room with old boats and boating memorabilia. The. Colorful oars at the entrance to that gallery and boating figures very colorful. The fresnel lens is unique in its own space. There is an auditorium that is a good size as well. We walked around, but there are docents available for tours if you want. We spent some lovely time in this hidden gem that has carved out its own unique area.

This beautifully renovated Gloucester, Massachusetts art museum is special for its galleries of sublime Fitz Hugh Lane sea paintings. It is worth a visit for that alone but also for its displays of other artists who were part of the Cape Ann artists' colony with many works by Max Kuehne, William Meyerowitz, Nell Blaine, Milton Avery and John Sloan. Definitely worth a visit as is Gloucester's lovely waterfront promenade and the picturesque Rocky Neck area with its walk along the sea, restaurants and art galleries.

If you want a glimpse into the history and art of the Cape Ann region, then I would suggest experiencing the Cape Ann Museum. Take the gallery tour to get a sense of the museum, it lasts about 1 hour.

We mainly went for the Edward Hopper exhibit, but went through the rest of this museum as well. It's a small but very nice museum.

This museum is filled with artwork by local artists both living and dead. It also houses much of Gloucester's fishing and whaling history. The art work displays are changed frequently as they are in possession of many items kept in archives. The Captain Davis house can be viewed on tours twice daily, included in the price of admission. The entire tour of both the Davis house and the museum can be viewed in about an hour, but plan to spend 2 or more hours if you are an art and museum lover.

Beautiful recently renovated spaces. Excellent special and permanent exhibits. Friendly and helpful staff. Very nice small performance auditorium. Well worth the visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this museum, and wish we had more time to explore it. It contains a wealth of history, art and artifacts, and really helped us to get a sense of the place that we were visiting. We went on a guided tour, led by a volunteer docent named Hazel, which was wonderful. At this time of year, they only give them once a day so we were very lucky with our timing - the tour is the only way to see the adjacent captain's house. Recommend you call ahead to find out when tours are scheduled, they are no extra charge, and well worth the 90 minutes. We could easily have spent a few more hours visiting the museum, but alas didn't have the time. Convenient metered parking across the street, and near the City Hall which has some beautiful murals and plaques.

This is a charming museum. It is easy to do in half a day. They have an excellent collection of Fitz Henry Lane.

The renovation and collection are just wonderful. I remember stumbling into the old museum some years ago and being astonished at the number of Fitz Henry Lane paintings, hanging in a pretty haphazard way. The new museum is a total joy not just for the wonderful display of its incredible painting collection but also for the maritime artifacts section (when you read the backstory behind the fishing dory and sloop on display, your eyes will pop). As an added bonus, when we exited the museum at closing on a cold wintery afternoon, we felt we'd been transported into a canvas: to the left, a Hopper-esque streetscape (that I promptly photographed and sent out to all my friends) and a Fitz Henry Lane-worthy luminist sunset behind the city hall opposite us (that I tried to photograph but was so much more realistically captured in so many paintings inside the museum).

This little gem has a Winslow Homer! along with Fitz Henry Lane's and other gorgeous local painters, it is absolutely worth a visit or even two.

This delightful museum has done a tremendous job of preserving and displaying Gloucester's history. From items that represent living, working, it's industry, it's culture, to wonderful displays of dories and ship models....it was fascinating, intriguing and gave one tremendous insight and respect for those involved in food from the sea. The daily labor-intensive work that was done and is still done to provide for others, left a memorable impression. There is a section of photos of the working families there that is a heartfelt reminder of these brave and industrious souls.
The museum is worth going to honor how life is on the coast.
I will go again when in the area just to learn even more!

Great collection of Fitz Hugh Lane paintings. Great room with Gloucester history; fishing industry, boats, pictures. Plus rotating exhibits, usually contemparary art. We always bring visitors to this museum as it is so typically Cape Ann.

My wife and I visited this museum on a Tuesday afternoon in mid-September 2023. A traveling exhibit of the works of Edward Hopper was there, and we traveled here expressly to see that exhibit. This is a small museum, with three floors. They have nice, but not outstanding, holdings, although we did enjoy ourselves as we walked the entire museum. In terms of maritime holdings, this museum seems strong, and its holdings were well displayed.
The Hopper exhibit was good, although it had fewer of his oil paintings and more of his sketches. That said, those sketches showed the evolution of his style, and we came away MUCH better informed. The exhibit was chronologically displayed, although it was difficult sometimes to figure out which way to walk the gallery to stay in order. Attendance was crowded, hence the use of timed entry. We got a much better feel for Hopper's relationship with his wife, Jo, and we got to see her work as well. While we did not like her work as much as his, we recognize that Hopper's fame may well be due to the efforts of Jo, who gave up her career to manage his. We'd say the museum itself gets a 3.5, since without the Hopper exhibit it might not have drawn us in. Be sure to see the sea monster statue at the door!

Beautiful art and wonderful maritime museum. View lovely seascapes and learn about the working seaport and quarry.

We enjoyed our visit and learned so much about the history of the region.

It is small but what is there is well chosen and displayed.
The exhibits I enjoyed the most were the nautical ones on the 2nd floor but there is a wing devoted to history that was very informative as well as art in another wing.

I would encourage any visitor to spend some time here.

The have Free lockers just across from the gift shop for any packages you may be carrying. Great idea!

This is a quiet and comfortable museum, and you could spend a long afternoon there. We especially enjoyed the Folly Cove Design exhibit - what a national treasure that is!
The other exhibits were also well organized and easy for a non-artist to appreciate. Whether it was 19th century or contemporary art, I felt like I was welcome to sit and enjoy.

Our museum docent, Anne-Seymour, was so pleasant and knowledgeable. She guided us through the museum in about 45 minutes, helping us put the paintings and other exhibit items into historical and cultural perspective. It's a definite must see if you are in Gloucester for a few days and are at all interested in the heritage of the area.

Here is a museum of the size that I like: something that can covered completely in an hour or so, has a limited focus and accomplishes its goal. This is a beautiful little museum that tells the history of the Cape Ann area with special emphasis on whaling and the lives of the ordinary people of that occupation. The lighthouse lens is a magnificent piece of art. The people who run the museum are just what one would want in such a place: experienced, cheerful and helpful. This museum is well worth a visit.

Tucked away on a side street in downtown Gloucester is this intimate little museum that celebrates the rich artistic and cultural history of Cape Ann. Recently renovated, the museum directors continue to breath new life into this long lived establishment. With an extensive collection of world renown artist Fitz Henry Lane, The museum celebrates this beloved painter with a dedicated wing. There are constantly changing special exhibits dedicated to artists with strong connections to the Cape Ann area. I highly recommend looking through the Folly Cove Designers section that celebrates the artists who made whimsical block prints by hand from 1938 to1969.

The best thing about CAM is that you can decide either to go for a long leisurely visit or a brief targeted immersion into an individual exhibit or artist. Each time you set foot in the museum you'll be delighted. Don't forget to stop by the new gift shop on your way out. You'll find many unique and wonderful Cape Ann specific gifts for friends and Family.

I just wish more people knew about this hidden gem!

This is an excellent medium sized community museum that covers the art, history and culture of Cape Ann. It stages wonderful exhibits on John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, FitzHenry Lane, Hopper and Manship. It is a gem.Check out its lectures.

This museum is a real gem with all of the art done either by Cape Ann artists or of Cape Ann. They have a marvelous collection of Winslow Homer's work and regularly bring in new exhibits. They have a wonderful collection of materials and artifacts from the ship captains and early fishermen, reflecting their influence on Gloucester's history.
I have brought many people to this museum and they are always thrilled with the experience.

I've lived in E. Mass for 20 years and never visited. Four of us were attracted to the current exhibition, Rock Bound, and spent a lovely morning with a docent and then on our own. The exhibit was fantastic, runs through late October, and is a must-see destination if you are around.

I often move through museums alone or with another couple of people, but wisely we followed a docent here on a 1 hour + tour. Paul, docent, was excellent and we greatly appreciated his interpretation of life on Cape Ann over the past, nearly 400 years.

One must see it for oneself. We loved it and will return whenever we are nearby.

The best thing to do on a rainy day in Gloucester. This marvelous small museum has an excellent educational exhibit about the fishing industry, as well as paintings of the Cape Ann area by famous artists, plus rotating exhibits of modern art too. It has a small gift shop. Three floors are accessed either by stairs or elevator. It is easily seen in an hour if you don't care to read all the descriptions, but you could also spend 2 to 3 hours here and learn a lot about fishing and/ or art history.

Well run, not too big, helpful staff and a real good tie in for the area. The history, the house next store, and the explanation of the art all work well.

Well worth a visit. The guided highlights tour is well done. Very knowledgeable staff. We visited out of regular season (late April) when most other museums weren't open yet.

A fun local museum. Definitely worth a visit if your staying in the area. It has a ton of history on the local area.

If you are interested in art and the old masters of Gloucester a visit to the Cape Ann museum is the thing to do. Changing exhibits often cover contemporary. Not very child friendly.

This little museum is a local gem and must-see when in Gloucester. The collection is remarkable, the museum itself is clean, well lit, and modern beneath it’s historic exterior. Just saw the museum’s Virginia Lee Burton exhibit featuring some of her children’s book illustrations and a collection of stunning Folly Cove Designer prints. Highly recommend!

Well worth the visit. Cape Ann has long been an artist colony and has the oldest harbor in America. The exhibits reflect both.

Cape Ann Museum is an exceptional museum highlighting some of Cape Ann's most distinquished artists past and present. It is a relatively small museum that can be enjoyed in less than a day with displays of artists who are currently working as well as those long gone. We love to bring out of town guests to the museum to enjoy the flavors of Cape Ann and to experience the many gifts this area shares with the community and out of town visitors.

If you appreciate paintings of ships, the sea, basically the history of Gloucester port, this is a nice place to visit.

This is a very eclectic place. It's an art museum (noted for Fitz Henry Lane works). It's a maritime museum. It's a history museum. All in one. I do recommend the docent led tour (also the only way you can get to see the attached historic Davis house). We were there for the special local history event, which brought together items from a number of other Essex County museums. Those who like Arts and Crafts will enjoy the exhibit on the Folly Cove designers. We particularity enjoyed seeing the historic lighthouse exhibit, featuring some of the Fresnel lenses used and the exhibit on the two Gloucester men who sailed solo across the Atlantic.

This museum is a real treasure.....it depicts the history of Gloucester from the fishing industry to the artist that made Gloucester their home. A wonderful place to bring family and young children. Highly recommend!

Very impressive exhibits showcasing the history of Gloucester, MA.
The Fitz Henry Lane paintings were my favorite.

We spent about an hour and a half in this small but nice museum in Gloucester. They had a special show of work by Fitz Henry Lane, mostly nautical paintings.

Spent a couple of hours here enjoying the art work and exhibits. My only regret is that I was not told when I arrived that the ship captain's house (a part of the museum) can only be seen on a tour and that the tour would be at 11am. I was in the museum at 11 but did not know of the tour so I missed that part. Otherwise, a very interesting museum of art, furnishings, and items related to ships.

Love art? Go!
Love (or curious about) maritime lore and history of the Cape Ann area? Go!
Love boat models? Definitely go!
Lover period furniture and finally want to learn the difference between Queen Anne, Chippendale, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite? Go!
This museum will open your eyes to the history and beauty of Cape Ann. For me, it was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

As a newcomer to the area, I found a thorough introduction to the history of Gloucester and Cape Ann at the museum. Beautifully laid out and very compelling exhibits about the history of the lighthouse and the fishing industry here in Cape Ann. What a treat.

This North Shire treasure is an exceptionally informative museum. Take the tour in order to experience the original Federal style home in addition to the galleries. Knowledgeable tour guide who had a wealth of information on the artifacts and exhibits. Handicap accessible with ramps, elevator and lightweight, collapsible, sturdy stools provided which were easy to carry from one gallery to the next. We will be back!

This is an excellent and well curated little museum. The shows are quite good. The current Hopper show should not be missed, but others are consistently good too.

The museum is a gem for Gloucester and for Cape Ann. The works of permanent collection artists give a wonderful sense of the rich history, art and culture of Cape Ann, and the special collections give life to the history of the China trade and fisheries based out of the Cape. This summer's featured exhibition of works by the late national portraitist and prolific American impressionist Charles Hopkinson is a brilliant selection of oils, watercolors, and family portraits done around his nearby Cape Ann home over the first half of the last century.
Easy to park nearby and a short walk from Main St. the Museum is not to be missed during a visit to Gloucester.

Having been to dozens and dozens of museums, large and small, around the world, I can honestly say that the Cape Ann Museum is one of the best I've ever visited in the small museum category. It has a wonderful blend of art and history, some in the same gallery and others in separate rooms. Their collection of a famous New England land and seascape painter, Fitz Hugh Lane, is unrivaled and worth a visit in its own right. A free tour through of the museum's highlights with one of its enthusiastic docents was particularly helpful when it came to Lane and understanding his work in its surroundings. There are also some fascinating galleries dedicated to Gloucester's famous fishing and seafaring heritage with particularly touching artifacts and photos explaining the role of Sicilian and Portuguese immigrants to the area. Staff are very friendly and helpful and the museum's exhibits are beautifully presented and clearly explained. All in all, a wonderful experience. We have been twice, last summer and this, and will certainly go again.

Step into the beautifully renovated Cape Ann Museum or linger in the lovely sculpture garden.
The Museum tells the story of Cape Ann's art, history and culture making it an enjoyable experience for people of all ages and interests.
The Museum houses the world's largest collection of Gloucester's luminist painter, Fitz Henry Lane. The works are beautifully displayed. Some works are exhibited in alcoves with period wallpaper and furniture.
All three floors of the permanent and temporary exhibitions are accessible by elevator. There is seating throughout the museum.
The Museum offers a 1 hour guided tour everyday at 11 a.m.
Consult their website for additional information and images from the collection.

Cape Ann includes the towns of Essex, Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester. The area is renowned as America's First Fishing Port (Gloucester), as one of its earliest ship-building communities (Essex), one of its first granite quarrying and art communities (Rockport), and for the large and beautiful seaside homes indicative of a growing and wealthy merchant and sea-faring class (Manchester). I each of these communities however, one will find cross-overs from the other three. A visit to the Cape Ann Museum is a superb introduction to this picturesque, historic and culturally rich area, and a good place from which to plan further tours.

Our trip to Gloucester was nearly rained out, but we had family in town, so we persevered and waited out the rain at the Cape Ann Museum.

We were surprised at how much was packed into a seemingly small space. The Fitz Henry Lane collection is definitely worth the trip alone, and its incorporation of period furniture gives a richer sense of the artist's life and work. Even my 6-year-old found his paintings interesting. The diorama of the working wharf and dry dock was incredible in its detail. I enjoyed the photography portraits in the atrium stairwell. The fresnel lens upstairs is fascinating to see. Even on a cloudy day, it lit up the entire space.

On this trip, I brought my kids (6 and 2.5). The older one was interested in the FHL paintings and the multimedia exhibits. The little one: not so much. Unfortunately, not a lot to keep a toddler entertained. But there is an activity center downstairs, and they both loved playing in the dory, steering the "ship" and reading the books on the giant bean bags.

It didn't say on their website, but we got in free being vets. I'm glad as I don't feel it would have been worth $12. There's nothing wrong with it, but having been in small museums all down the east coast I would consider this average at best. It's mostly an art musuem and I was hoping for more history

Lovely little museum. We particularly enjoyed the Folly Cove Workshop room, the Fitz Henry Lane collection,and the photos of Gloucester fishing families. A great way to spend a drizzly day on Cape Ann.

A local artist in Rocky Neck recommended a visit, and the tip was well worth it. Local art from the past centuries along with special exhibits that feature local themes. The exhibit on family owned fishing boats was especially interesting.

We had been to the museum briefly for a performance a few years ago and finally made it back for a visit. It was a great experience. It's in downtown Gloucester an there's plenty of parking. They have a lot of nautical material -- befitting Cape Ann's maritime past (and present), We really loved the large collection of nautical paintings by Fitz Henry Lane. It was also interesting to see a real "red coat" from the Revolutionary War. I was not wild about the modern paintings on the third floor, but then I seldom am. We stayed for a little over three hours which was about enough. Great signage on displays - very spacious rooms - art well lit. Overall it was a wonderful place to visit.

This is a great take if you want to learn more about the old fishing industry. There are a few dories and lots of artifacts. Watch the short film on the quarries. There is also art work of area artists. Worth the $10 price. Parking across the street. A small gift shop. I don't think there is food but lots of places to eat around.

We went back a second day. This museum really works to combine art and history. The exhibits work together to enhance each other. One of the best museums in the U.S.

What a great little museum. Very good art, interesting exhibits on fishing, quarrying, etc.

New expansion is spectacular. Loved the history of Cape Ann that is carefully captured. A must see when visiting Cape Ann.

A remarkably wise and concise integration of history, industry and community through art. While many of the designs, styles and artists may not be familiar to visitors from outside the northeast, they both shaped and reflected the culture of this compact region, which attracted and nurtured talent from the entire nation and beyond. The Cape Ann Museum is an ideal stop midway through your introduction to the area.

When we first entered the Cape Ann Museum there were several rooms of painting and it seems like more of an art gallery than a museum. As we continued on however, we found that there were many more things than paintings. It is a very interesting overview of the history of the Gloucester Massachusetts area.

This museum is a visual historiography of Cape Ann. The tours are very informative and well-paced. The collection of Fitz Hugh Lane's could take a day to see, and the Folly Cover Designers exhibit shouldn't be missed.

Visited because of the positive reviews on Trip Advisor, and wasn't sorry. Recently re-designed, the museum combines works of art and pieces of history in a dynamic and innovative way. Modern, clean and very educational. One of the best "small" museums we've been to - reminded me of the many small museums in Europe.

Wow, what an unexpected treat. This museum includes many paintings by local artist Fitz Henry Lane (we associate him with Maine but he lived in Gloucester and painted many local scenes), contemporary painters with a Cape Ann association, as well as actual boats and many models showing the history of the fishing industry in Gloucester and its association with people from the Azores. If you are here while the Winslow Homer show is still going, do not miss it. Superb.

The paintings in the Cape Ann Museum by Fitz Henry Lane, Gloucester native, are national treasures. Lane captured the mysteriousness, and terror of the sea, veiled by beauty and maritime detail.

We were expecting a much more low key experience in visiting this museum and we were very mistaken as this is a wonderful collection of art and artifacts in a beautiful facility. The paintings were gorgeous and the many models and artifacts were very interesting. This museum will help any visitors to the North Coast or even the Northeast appreciate and understand the history and culture of the fishing industry of this area. We did not get to visit the houses that are part of the collection so we will want to return. Visiting Gloucester and the Cape Ann Museum was a highlight of our trip to the Boston area.

This small museum is well worth a visit. It contains historical exhibits as well as a wide range of art related to Gloucester.
An extremely nice way to spend a rainy hour or two in Gloucester!

We stumbled upon this museum when viewing senior citizens' art (it was quite cool) in a shop window downtown. The museum was closed that day, so we made an extra trip back into Gloucester the next day for a visit, mainly to view art.

The woman at the front desk was welcoming and enthusiastic. The admission is affordable; I think it was $8 per person. The building itself is beautiful with natural light, especially floor 3.

We were fortunate to see the special exhibit, "Greenheads" by Sam Holdsworth. This alone is worth the price of admission. There are two Milton Avery pieces, he is a major player.

Lastly, the Fitz Henry Lane Gallery is excellent and it, too, is worth the price of admission. What a master of sky, water, and sunlight. His subjects are seascapes, harbor scenes, ships and vessels, and a few local, rural scenes. It is deeply fulfilling to view his paintings then to experience the real thing in person,or vice versa of course.

I visited this museum as part of the free day of the Smithsonian institution's Museum Day Live program. It's on the small side and I don't think I would have visited if I had to pay for admission. The focus of the artwork is on Fitz Henry Lane and his maritime inspired art. We caught up with the guided tour at one point to hear how the museum's collection has art that has to do with Walker Hancock and the Monument Men.

This beautiful small museum, partly lodged in a fine 18th century house, is a gem of New England art and history. It has the largest collection of paintings by Fitz Henry Lane, a local 19th-century painter of seascapes - many are atmospheric with beautiful light and reminded me of the Hudson River School of the same era. Also fine examples of 18th-19th century furniture and things from the China trade, which I did not have a chance to see since I had only an hour to spend. Give it two hours! Closed on Mondays.

I take all my visitors and friends to the Cape Ann Museum. It is an excellent treasure here in Gloucester. Fitz Henry Lane paintings, marvelous artifacts, displays and stories from the fishing industry, special exhibits which change regularly, Folly Cove Design permanent exhibit, a former light from one of the Thatcher Island Twin Lighthouses, a great little gift shop and daily docent tours at 11:00 am. Don't miss it!

The museum is beautiful and airy. It's on 3 levels and artwork and artifacts focused on the maritimes and fishing history of the region. You can easily see the entire museum in an hour. The recent John Sloan exhibit was wonderful. It's a block away from Main Street. Street parking and a metered lot across from the museum. Highlight for me was seeing the actual small dory that crossed the Atlantic and had one man on board for 66 days!

The Cape Ann Museum is a wonderful small museum. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. To me the highlights were the variety of art from Cape Ann. the photographs of Gloucester fishing families,, the Folly Cove designers, the Homeport show featuring lithographs and drawings from Stow Wengenroth and Adin Murray, and the Fitz Henry Lane gallery, as well as a wide variety of maritime artifacts. If you like art and are in Gloucester, this is a place not to miss.

Sometimes a local museum can deliver in ways that the big guys can’t. This place is a must see for locals and visitors alike! We recently caught an exhibit by a local artist that represented a vast display of local land/seascpapes. In what will be an incredible exhibit, next year a vast display of Winslow Homer. Not to be missed!

This beautiful little gem of a museum is a wonderful way to spend a few hours when you're in Gloucester. Of course there are many works which depict the sea, but much, much more....from the Folly Cove block prints of years ago to the recently finished quilts made by the folks at the senior center which feature the various neighborhoods on Cape Ann.

There are many old and antique items and paintings here as well as several displays of maritime history. All is arranged very artfully and appealing. We fully enjoyed our visit. I am an artist so I especially enjoyed the paintings.

Went in on a lark. Exceeded our expectations. Large, diverse, high-quality collection. You will leave feeling fully connected with the region. Worth a visit.

Did a self tour. Great collection of Fitzhugh paintings as well as other maritime paintings and artifacts. Definitely worth the visit.

This museum is full of cape anns local history. They have a awesome granite company exhibit, revolutionary war items, and a large gloucester historical fishing exhibit. There is a discount for locals aswell i believe.

Varying exhibits from paintings to the life in this fishing port. Specialty exhibits change regularly.

A week ago, we visited the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester to see the temporary Winslow Homer beach exhibit. This museum is a wonderful find!!! The docent led us on a tour of the highlights of the museum, the temporary Winslow exhibit, and a captain's historic home. if you want to learn about the history of Gloucester, area artists, and boating on Cape Ann, be sure to visit this special museum. We will definitely return to it!

The museum has some fabulous paintings of the old masters of marine art. They depicted the history of the Grand Banks in living colour. The museum has some great models of schooners and dory’s as well as old artifacts from the times when fishing was everything. It was all presented in a well lit and easy to understand environment. I learnt a lot!

Went to see the Winslow Homer exhibit. Nice permanent collection, lots of Fitz Hugh Lane offerings, easy to navigate. Parking across street.

On a spring day trip to Gloucester, my friend and I visited this small museum. We got there just in time for an excellent tour led by a docent. There are both historical and art installations, permanent and rotating exhibits. Even the map of Cape Ann on the wall was inspiring.

Textiles, artifacts, scale models & history complement the wonderful art. Cape Ann inspired so many well-known painters, and many of the works are on display (lots of maritime art). There are regular special lectures, exhibits & workshops, as well as a cool children's area in the lower level. There's also a nice little gift shop.

Easy parking across from the Museum. Wow so many treasure and history. The fine Art Collection just wonderful enjoying the beauty. So, many special exhibitions.Our B & B told us we must stop check this lovely Museum. We are so happy we did. Thank you for a lovely time.

This museum recently underwent a complete restoration and it shows. Impeccable! The exhibits are well laid out and represent some of the finest artists of the Cape Ann school. It is not huge... you can spend a leisurely few hours and see it all. We've visited several times and it never fails to impress!

If you want to know more about the history of New England, but in terms of history and art, this is the place to visit. Recently renovated, it's a spectacular gem for art lovers everywhere.

Informative and interesting, especially for the second floor with the boats and information on a particular fishing tragedy - it contextualised the memorial by the beach. I found the tour to not be particularly useful as I had plenty of time and it was mostly pointing out which the most important objects to look at were, although if you like architectural detail it is good. Go to the basement and check out the granite film and exhibition - a shame so few people realise it’s there!

This is a lovely maritime museum chock full of the history of the area & the lives of fisherman & their families - and indeed, the part they played in the economic & social construction of America.

If it's too rainy for the beach or you just want to escape the sun, the Cape Ann Museum is the perfect place for a few hours. The space is much larger than you'd think from the outside and the collection of maritime art and history is spectacular. We are locals and look forward to keeping this on regular rotation.

Thanks to a multi-million dollar renovation, this gem of a museum now presents the story of Cape Ann in a way that engages locals and visitors alike. There are world class paintings and sculptures, exhibits on fisheries, maritime history, the granite industry, and local crafts (the Folly Cove Designers alone are worth the trip.)
There are also changing exhibits of living and classic artists and craftspeople. A unique community now has the museum that it deserves.

a great mix of good to great art. theme is that done in the area over the past 300 years. a few exhibits on the fishing heritage and the quarrying of granite stone. The paintings are lovely with newly constructed/renovated galleries. medium size so not over whelming. folly cove printer prints are incredible both to see and know the background.

The Homer at the Beach exhibit was wonderful but it is over. But the rest of this small museum was also worthwhile- both art and history. When we asked about lunch one of the staff recommended Passports- down the street, right on Main for a couple of blocks. Very good.

It's that perfect combination of small remarkable collections, from contemporary interpretations of Cape Ann to the historical paintings and stuff of early generations. Beautifully curated.

Outstanding collections and exhibits, walking distance to downtown and the waterfront, very helpful and pleasant staff. Much more to see and learn from that one might expect.

This is a hidden treasure. There are great exhibitions with ties to the seaside location and the Gloucester community. I'd recommend a guided tour as you'll learn much more than you would on your own. Our docent, John, really made the museum's pieces shine.

Although I am relatively local (20 miles away), I had never been before. It was avery pleasant experience. The exhibits were great, the staff even better and the Docents far more informed / knowledgeable than I would have expected. Learned some very interesting things and very much look forward to coming back ... I cannot believe I had not been before.

If you're in from out of town, the museum focused on maritime and local history of the area .. some very interesting people from the Cape Ann region. You can take the train from Boston to Gloucester, although schedules are more limited on the weekends.

This is a small museum that does not have a lot of fanfare, pushing of membership, advertisement of them or being pretentious. What they have is a great collection of paintings of the area and from past and present artists. If you like Fritz Hugh Lane paintings you will love this place. Well worth the visit over other area museums with larger budgets and expenses..

We found parking directly across the street from the entrance and had a great time exploring the museum. Friendly staff.

I had seen mention of this museum, so I wandered over after an afternoon sail. I was delighted, as it was free admission that day...and had a bit of time before the commuter rail departure. This museum is a completely tucked-away treasure with lovely pieces. I especially enjoyed the nautical historical pieces, to learn more about the area & Gloucester. The photos of Gloucester residents/families was wonderful & touching, as this is their livelihood & life's work. I thought the selection of paintings were delightful and that the lighthouse pieces were a perfect touch. A large selection of Fitz Henry Lane pieces were wonderfully exhibited (even more than the MFA, I'll add!) There was a little gift shop with varied items, gifts, and other souvenirs for sale...I found a small ornament with a fish to remind me of a perfectly still day spent in Gloucester. Definitely thankful I took time to seek it out and visit.

Great are and great history, under one roof. The museum has wonderful collections of Cape Ann artists' work, and also displays interesting historical artifacts. One of my favorites is an actual Fresnel lens from a local historic light house. It's huge! Quite amazing, and displayed dramatically, with a video to explain. Just one of many goodies in this museum. Good stuff for kids, too. And the art is a refined and sophisticated collection.

The Cape Ann Museum is a hidden gem of local art and history packaged in a beautiful, convenient and not-too-large building in downtown Gloucester, where all ages can learn more about local history and current culture via beautiful local art. The exhibits are pleasantly arranged, with a balance of old masterpieces and new art featured. We live locally, my husband and I, and never tire of visiting.

It's a well laid out museum that has exhibits to appeal to adults and some activities for children as well.

Truly a gem, the Museum does not advertise much and is a bit closed off from the community it honors. However, it is a lovely museum with a rich trove of treasures from Gloucester's past. One can't help but notice that Gloucester gone by was a much livlier community than it's current sleepy state would indicate. Still, it is and has been home to many wonderful artists and much rich history. Worthwile in the winter or on a rainy day...

When I have out of town visitors I always bring them to the Cape Ann Museum and it never disappoints. It is being renovated right now but will reopen this summer. It has some history and culture of Cape Ann so you do not have to be an art lover to enjoy it.
Within walking distance of the museum is Main Street which has great restaurants and shops.
It is 2 blocks from the waterfront and beautiful parks.

We were in Gloucester Thanksgiving weekend and, on a cold Saturday afternoon, spent about 90 minutes in this museum. Entrance fees are $12 per person, though there are discounts for students, seniors, and those from nearby towns. The museum has three floors of amazing artifacts from the Gloucester/ Cape Ann’s more than 350 years. There are 2 “Dory Boats,” just 16 feet in length, one of which that carried a single person across the Atlantic on the water 50 years before Lindbergh’s flight. There currently is an exhibit dedicated to the work of children’s author Virginia Lee Burton (who wrote “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.” In the late fall and winter months, you should go to this museum and then, as dusk sets in, head over to the Beauport Hotel bar for a glass of wine as the sun sets.

Enjoyed my visit to the Cape Ann Museum. Lovely in ever way. Interesting collection of art which nicely represents the area. Spectacular building. Fascinating historical glimpses through various artifacts. Well worth a visit!

The Cape Ann Museum is a little gem of a regional art museum. We were drawn here for our first visit by the Edward Hopper exhibit, for which you need a timed admission ticket; once you enter you can spend all of the time you wish savoring the oil and watercolor of Hopper during his visits to Cape Ann. Don't miss his wife's self-portrait and the fascinating story of their relationship.
In the permanent collection are historic artifacts of the fishing and mining communities. I particularly enjoyed a display of tools from the Granite quarries that were numerous in the Cape Ann area. Don't miss the dramatic Fritz Hugh Lane seascapes on the first floor.

The Cape Ann Museum has a rich collection of Cape Ann art and many exhibits onCape Ann history (local granite, Portuguese fishing and Festa, light house prism light. many famous local artists, Folly Cove print artists, Fitz Henry Lane, fine burled maple and walnut inlaid furniture, detailed diorama of Gloucester harbor, actual sea captain house from 1780's, appliqué quilts of Gloucester neighborhoods, etc--just a few of my favorite collections). There are regular new exhibits and weekend programs and walks. The gift shop has many unique gifts not found elsewhere. Definitely worth a trip if you are interested in
gloucester and Cape Ann history.

An artistic gem packed in amongst Gloucester’s vintage homes and close to Main Street shops, restaurants, and cafes. We were drawn here because of the Edward Hopper exhibit (WOW!), celebrating his works from Cape Ann, but the works of local artists shine here. Friendly helpful docents make this experience something you do not want to miss!
Public parking (kiosks available-0.25 an hour!) across the street and on side streets.

After significant renovations, this museum is well worth the time to visit. Well laid out, easy to get around captures the local culture.

My wife and I are real museum geeks, and we weren't disappointed by the cape Ann Museum. You can immerse yourself in the history of the region's storied art community, get lost in tales of Cape Ann's fishing industry, and view stunning paintings of Glourcester harbor. We spent over two hours here and loved every minute. Highlight of the museum for me was the original Lady of Good Voyage statue that hung above OLGV Church for many years.

This is a beautiful museum, very spacious. Unfortunately I'm just not "artsy" enough to really enjoy it and I was bored.

The Cape Ann Museum opened in a renovated building a couple of years ago and other than the 2nd floor Gloucester sea and fishing exhibit, it's top notch. The exception is the fresnel lens from Thacher Island, which is stunning. They recently announced that they would be reworking the sea and fishing room so hopefully that will result in a better lay out.

There is lots of local art and furniture on the first floor and a small exhibit about the Folly Cove Designers, which was informative but I wish they had more of their work on display.

This museum is a great activity for a rainy day and to get background on the history and culture of the Gloucester area. It's a treasure trove. They have rotating exhibits, walking tours around Gloucester, and lots of lectures so it never gets old. They also have a first-class archives for doing research.

Docent tours are given at 11am daily Tuesdays through Saturday and 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This is the only way to see the adjacent Captain Elias Davis house, which was built in 1804. The gift shop is small but packed with good things.

I've only visited the Cafe Ann Museum 2 times since its major renovation, but I continue to admire the excellent improvements. The Museum is truly a jewel in Gloucester's crown. The art is truly first rate and there is more to see & learn about the rich cultural history of the region there than you can possibly see in one day. Be sure to ask for one of the excellent docents to guide you through the exhibits.

The museum is very well-designed and conceived, so you can see a lot and learn a lot without being overwhelmed. The museum honors the maritime history of Gloucester--but also does a fabulous job highlighting the significance granite quarrying played on Cape Ann. That exhibit was sobering and stunning--to see the artifacts, tools, and original photos of men quarrying granite.
Their collection of paintings, especially those of New England painters, is admirable. I believe they have the most extensive collection of Fitz Henry Lane paintings--those are beautiful stories in and of themselves. Outstanding museum.

What a find this place is. Everywhere you turn there is some wonderful work of art. The price of admission is a bargain. You will enjoy the exhibits on the history of the Gloucester area. They have the only extant British redcoat in the US. Great place to spend a few hours.

Amazing art in a historical setting that's both mystical and majestic! We look forward to returning again and again. Every exhibition is filled with awe-inspiring work!

This is a surprise. On a trip to Gloucester, a town we had visited many times, we decided to check out the local art museum. What a gem! Should not be missed. It has recently been totally renovated and the collections and special exhibits were outstanding. Artwork leaned toward the sea of course but Winslow Homer and other classic artists of his ilk are featured.

Amazed! Everyone who loves museums should visit this one! Not only are the Fritz Henry Lane works impressive but so many other works in the museum are note worthy. If possible, take the guided tour! Our tour guide was wonderful and we would have missed a lot
of the explanations on set up and design and details of other artist if we missed the tour. The tour included the Davis House, which complimented the newly beautifully renovated museum. Must see this museum for yourself, to fully appreciate its essence. A small well displayed gift shop is available.

Recently renovated in to a small, world class museum. They have one of the largest collections of Fitz Henry Lane paintings in the world.

We had the museum largely to ourselves on a late September afternoon and felt as if in a warm, family home among people who could tell good stories in paint, fabric, photographs and the artifacts of making a living from the sea. The third floor "Rock Bound" exhibition was outstanding - highly educational as well as visually pleasing. It introduced us to artists that we had not known of as well as a few that were familiar. The second floor was totally engrossing in a different way - immersed in the workaday worlds of local people connected with Gloucester's fishing industry throughout the ages and graced by numerous portrait photographs of boat crews and others. The ordinary residents of Gloucester should certainly feel well catered to by this museum. Paintings are often complimented by their placement near windows that create their own art in the form of shadows thrown by leaves and branches of the foliage outside. I want to go back.

The Cape Ann Museum is a very professional museum in a little building. The scale of what they do is surprising given the small size of the museum. The Homer exhibit is an excellent example of this - they performed as one would expect from a big museum in a big city. The Homer exhibit carefully documented the development of Homer's style and travels, obviously emphasizing his Gloucester connections but not ignoring his other locations. The exhibit showed the development of his artistry, and included how his work and lifestyle were affected by his need to make a living especially in his earlier years. The Cape Ann Museum is a pleasure to visit to see their regular collections, but it really shines with special exhibits like Homer.

If you enjoy art, you will really love this museum; of course there is an emphasis on the ship building history of the area with magnificent art work. But there was also a retrospective of women's art from 1870 - 1970 female artists. It was wonderful. The museum space is lovely, clean and quiet as a library. This makes the visit even more pleasurable . If you are a NARM member, you'll get in for free, an added bonus

A veritable treasure tucked away in a small, charming community. The permanent collection is outstanding. Not to be missed if you are in the Gloucester area.

Beautiful building with marvelous displays of art and americana. Went to a wonderful lecture concerning Halfdan Hanson, architect extraordinaire.

First, the interior spaces of this beautiful gem. I don't know of a finer set of spaces to display art. If you love art museums, you'll marvel at the ambiance. The Cape Ann Museum, like its bigger sibling the the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, began with a maritime emphasis. There is enough of that remaining to be interesting, but now the museum has a very excellent collection of American art, most of it by artists who at some time painted in Gloucester. These are artists like Theresa Bernstein, Edward Hopper, Fitz Henry Lane, Milton Avery, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam as well as Myerowitz, Sloan, Twachtman, Pendergast, Max Kuehne and others. There are also excellent works by contemporary artists from Cape Ann. If you are a museum person you will not regret a couple of hours in the wonderful place.

Somehow I had been expecting something small, rustic, and amateurish. To my surprise, the Cape Ann Museum, located in the center of Gloucester, is a fully professional museum with a fine variety of exhibits, all of which have some connection with the area where it is located. Apparently it was closed for some months for a complete renovation. That shows. Everything is beautifully exhibited and in perfect condition. The venue is decidedly larger than I had expected, too, so there was plenty to explore yet it is not overwhelming in scope. A lovely courtyard apparently is the site of summer programs for children. This museum does not have a cafeteria, but it does have an ample gift shop. All in all, the atmosphere is extremely pleasant, there's lots to explore, and the quality of the exhibits--both the works and their presentation--is far better than what one might expect from a museum with such a local focus.

This museum is much larger than expected, and the collections are impressive. I highly recommend taking a tour (we went at 11am) which was an hour and then we spent another hour going back to see the items that we were most interested in. Bring quarters for parking but when I asked the meter maid where the museum was she was engaging and so proud of her town and the museum it was impressive. Not to be missed!

I recently visited the Cape Ann Museum for the first time--somehow I had missed this fine museum in my own "backyard." An enthusiastic volunteer led us on a tour that stretched well beyond its scheduled one-hour. The tour provided a great introduction to the Museum and to a number of facets of life on Cape Ann. The guide spent considerable time in the Fitz Henry Lane Gallery; the Museum houses the largest collection of the work of this 19th century Gloucester artist and also exhibits some of his correspondence. An exhibit about the granite quarrying industry was fascinating and added to my appreciation of the many sculptures throughout the Museum. A number of decorative arts pieces are also displayed including some lovely furniture, Paul Revere silver, and beautiful, printed textiles by the Folly Cove Designers (the founder of the Designers was Virginia Lee Burton, the author and illustrator of "Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel" and other children's books).

The Cape Ann Museum is readily accessed by car and public parking is nearby (bring quarters). It is also an easy half-mile walk from the Gloucester commuter rail station, which I think makes it a great destination for a day trip from Boston or Salem. The Museum will provide a great introduction for visitors spending some time on Cape Ann. Or, combined with a short walk to the waterfront and lunch, a visit could easily occupy most of a day. Beware though that the walk back to the train station is uphill so it may be a good idea to plan for a taxi or the CATA bus at the end of the day. If interested in the Museum tour, check ahead as they are not offered daily.

Don't overlook this treasure of Cape Ann!

Local history abounds here from the foley cove printing women to smuggling and the immigrant fisherman from various countries. Three floors of well done memoribilia but small children would be bored. It is a small museum but very well done and should be appreciated by local history buffs

A combination of locally centric art with a surprising world reach. Easily enjoyed in a one hour stop or for a longer visit. Many talks and tours and active programs, depending on day. Centrally located in walkable Gloucester. Small but useful and unique gift shop. So glad I found this gem.

This was a nice museum and great thing to do in Gloucester, especially on a rainy day. The building has three levels which highlight local artists, history of the town, and history of the businesses in town over the years. There is one room dedicated to paintings from local artist Fitz Henry Lane. There are displays depicting boat building practices, different models of ships that were built in Gloucester and history of that industry. There is also some antique furniture, some newer displays (painted paddles, newer artists) and other interesting artifacts. It's worth a visit.

I did not expect to enjoy this museum as much as i did. I had the pre conceived notion that i would be visiting a tiny museum without much to offer. Wow, was I wrong ! The museum contained over three levels of paintings, portraits and vintage equipment used in this seafaring town. I had a wonderful experience there. Don't miss the gift shop before you leave the museum.

This museum was a surprise. It is an elegant little place with art and history of Gloucester. They explain the history of Gloucester with artifacts and local art. The local 17th century artist Fitz Henry Lane's work is abundant here. There are also temporary exhibitions that feature art of the area.
They have a nice gift shop.
A very pleasant museum visit.

Wife and I spent a few hours there and touring the adjacent home. This is a great location to see and learn the history of the area, and of the local fishing industry. Was impressed with the exhibit with the pictures of all the local fishing families. This is a very well done museum.

While the Museum's focus is on the art of the area, there has been plenty of excellent art in Cape Ann-Milton Avery, Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper and others painted in the area, and their works are in the permanent collection. The museum is larger than it appears, and the exhibits are usually very good. This is well worth a visit.

Was not expecting much but was very impressed with the Cape Ann Museum! They have a very fine collection of paintings and artifacts from the area. If you are visiting Cape Ann and have an interest in art or history this museum is not to be missed!

if you could only visit one place in Gloucester, this is is definitely it. Exhibits of priceless paintings

While staying in Rockport, MA, in mid April 2017, the weather turned rainy. We were too early in the season for the typical summer activities and shopping, so we took the short drive to Gloucester. We had heard that the museum was a good place to go. We parked our car, shopped a bit (Adrian Shoes - great), crossed the street to Passports (also great) for lunch,then walked to the museum. On a day of unpredictable weather, it was nice to have so many things near the museum. We were met by a very friendly staff member at the front desk, then explored the building from top to bottom. The truly wonderful thing about this place is that there is a mixture of art and history displayed in modern, well-lit surroundings. The information accompanying each exhibit was well written and easy to find. Due to the maritime interest of the area, you can count on learning more about this coastal activity. All in all, this would be a great place to spend a couple hours -- anytime. Summertime visitors might find it a relaxing place to escape a hot afternoon, as we found it a place to make a rainy day a memorable one!

Exquisite examples of the work of Fitz Henry Lane accompanied by a look at how his eye developed and morphed over his lofetime. The exhibits centered on the development and history of fishing and the families who lived it were particularly interesting and extremely well mounted KUDOS CAM!

The artwork and displays were wonderful and entertained while educating my children and us. The diorama of the ships and the only existing red coat were very interesting. We especially enjoyed the mosaics and oil paintings.

This midsize museum underwent a renovation last year and has emerged as a true gem. It offers a guided tour, has well laid out exhibits including local artists both old and current, interesting rooms regarding the fishing industry and other cultural items, and does not overwhelm you. Worth the trip. See it and then go down to the main street around the corner to eat at Passports.

A charming and professional museum that provides interesting background on some key aspects of Cape Ann, both historically and artistically. The standing exhibits include fine works of furnishings and art, and stories of fishing and sailing. There are also rotating exhibits. It's not overwhelming or heavy. A lovely building, fresh and open. This is not a fusty, musty place. It's a first class small museum, and well worth an hour or more of your time.

Did not know what to expect when we went last week, but found a terrific small museum housed in a modern building suited well for permanent and temporary exhibits. There are docent tours every day (often at 11AM) that last about an hour. You get the highlights and then have time to wander on your own. The permanent art collection is anchored by the works of Fitz Henry Lane. But there is a great deal more and much about the history of Cape Anne and Gloucester. We also had the good luck to see an exhibit of the work of Charles Movalli (on till May 21, 2017). Fabulous work. There are plenty of places nearby to grab lunch. If you are in the Cape Anne area, be sure to visit.

Well lighted, well designed and creatively curated. The collections includes notably respected New England artists, stunning photographic collections and an historic room with Gloucester memorabilia. The changing exhibits are always worthwhile as are the guided tours.

The Cape Ann Museum is Gloucester and Cape Ann's gem of a place where residents and visitors alike can enjoy getting up close to the history of this oldest fishing community in America, established in 1623! There are exhibits of fine furniture, paintings, Paul Revere silver, many Fitz Henry Lane marine paintings, many fishing exhibits including the small craft that Johnson sailed solo -- twice -- across the Atlantic Ocean. There is something here for everyone at quite an affordable price. Oh, and a very nice, small gift shop with local books and crafts.

I visited the museum on December 31st. It's website advertises hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We arrived shortly after 11:00 and paid full admission prices. At 12:45 p.m. we were informed the museum was closing at 1 p.m. No explanation was given and there didn't appear to be any emergency. The website hadn't posted an early closing, the admissions desk didn't list this and the clerk certainly didn't inform us of this. In fairness we were given two passes for a return visit. Nice but not practical.

The museum is well laid out and has some very nice work but make certain you call before visiting

A wonderfully regional museum, with an extra-thick dollop of sophistication. If you haven't seen the Winslow Homer show, go before it's too late. Best Homer ever, before December. Leave a couple of hours for many other exhibits, and some quirkiness.....lots of variety.
Easy parking lots.

We didn't know what to expect when we stopped in to tour this beautiful Museum. We were treated to a slice of History, where we learned about the History of ships, and many artists in that time era. It was nicely laid out, and we were able to take our time as we learned more and more about ships and artists, as we turned each corner! A great time!!

After living in town for 8 years and hearing so much about I️t, I went for a visit with my colleague. I didn’t even know where I️t was, had driven by I️t many times. We had a great time and I️t was much better than I was expecting! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly! Worth the trip in for sure! Plan on a couple hours.

Parking is available across the street. This well put together collection shows some aspects of the lives of those who depend on the sea. I particularly enjoyed the photograph exposition of the local people (just every day folks) which depicts an amazing amount of information, just by looking at the pictures. Also the lighthouse and the original Fresnel lens remind us of the difficulties and challenges that sailing used to involve (and to a certain extent still does). It is worth the visit.

If you want to get a taste of the culture and history of Cape Ann, this is the place to start. The Museum, rightfully upgraded from a local historical society within recent memory, offers galleries of art and local history. It is amazing to learn how many of our great American artists lived and or worked on Cape Ann, from Fitz Henry Lane to Edward Hopper. And of course this artistic tradition has continued, highlighted with exhibitions of contemporary artists, such as this spectacular Cape Ann Artisan show this past Spring. Perhaps my favorite room is the Folly Cove gallery that features work in various mediums by artists who are associated with this Gloucester village. Well worth a visit, and many more return trips.

We visited the Cape Ann museum on advice from our B&B hosts in Rockport, even went back to Gloucester on Tuesday after discovering the museum is closed on Mondays.
The collection of paintings by Fitz Henry Lane (aka Nathaniel Rogers Lane) is nicely presented, wonderful, realistic seacapes with excellent lighting and spots, accompanied by write-ups on the walls.
The museum chronicles Gloucester's seafaring history and the unspoken pacts between mariners out to sea and their waiting families and the whole community.
In addition to paintings, there are numerous artifacts from actual ships and the ships themselves. Our visit evoked both a sense of nostalgia as well as deep pride in "Yankee Ingenuity".

If you want to know more about the fishing industry and how great its influence on Cape Ann is, this is the place for you. In addition there are stunning paintings of this area by the most well known artists.

This is an absolutely wonderful small museum. It's range is great, from the history of Cape Ann and it's fishing industry, to incredible permanent and special art exhibits. The current Harold Rotenberg exhibit is a thoughtful thorough review of this wonderful 20th century artists work. This museum regularly has such exhibits. It's also the repository of the Folly Cove Designers wonderful works.

Well laid out, comprehensive and interesting. I really enjoyed the scale model of the harbour and the Folly Cove block prints were beautiful. The fee at $10 is not cheap but woth it if you give yourself enough. Time for a thorough look around.

We visited the museum in the Spring of 2016. First, they have an extensive collection of paintings by Fitz Henry Lane. However, they have other interesting exhibits that change periodically. When we visited they had a photo exhibit of various Gloucester Fishermen who were still working the water. Each was a separate family unit and a little about them. Also an exhibit of local fabric print makers. It is very well laid out and gives a flavor of Gloucester. Worth the hour or so it takes to tour the whole museum. It definitely is unique.

We've been here twice and really enjoy it. They have a great collection of local art work and interesting exhibits. Namely, a poignant photo exhibit showing real people who still make their living as seafarers in Gloucester. Also, they have a huge Fresnel lens on display that once was used on one of Thacher Island’s lighthouses. They had films showing how they mined the granite in Rockport. All of these were informative and interesting. These are only a few of the exhibits, they have a lot more to offer. Nicely kept and air conditioned too!

Cape Ann Museum is a hidden jewel in Gloucester, MA. The Fritz Hugh Lane exhibit was spectacular.
Enjoyed all three floors of art and nautical related exhibits.
Interesting sculptures in the entry court yard a must see.

My wife and I love visiting Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's one of most unspoiled seacoast cities in America with a distinctively, salty New England flavor. You can drive along the ocean and see stunning cove after cove. Then, you can go to Main Street and have a great meal and visit real antique stores (where you can afford the things). But, best of all, in the old town square above Main Street is the venerable collection of American old master paintings at the Cape Ann Museum.
Winslow Homer, Fitz Hugh Lane, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery, John Slone...and new masters as well. The furniture and old ship exhibitions are great, too. And, it cost ten dollars a head....half what most museums cost. The building's beautiful and air conditioned.

We had hoped to see the Winslow Homer exhibition but missed it by one day- we were leaving on Sat AM and it was coming the day after. We still thoroughly see the Museum and all that they had there. A nice trip on a non beach day.

The Cape Ann museum is a cute little museum which has some great pieces. However, its quite small and you shouldn't except to spend more than an hour here during your visit.

We've sailed the waters surrounding Cape Ann for many years, heard the stories and read about the heroes. The Cape Ann Museum puts it all together beautifully, capturing the light, ingenuity, and determination of visitors and natives alike. We visited just in time for a docent tour and it was just perfect. The emphasis was on the well known local artists, but we also got a lot of history, maritime and cultural...
The galleries are beautifully designed and natural light abounds. It's well worth a visit and the gift shop doesn't disappoint.

We visited while the main museum was closed for renovations. The Green Campus is nice and the show we saw, focused on the Cape Ann Granite industry, was good. There is also no charge for admission to the Green Campus and parking is free too.

You'll see beautiful works by Cape Ann artists in painting, photography and sculpture. They have fascinating historical displays and an interesting short video about the workers in the famous stone quarries. Downstairs there's are fascinating bronze sculptures of basketball players. Currently there's a Judi Rotenberg exhibit of dazzling colors.

It's been renovated since the last time I was in years ago. What a pleasure to visit and see all of the beautiful exhibits, Folly Cove prints, photos of local fishing families and rooms that tell the story of the fishing industry, local painters and gorgeous sunlight pouring in through the windows. The docent that guided our tour was knowledgeable and had a clear interest in sharing her passion.

This museum is one of the main attractions in Gloucester. It is filled with local art and displays portraying life in Gloucester.

The Cape Ann Museum is a treasure trove of historical and contemporary materials. Recently, they opened an exhibit on historical documents and artifacts from the contact period through the early colonial period. It was fascinating to look at Champlain's map of Gloucester and the early materials from a blossoming port and city. The museum also has lots of other exhibits including the fishing history of the city, the quarries, and textile printing. Can't say enough about what a great resource this is for local people, as well as, those visiting.

Do yourself the favor of making a point to see this charming museum. Home to some terrific nautical history and a collection of beautiful paintings and sculpture. The Fitz Hugh Lane collection is worth the trip, itself. It's small enough to see all of in a relatively short amount of time. We passed a slightly dreary morning here and were out in time to greet the sun.

This is a smallish museum with very high quality exhibitions generally on the subject of Cape Ann and it's history. A favorite is the gallery devoted to Fitz Henry Lane's work.

We went to the Cape Ann Museum thinking that it was going to give us a lot of history about the local area before we went on a whale watching trip; however, after we paid the admission fee, we quickly found out that it was an art museum. The VERY nice person at the desk recommended that we start on the top floor and work our way down. In my opinion, you could do without the top floor. The art there was very modern and abstract. The second floor was wonderful, and it showed the history of the local area. It was what I was looking for. The art on the first floor was absolutely gorgeous. However, I think that my favorite pieces were the artifacts from the area like a gravestone from the 1700s and a British Officer's "redcoat." It was so interesting. I wish the entire museum was like that. I also recommend going to look a the lighthouse lens. The museum was VERY clean and modern looking. I was impressed for it to be in such a small town. It rivaled that many museums that I have been to in the past.Overall, I would say that the admission fee is worth it if you like art and history. I wish they had more history. The only reason that I did not give it five stars was because of the inclusion of some pieces that I thought were strange for its collection like the iron basketball players.

My husband and I were on a 3-day mini-vacation in Gloucester and realized that activities and venues during off-season would be limited. However, the Cape Ann Museum is open year-long, and is a gem any time of year. We enjoyed our tour with docent Elizabeth who pointed out highlights in each of the galleries. We were able to learn more about art and Gloucester in a very enjoyable way. Try to visit when you can also tour the Elias Davis historic home. The weather happened to be particularly warm and sunny for late February, so we were able to have our brown bag lunch outside in the sculpture garden. In summary, this is a wonderful museum for local history and art of cape Ann and not to be missed if you are visiting in the area..

Gloucester was a center for 19th century painters, and some of the best of our American artists were there for long periods of time, such as Fitz Henry Lane and Winslow Homer. If you love landscape painting, this is a museum for you.

Great little museum with really well-designed and curated exhibits - we spent quite a while there enjoying the wide variety of stimulating input, from history to art to culture. Don't miss the 20-minute looping video in the fishing history room, well worth the time to watch, as well as the short video on the quarrying industry looping in the auditorium downstairs.

This was my second visit to this museum. (I would have sworn I reviewed it some months ago, but apparently not.) It's fairly small in size, but large enough to easily engage a visitor for half a day. Most of the facility is devoted to art, with a substantial collection of works by Fitz Henry Lane along with others who were part of the local art community from the 18th through the 20th century. The collection includes numerous Stuart Davis prints, a couple of Sargent portraits, and a few Homers, just to mention some of the highlights.

There are exhibits devoted to the fishing industry and to other enterprises that operated in Gloucester--or still operate there, albeit at a far-reduced scale. At the moment, there's also an excellent exhibition focused on the works of a local harpsichord maker, Jeremy Adams, whose shop is in Danvers.

All in all, highly recommended.

We live in the area and are members. Beautiful space. Some amazing local (contemporary and old) art. Hold many Folly Cove items and has a great store.

The Cape Ann Museum is a small (relatively) museum with perhaps the world's largest collection of Fitz Henry Lane paintings, as well as paintings by other noted Cape Ann artists. There is also a room dedicated to the stone quarrying industry on Cape Ann, with striking photos, tools, etc. It is a must see in Gloucester.

We thought the fee to get in $10 was quite fair. The art is amazing and we enjoyed the furniture. What I like is there isn't someone follow you around every minute like some museums. We never felt rushed. There were seats in many spots which my mom had to take use of often. If in town and its cold or overcast and you like art definitely go to Cape Ann Museum. Our favorite was the historical pieces of memorabilia and we had wished for me.

While neither my husband nor I are great art-museum goers, we enjoyed our visit here because we both like history. And there is much of Gloucester's history represented in the paintings and other objects very well displayed throughout the museum. Great stories behind the items on display. Visiting here gave us a much better understanding of the whole area as well as Gloucester's role in it. Docent-led tours are available with the price of admission. Definitely worth a couple of hours here. We parked across the street in public parking and then had lunch nearby. Nice way to spend much of a rainy day in town.

The Cape Ann Museum strongly emphasizes local culture, and thus it's a good place to learn more and see more, if that is your interest. The larger part of the museum is devoted to painting, and the larger part of that to one painter, Fitz Henry Lane, the most prominent native Gloucester artist. I'm very fond of Lane, so I loved it; drop a star if you're not interested in him. Many 20th century Gloucester "art colony" artists are also represented, but usually by just one or two works. There's more than art here: one floor is devoted chiefly to maritime artifacts, from a full size boats down to oar locks; again, if that's your special interest, you'll love it. One truly excellent feature of this museum: when I entered, I was asked if I would like a guided tour by a docent. Maybe it was just because it was a slow day, but most of the groups that came in (mostly 2 or 3 people) got their own personalized tour, adapted to their interests. And the docents were terrific--very familiar with all the details of teh collection, but ore importantly, great storytellers who could bring history and art and science and seafaring alive.

Went to see a special Charles Movalli exhibit. It's a nice little museum, with several lithographs and oil paintings by Fitz Henry Lane, some sculptures, historic New England furniture and boats, wood carvings, other artists' works -- overall, a nice place to spend a few hours.

When we were in Gloucester last year this Museum was closed for renovations. So we made a point to visit and explore the newly appointed museum. We were delighted to see the incredible work done and the exhibitions were great. They have taken great pride in presenting the history of the area which is long and storied.