Fisheries & Maritime

Schooner Benjamin W. Latham, 1976. [Acc. #1998.60]

Alone at Sea

Philip Reisman, The Mackerel Machine, 1944. Oil on Masonite. [Acc. #2509.1]

Schooner Elsie in Gloucester Harbor.

Gillnet fish basket, c. 1910. [Acc. #2011. 4]

The Hovey Cup, Shreve Crump & Low, Boston, c. 1892. Sterling silver (15" × 10" h). [Acc. #2696]

Skinning fish at Sylvanus Smith Co. near head of the harbor, c. 1910.

Emile A. Gruppé, Captain Ben Pine's Docks, Undated. Oil on artist's board. [Acc. #1999.70.3]

Brig Corporal Trim of Gloucester, Elias Davis, Master, Undated. Watercolor on paper. [Acc. #2027.137]

Alfred Johnson's "Centennial", c.1876. Wood.

Augustus Waldeck Buhler, News from the Fleet, 1918. Oil on canvas. [Acc. #2181]

Gloucester Harbor Diorama

Augustus Waldeck Buhler, "Lal" Davis, c. 1895. Oil on canvas. [Acc. #2202.3]

Emile A. Gruppé, The Bait Diggers, c. 1930s. Oil on canvas. [Acc. #2001.63.1]

Margaret Fitzhugh Browne, The Harbormaster, 1962. Oil on canvas.

Stow Wengenroth, Shipyard, 1935. Lithograph. [Acc. #2771.26]

Margaret Fitzhugh Browne, Captain Howard Blackburn, the Lone Voyager, 1928. Oil on canvas. [Acc. #2012.49]

Winslow Homer, The Life Line, 1884. Etching on paper in brown ink (Artist's Proof). [Acc. #2832]

Sam R. Novello and Friends, Painted Oars, 1957-1972. paint on wood. [Acc. #2671]

Arnold Jarmak, Fishermen's Institute 1, 1974. Photograph. [Acc. #2019.34.1]

The Cape Ann Museum's Fisheries and Maritime collection reflects Cape Ann's preeminence in seafaring pursuits. Boat-building enthusiasts and historians will be particularly well-rewarded: the Museum's collection includes three intact historic vessels and detailed 19th century ship models. The oldest fishing port in America, Gloucester has a proud history with the sea. A fishing museum as well as an art museum, we are committed to preserving the famous stories of Cape Ann's mariners for generations to come.

History of the Port

Gloucester's deep water harbor attracted a group of Englishmen from the Dorchester Company, who landed here in 1623 to fish and to establish a settlement. Gloucester thus became the country's first fishing port. By the late 19th century, Gloucester was a record-setting port for fisheries under sail.

The city remained a fishing center as waves of immigrants—primarily from Nova Scotia, Sicily and Portugal—came to fish the waters off Cape Ann.

Trade was conducted with Surinam, China, Europe and India. The most lucrative was the trade with the Dutch colony Surinam. It made fortunes for many sea captains, but it also brought shame to some local families because slaves were part of the trade along with rum, molasses and dried fish.

The Museum’s Fisheries and Maritime collection contains many objects relating to Gloucester's role in the history of fishing, maritime trade and ship building. Visitors are invited to explore the many real-life artifacts of over 300 years of industry, imagination and romance related to the sea. Objects on display in two dedicated galleries include: tools, equipment, scale models, a full-size fishing dory and sloop; new to the collection in 2013 is the original Thacher Island Fresnel lens; also on display are historic photographs, sculpture and fine art inspired by the fishing industry, which help to place these artifacts in context.