Discover Our Museum

Finding Inspiration at Every Turn

Thanks to generous gifts to the Bicentennial Capital Campaign, we've reimagined and reinstalled our permanent exhibition rooms to provide richer narratives of the town's history and its people. Your support has enabled us to add to the Collection, conserve and protect important MBTS artwork, introduce new programs and exhibits, and so much more. We also restored the front portico that had been missing for almost a century. It now serves as both a literal and symbolic portal, welcoming all to new experiences. Thank you.

Enjoy the virtual visit, and we hope to see you soon at the Museum!

Behind the Scenes

See How the Museum's Video Tour Was Created with a Tiny Drone

Filming inside a historic building demands a special skillset and equipment, which is why we partnered with New England Drone Tours. Their expertise and proprietary, highly maneuverable miniaturized drone enabled us to capture the Museum in extraordinary detail.

According to Torin Johnson from the video firm, the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum is one of the first museums in New England to create a drone tour.

Take a look behind the scenes at how the video was created.

The Portico

The restored entrance portico marks the culmination of the bicentennial celebration of the Museum’s home. Two centuries ago, Abigail Hooper built the house at 10 Union Street with her own earnings as a shopkeeper and banker — a remarkable accomplishment for a single woman at the time.

Today, Abigail's original portico, removed 100 years ago, once again graces the front of the building — made possible thanks to funding from the Museum’s Bicentennial Capital Campaign and a matching Community Preservation Act grant.

To learn more about our past year, see our FY2024 Annual Report.

A Bird's-Eye View of MBTS History

The Museum’s new drone tour whisks viewers through the recently restored entrance portico. Upon entering the Museum, visitors are surrounded by portraits of merchant ship captains and nautical artifacts that tell stories about adventures at sea and the town's rich maritime past.

The chronological journey then takes flight to Abigail Hooper's recreated early 1800s kitchen and shop and restored parlor featuring original paint colors. The next stop is a visit to the MBTS furniture-making era of the mid-19th century. The drone then soars through the "Summers by the Sea" exhibit, depicting the village's transformation from a bustling furniture mill town to a popular summer resort destination. The indoor portion of the tour concludes in one of the Museum's art galleries, which celebrates MBTS artists.

The virtual experience extends outdoors, showcasing the Salt Cod Fish Yard and Singing Beach Bathhouse exhibits.