Atwood House Museum

The Atwood House Museum is a house museum in Chatham containing seventeen display rooms filled with maritime objects and period furnishings. These collections document the early history of Cape Cod settlements and daily life in the region.

The house was built in 1752 by sea captain Joseph Atwood and stayed in the family's hands for over 150 years. In 1926 the Chatham Historical Society took over the building and converted it into a museum.

The mural barn displays portraits painted between 1932 and 1945 that show local residents in everyday moments. These paintings give a window into what daily life looked like in the community during that time.

The museum is located on Stage Harbor Road and opens seasonally from May through October. Plan for about two hours to see everything at a comfortable pace.

The grounds include a beach camp from 1947 that was moved to the property and shows how families lived in that era. There is also a lighthouse lantern on display that came from one of Chatham's last twin light towers.

Location: Chatham

Inception: 1752

Website: http://chathamhistoricalsociety.org

GPS coordinates: 41.67327,-69.96524

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:24