Who are we?

The Mattapoisett Museum is a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit founded in 1958 as the Mattapoisett Historical Society. We serve the general public in Mattapoisett and surrounding communities. The museum is a repository of significant historical objects and documents and a community center providing educational exhibits and programs, cultural programming, and learning resources for local schools.

We are housed in an 1821 Meeting House with an attached replica of a 200-year-old carriage house. The ancient pews, graceful galleries, and post and beam construction in the carriage house carry one back to when life revolved around daily work, church, town meetings, and the waterfront.

We are devoted to creating a living, interactive learning experience through events and exhibitions which instill excitement and imagination in our visitors. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive organization that welcomes and supports people from all backgrounds and ages.

Some of our recent programs in 2022 have been in collaboration with Southcoast Music Lessons' Jeff Angeley, a monthly open mic night, and an old-time fiddle session. In addition, we have provided programming to support LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in collaboration with SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network. We collaborated with Tri-Town Against Racism to bring a diversity photo exhibit to the museum, highlighting diverse families in our community. We also co-sponsored a lecture with author, Skip Finnley on whaling captains of color with the Sippican Historical Society.

Every dollar you donate helps provide us with the necessary funds to employ staff, provide quality programs to the community, and preserve Mattapoisett's culture and heritage.

Why Give? We are preserving the past for the benefit of the future.

The Mattapoisett Museum is a vibrant place of learning and community activities. Your tax-deductible gift makes it possible to offer more educational programs, exhibits, and events that highlight local culture and explore Mattapoisett's past. 

 Your generosity in 2021 helped us purchase a scanner and other necessary tools to preserve over 100 deteriorating negatives in our collection for future generations. 

This history is important because it connects us to specific times, places, and events that were meaningful milestones in our collective past. The ability to revisit these preserved elements from time to time provides a sense of place. It maintains continuity between our history and present by preserving a trail of how we arrived at where and who we are today.

Historic preservation maintains and celebrates civic beauty and pride, fostering an appreciation of local and national history and heritage.

Your gift makes an impact.

Everyone in our community deserves a place for learning and sharing. Your support ensures that the Mattapoisett Museum can continue collecting, maintaining, and making available cultural and historical materials related to Mattapoisett's heritage and helps support free and low-cost programming so everyone can access art, culture, and the humanities.

Membership, donations, and visitation income support us. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help us continue our work in the community. We are here today and will continue to be in the future because of YOU!