Chatham History Weekend 2024 - Experience It!

Nine (9) Historic Chatham venues will be open for one or more days this weekend, offering tours and special events at reduced or free admission.  There will be lectures, demonstrations, corn grinding, new museum exhibits and more!  Chatham History Weekend is the annual collaborative effort of Historic Chatham, comprising Chatham's many non-profit museums and organizations focused on history, with a mission to heighten both residents' and visitors' appreciation of Chatham as a place with both a fascinating history and vibrant organizations that celebrate it.   For detailed information about the History Weekend tours, programs & exhibits please visit our website Historic Chatham.  The weekend previews on Thursday evening with a special talk at the Eldredge Public Library.  Highlights:

Thursday (6/13) 5:00 pm    Eldredge Public Library hosts archaeologist Dan Zoto who will give a presentation on Chatham’s Historical Cemeteries.  Included will be information on headstone motifs, historic stonecutters, and the historical associations of these burial grounds within the community.  Go to www.eldredgelibrary.org for more info.

Friday (6/14) and Saturday (6/15)  10:00 am – 3:00 pm   The Historic Mayo House open for visitors.  

Saturday (6/15) and Sunday (6/16) 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm   Chatham Lighthouse - the Coast Guard Auxiliary will conduct tours.

Saturday (6/15) 10:00 am – 4:00 pm   The Caleb Nickerson Homestead will be open for self-guided tours of the Caleb Nickerson House and the Colonial Gardens.  Lectures at 11am (Gary Nickerson will speak on the archaeological excavation of William and Anne Nickerson’s 1664 homestead), 12pm (Colonial gardener Sonny Gada will plant traditional kitchen herbs and raffle off the planted container) & 1pm (Fiber artist Cheryl Flett will demonstrate spinning wool).  Please see https://nickersonassoc.com/ for detailed lecture information.

Saturday (6/15) 11:00 am – 3:00 pm    The Benjamin Godfrey/Chatham Gristmill will be open & grinding corn, weather permitting.

Friday (6/14) 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday (6/15) & Sunday (6/16) 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm    Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum features “The Golden Age of Trans-Atlantic Ocean Liners” exhibit. Reduced admission ($6 for adults and seniors and $5 for students 12-18).  On Saturday morning @ 9:30 am, Chatham Marconi Annual Members Meeting at the Chatham Orpheum Theater featuring talk “From Short Waves to Satellites,” public welcome.

Friday (6/14) and Saturday (6/15) 10:00 am – 4:00 pm    The Atwood Museum will be open, celebrating “Wonderland by the Sea” featuring two new exhibits: A Place to Hang Your Hat (textile exhibit) and In Tune with Chatham (showcases local music history).  Visit the new Children’s Activity Room for our younger audience. Reduced admission for non-members ($8.00 for adults, $5 for seniors and children under 17 free).

Friday (6/14), Saturday (6/15) and Sunday (6/16)    The Monomoy Island Lighthouse and Keeper Station open for tours from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Visitors must arrange their own transportation to the island.

Friday (6/14) and Saturday (6/15) 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday (6/16) 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm   Chatham Railroad Museum will feature new models of the West Chatham and South Chatham stations.  At 10 am Saturday, cyclists can enjoy a brief history of those stations and a 1915 timetable.