WHHM Conversation: Reconstructing America’s First Ship
2023-12-12 19:00 UTC | MA
Watch the recorded Conversation here.
The Woods Hole Historical Museum will host a virtual conversation on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. with Jim Parmentier of Maine’s First Ship, discussing the group’s reconstruction of the 1607 pinnace Virginia of Sagadahoc — the first ocean-going ship built in the New World by English colonists.
Settlers in Maine built the original 51-foot Virginia to support the Popham Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River. The replica, launched last June, meets all U.S. Coast Guard requirements to serve as a floating classroom.
Parmentier will describe the design and construction of the ship, as well as relating the history of the Popham Colony and the archaeological research that has revealed new information about the site. A current board member of Maine’s First Ship, he is a former East Falmouth resident and sailing instructor at the Woods Hole Yacht Club.
Photo by Paul VanDerWerf Original image

Test
2024-04-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | MA

Woods Hole Trad Stroll – Dawna Hammers at the Museum
2024-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
ArtsFalmouth will be holding the Woods Hole Trad Stroll this year on Saturday, May 4. Please note the earlier date! Live performances start at noon, and there will also be an Artisans Market at the Old Fire House.
Singer/songwriter Dawna Hammers will be performing on the Museum campus from 3-4 pm.
A Falmouth favorite, Dawna gets everyone to sings, drum and dance along with her entertaining and inspiring original and cover songs. Please join us!
Donations Welcome

Woods Hole May Festival
2024-05-25 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | MA
A new event for the Museum! We’ll be providing a demonstration of our new Spritsail model kits, available for sale (and sail) to kids of all ages. Join us for this much-beloved village event at the Woods Hole Ball Park, featuring games, refreshments and the traditional dance around the May Pole.
(Rain date May 26)
Donations Welcome

Talk on Nobska Lighthouse History at Newly Renovated Keeper’s House!
2024-05-31 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Nobska Light House, 233 Nobska Road, Falmouth, MA, 02543, United States
The talk is free, but seating is limited. Registration is required.
The Museum and Friends of Nobska Light are partnering to present a talk on the fascinating story of Nobska Lighthouse with Ben Carnevale, author of Nobska — the first book-length history of this iconic lighthouse. The event will take place at Nobska Light’s newly renovated Keeper’s House
You’ll learn about the first lighthouse on Nobska Point, built in 1829, the construction of the 40-foot cast iron tower in 1876, and the workings of the magnificent 1888 fourth-order Fresnel lens, still in place today. Mr. Carnevale will also illuminate the stories of lighthouse keepers who risked their own lives to maintain safe passage for ships and sailors.
P.S. As a bonus, Friends of Nobska Light will be offering tower tours to registrants following the talk. Admission is $10.
Donations Welcome

Raingutter Regatta
2024-07-06 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543

Museum Exhibition Opening Party
2024-07-12 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
“Delicious Food and Good Company: 50 Years Celebrating Woods Hole’s Love of Food”
Location: Museum/Library Courtyard
A celebration for museum members and cookbook contributors, this event will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the museum’s archives and feature delicious samples of appetizers and desserts from the museum’s new cookbook.

New Bedford Sea Chantey Chorus
2024-07-13 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Community Hall
“One of the most harmonious crews ever to come ashore,” the chorus will perform a variety of chanteys and songs that reflect the rich maritime heritage of New England.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online using the Buy Now button below, or calling 508-548-7270.
All proceeds benefit the museum.
Location: Woods Hole Community Hall
Purchase Tickets

Lecture: “A Village of Discovery: The History and Diversity of Science in Woods Hole”
2024-08-01 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Falmouth Museums on the Green, 55 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
Lecture by: John Stegeman, Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Director, Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health
How did a small village become an internationally known center for biology, biomedical research, ocean sciences, and planetary workings and climate research? In this talk, a collaboration of the Falmouth Historical Society and Woods Hole Historical Museum, WHOI senior scientist John Stegeman will outline the history and connections among the scientific institutions in Wood Hole, and the nature and global impact of their research.
$20 Non-Member/$10 Members, or donation-based ticket. Light refreshments served.
Register Here

Annual Meeting & Celebration of the Fishmonger Café
2024-08-08 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Church of the Messiah, 22 Church Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
This year’s annual meeting will feature a community-wide celebration of the iconic of the iconic Fishmonger Café and honoring Frances Buehler, who established the restaurant 50 years ago.
All are invited to join in the celebration and share their remembrances. Please bring along your Monger memorabilia for our “show and tell.”
Image: “Waitin’ for the Bridge,” by Deborah Handy

Woods Hole Science Stroll
2024-08-10 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Waterfront Park, 112-138 Water St, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
Come visit the museum’s booth at this family-friendly annual event and learn about the historic impact of hurricanes on Woods Hole by viewing our display of dramatic archival photographs. We’ll also be featuring our Woods Hole Spritsail Boat model kit, as well as knot-tying and other nautical-themed activities. For more information: woodsholesciencestroll.org

Annual Oyster Talk & Tasting
2024-08-22 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Join us for this annual summer fundraiser! The first part of the evening will be a talk by local oyster growers Pete Chase, Eric Matzen and Mary Murphy of Falmouth Shellfish Cooperative. The cooperative sells its oysters through Coonamessett Farm.
After the talk, which will include a demonstration of oyster shucking, guests will proceed to the tasting tables to sample the oysters. Wine and beer will be available, as well as light snacks and specialty sauces.
Location: Museum/Library Courtyard
Tickets: $45 for museum members/$55 for nonmembers
Purchase tickets online here or order your tickets by calling the museum at 508-548-7270.

WHHM Conversation: Capturing Stronger Photos for Tomorrow’s History
2025-02-12 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Public Library, 581 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Whether shooting with a smartphone or a camera, attendees will receive tips from award-winning photographer Dorene Sykes on how to capture photographs more artistically. Attendees will enjoy viewing contemporary and historic images from the museum’s archives that illustrate concepts.
Included will be composition guidelines, finding the best light for landscapes and people, and varying perspective and distance for more powerful images. Key phone and camera settings will also be suggested, as well as where to learn more — locally and online.
The talk is free and open to the public and will be held in the lower level meeting room of the Woods Hole Public Library, adjacent to the Museum at 581 Woods Hole Road. There is metered on-street parking as well as small lots at the Museum and Library. For more information, email whhmdirector@gmail.com.
Speaker Bio: Dorene Sykes has been part of the Woods Hole community since settling in nearby 20 years ago. Taking her lifelong love of photography to the next step, she transitioned from a career in marketing management to photography by first freelancing as a photographer for the Falmouth Enterprise. She then launched and ran a portraiture business for a decade while also teaching photography at Cape Conservatory. During this time, Dorene earned recognition as a Certified Professional Photographer by the Professional Photographers of America and as a Master Photographer by the Cape Cod Art Center. Today, she continues to create photographic art, cover events for performing arts groups, and judge camera club competitions statewide.
Photo Caption: “The Children’s Table” by Gerard Swope, 1938

Maritime Yard Sale
2025-04-26 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Have too much nautical stuff? Planning to clean out your garage? The museum is holding a Maritime Yard Sale to benefit our Community Boat Shop on Saturday, April 26.
We are accepting donations and 50/50 consignments for high-value items on Saturdays from 10-2 beginning March 15th. Please email whhmboatshop@gmail.com for more information.

Woods Hole Trad Stroll: All Worn Out Jug Band
2025-05-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Hosted by the Museum.
Join us for live music on the Museum grounds at the annual Woods Hole Trad Stroll, sponsored by ArtsFalmouth. The All Worn Out Jug Band will perform an eclectic set that include jug band classics interwoven with American roots music from traditional folk to Cajun, country and gospel.
As with many accomplished jug bands, you can expect to hear a washtub or doghouse bass, washboard, kazoos, whistles and, of course, a jug — a full complement of strings including guitar, mandolin, ukulele, fiddle, banjo and Dobro, and an occasional concertina.
Museum Front Courtyard, 589 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole. Free admission.

Members Opening Party
2025-06-13 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Welcome the summer season with food and drink in the Museum courtyard! Members will have a preview of our summer 2025 exhibits featuring works by women artists of Woods Hole and the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Japanese emperor’s visit to Woods Hole.
Location: Museum/Library Courtyard

Opening Day at the Museum
2025-06-14 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
View our new summer exhibits and browse Woods Hole–themed items in the Museum Gift Shop. Our docents will be on hand to provide the inside scoop on village history and answer your questions.

Walsh Rose Walking Tour
2025-07-01 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum Courtyard, 579 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
Woods Hole’s beautiful Walsh Roses are bursting into bloom throughout the village. We invite you to join expert Gretchen Ward Warren for a walking tour to view these internationally renowned roses in full flower and to learn about how they were hybridized and cultivated right here in Woods Hole in the early 1900s!
Starting location is the Woods Hole Historical Museum Courtyard and the tour will continue on foot around the village.

Woods Hole Cooks Something Up: Summer’s Beginnings & Endings with Chef Katie
2025-07-07 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Highfield Hall, 56 Highfield Dr., Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
Discover the flavors of Woods Hole in Highfield Hall’s kitchen! Join Chef Katie Rickard for an unforgettable cooking experience as she hosts the local culinary stars featured in the beloved cookbook, “Woods Hole Cooks Something Up.”
This class will feature four favorites: Savory Stuffies (stuffed quahogs) with Will Moore; Tomato Basil Melts with Wendy Blomberg; First Day of Summer Shortcake with Pat Tucker; and Apricot Galette with Alexandra Fields Collin.
Elevate your cooking skills while savoring the true tastes of local traditions. You’ll master exclusive dishes featured in the cookbook and hear the heartwarming stories behind them. Cookbooks will be available for purchase before and after the class so you can bring home your own copy and dive deeper into the culinary traditions of Woods Hole.
Register online today or call 508-495-1878 ext. 2.
Event costs $75 for Highfield Hall and WHHM members and $85 for non-members.

Renowned Recorder Artists to Perform Concert in Woods Hole
2025-07-19 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Church of the Messiah, 22 Church Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
Join us for a performance of “Recorder Duos, from Medieval through Modern Times” featuring the internationally-renowned Tibia Recorder Duo, artists Letitia Berlin and Frances Blaker.
The program will include J. S. Bach’s “Aria and Variation #7 from Goldberg Variations,” the Sephardic song “La Rosa Enflorece,” original compositions by Ms. Blaker and other compositions.
The concert – a highlight of the museum’s summer-long celebration of Woods Hole women artists – will be held at Church of the Messiah, 22 Church Street, Woods Hole. Admission is complimentary thanks to the generosity of the family of Marcella Garber Polisar Katz and George Maxim Katz.
A reception will follow the concert in the courtyard of the nearby museum.
More about the Tibia Recorder Duo can be found at tibiaduo.com.

Woods Hole Cooks Something Up - Memories and Stories
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Public Library, 581 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Charlotte Emans Moore, editor of Woods Hole Cooks Something Up for the 21st Century, will present a lively conversation about the museum’s award-winning cookbooks, with stories from the archives about beloved community members and favorite recipes.
Location: Woods Hole Public Library Community Room

Woods Hole Cooks Something Up: Fish, Fish, & More Fish! with Chef Katie
2025-08-04 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-05 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Highfield Hall, 56 Highfield Dr., Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
A big thank you to Chef Katie Rickard and her team at Highfield Hall & Gardens for hosting the Woods Hole Historical Museum’s program celebrating our new cookbook Woods Hole Cooks Something Up!
Highfield Hall and the WHHM will again team up for Fish, Fish and More Fish! when Grace Dodier, Dan Isenberg and Olwen Huxley present their amazing recipes for Gravlox, Portuguese Fisherman’s Stew and Salt-Encrusted Striper or Bluefish.
Register online here or call 508-495-1878 ext. 2.

Museum Annual Meeting and Salley Mavor Talk
2025-08-07 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, 16 Church St, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
REGISTRATION CLOSED!
Members are invited to vote on the museum’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget and slate of Steering Committee members.
Following the business meeting, Woods Hole artist Salley Mavor will present a talk on “Enchanting Threads and Woods Hole Roots” about her career creating magical embroidered worlds. She will also share a bit about her family’s 100-year-old history in Woods Hole. This talk reflects the museum’s 2025 focus on women artists of Woods Hole.
Salley’s presentation will cover a wide range of artistic endeavors, from children’s book illustration to stop-motion animation, demonstrating that there are no limits to what can be expressed with a needle and thread. More information can be found at https://weefolkstudio.com/
The meeting will be held at the Church of the Messiah Parish and Community Center, which is next door to the main Church of the Messiah building. The address is 16 Church St., Woods Hole.
Members and the general public are invited to attend, and registration is required.
All attendees are invited to join us for refreshments.

Oyster Talk and Tasting
2025-08-21 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Join us for this annual summer fundraiser – an annual sellout! The first part of the evening will be a talk by local oyster growers Pete Chase, Eric Matzen and Mary Murphy of Falmouth Shellfish Cooperative. The cooperative sells its oysters through Coonamessett Farm.
After the talk, which will include a demonstration of oyster shucking, guests will proceed to the tasting tables to sample the oysters. Wine and beer will be available, as well as light snacks and specialty sauces.
The event costs $55 for museum members and $65 for non-members.
Location: Museum/Library Courtyard
Register

Good Neighbor Day Block Party
2025-09-27 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum Courtyard, 579 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
The Woods Hole Public Library and the Woods Hole Historical Museum invite all members of the community to a Good Neighbor Day Block Party!
This joyful gathering marks the second annual celebration of Massachusetts Good Neighbor Day, a statewide initiative dedicated to strengthening connections, spreading kindness, and building a deeper sense of belonging across the Commonwealth. And what better way to celebrate here in Woods Hole than by coming together in the Library/Museum courtyard for a lively, heartwarming afternoon with friends and neighbors?
Expect good cheer, great company, and the spirit of community at its best. We’ll have music, games, and a warm welcome for all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring friends, family members, neighbors, and a snack to share if you can!
Let’s toast the end of a busy summer season and celebrate what makes Woods Hole special: each other. We can’t wait to see you there!

WHHM Holiday Conversation: “The Wondrous Mrs. Claus”
2025-11-28 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Public Library, 581 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Get into the holiday spirit with a Woods Hole Historical Museum Conversation by author Pamela McColl about her new book, “Wondrous Mrs. Claus.”
The wife of Santa made her literary debut in 1849. Sleuthing through books, journal articles and poems, McColl discovered Mrs. Claus played a role in larger discussions about women’s roles in 19th century—even used by advocates for and against women’s suffrage. McColl’s talk will include a poem by Falmouth’s own Katharine Lee Bates, featured in the book.
Holiday refreshments will be served.

WHHM Conversation: Joseph Story Fay, Thomas Simms, and a Nation on the Brink
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Public Library, 581 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Join the Woods Hole Historical Museum for a conversation with scholar Brandon McGrath-Neely entitled “Joseph Story Fay, Thomas Simms, and a Nation on the Brink” on Thursday, February 12 at noon at the Woods Hole Public Library.
In his work, McGrath-Neely examines the “inverted lives” of Joseph Story Fay, a prominent landowner and “the first summer resident” of Woods Hole, and Thomas Simms, a man who escaped slavery, both of whom utilized geographic mobility to enhance their circumstances. Fay relocated from Boston to Savannah to capitalize on opportunities in the cotton trade and improve his financial standing. Conversely, Sims escaped enslavement in Savannah and stowed away on a Boston-bound vessel.
Both men’s endeavors collided with the crisis between North and South epitomized by the Compromise of 1850, particularly the Fugitive Slave Act. This compelled Simms’s return to slavery and complicated Fay’s business relationships in Savannah due to escalating distrust in a nation increasingly divided by region.
Their intersecting narratives reveal how individual ambition was constrained by the machinations of the slave economy within a nation teetering on the brink of civil war.

WHHM Conversation: Discovering Woods Hole: Exploring the Museum’s Collection Online
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Public Library, 581 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Join our Archivist Colleen Hurter and our Executive Director Mark Long as they demonstrate how to search for materials in our archive, using the Pacific Guano Company as an example.
We will ask for audience questions about search topics, so bring your own Woods Hole history questions to the session!

Maritime Yard Sale
2026-04-25 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Woods Hole Historical Museum, 579 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
Join us for a maritime yard sale to benefit the Woods Hole Historical Museum and Community Boat Shop!
What’s in your garage? Do you have too many boats or other marine-related items collecting dust?

The Museum is ACCEPTING ITEMS NOW for this fundraiser. Drop your donations off any Saturday between 10 am and 2 pm through April 18 at the Boat Shop (back right side of the campus).

Examples of acceptable items include but are not limited to:
Boats and trailers 15 ft or less, engines that run, boat models, nautical antiques and art, rigging, hardware, oars, paddles, anchors, and fishing tackle.
* Nothing broken unless it’s bronze or copper.
* NO project boats, paints, solvents, or expired safety equipment or electronics.

Email whhmboatshop@gmail.com with any questions about donations or picking up large/multiple items.

We had lots of happy buyers last year, loading up on deals galore. Join us this year to have fun discovering your treasures while enjoying complimentary refreshments!

Please share and help us spread the word among our friends and neighbors.
