Learned so much about Edward Gorey and his lovely home on Cape Cod. The museum consists of the…read morefirst level of the house and features Edward's belongings and works. I was amazed to see the Tony he won for Dracula in person. The museum is a sight to behold with so many treasures to look through. We enjoyed the scavenger hunt you can complete while walking through the museum (though we could not find the final items needed for a prize) and the docent tour. Our docent Mary Anne was amazing. She really knew so much about Edward Gorey and his life. I loved learning about his love of cats and knowing that the museum still has cats who live on premise today, as well as the charitable giving that has continued well after his death to local animal charities. Well worth a visit. Be sure to drop by the gift shop afterwards as they have a ton of books, shirts, and memorabilia to choose from.

Looking at the website, it suggests the house is open to walk throughs but when I went there were…read moreguided hourly tours. Asked if I could visit the bookstore and person at the desk was like "let me think about it. ok you can look around." very strange vibes and how it operates in practice doesn't seem to match what is on the website. as some other reviewers have noted your service may vary depending on "vibes" or whatever. hard pass.

Plimoth Patuxent Museums is a living history museum in Plymouth that operates at a level of…read moreimmersion and historical depth that distinguishes it from most comparable sites in New England. We spent a full day on the main campus, which encompasses the reconstructed English colonial village, the Wampanoag homesite, a wooden fort overlooking the bay, and access to the Mayflower II and the Grist Mill. The combination of those components made it a full day visit rather than a quick stop. The historical interpreters are the defining element of the experience. In the English colonial village, the actors remained in character throughout, speaking as 17th century colonists and engaging with us from within that perspective without breaking the illusion. The knowledge they brought to those interactions was thorough enough that specific questions about individual historical figures, including ancestors who came over on the Mayflower, could often be addressed in detail. The Wampanoag homesite operates differently, with Native staff who speak as themselves and share the history and culture of the Wampanoag people from their own perspective rather than through historical character. That distinction is meaningful and gave the site a dual narrative. The canoe making demonstrations and the depth of knowledge the staff brought to those conversations were highlights of that section. For a living history experience that handles multiple perspectives with care and depth, Plimoth Patuxent Museums is one of the more rewarding historical sites in the region and well worth the time commitment.

As long as you have the right mindset and think of this as a trio of museums-- the main grounds on…read moreWarren Avenue (formerly "Plymouth Plantation"), the Mayflower II on the waterfront, and the Grist Mill further inland, it can be a fun, educational and step-count-padding experience. But each one unto itself can be as underwhelming as Plymouth Rock is small (and underwhelming)-- and I came in with high expectations based on fond memories from youth. -- Pilgrim Village and Wampanoag Huts: Impressive structures, but mostly empty, with very sparse allocation of costumed human actors and no scheduled presentations. It's sort of the historical/museum equivalent of going to see a comedian who doesn't have an actual set, but relies exclusively on crowd work. The actors, when you can find them, do a nice job, and some are quite knowledgable-- but the onus is on the paying visitors to ask questions, so go in ready to do your own crowd work. They all stay in character, so you can't really ask about them in the third person or refer to things later than outside their 1627 setting. Interestingly, there's at least twice as many gift shop employees as costumed actors. Parking is plentiful. A 2.5-mile ride to the two other attractions. -- Grist Mill: A more relaxed look and an actual presentation, both upstairs where the corn is ground and downstairs looking at the machinery. Another gift shop. Limited parking. Walkable to/from the Mayflower II. -- Mayflower II: A 1950s replica of the original Mayflower, sent to the US as a gift from England. Fun to look around, but limited staff and no real presentation. It's up to you to ask questions. No parking specifically dedicated to this attraction; you gotta park on the main streets. Walkable to/from the Grist Mill. This can be an enjoyable experience if you come prepared with things you want to ask and understand the mostly-self-guided aspect. If not, it can be tiring, boring, and awkward.

Absolutely love this place! The glass museum has a plethora of information to share with the…read moregeneral public. There's much to see and do. The glass experience is a live demonstration of how to create a glass sculpture via glass blowing. All throughout the museum are pacards and writing on the wall as well as interactive storytelling to expose information about how glass is made and the history of glass, glass designs, and how it was used over time. Their gift shop is cool and they also have glass classes that are fun to try. I recently did the mosaic and fusion class with some friends and we had an awesome time learning and making hands-on art! Happy visits!

A feel good place, a must visit. Historic center with plenty of parking…read more Go alone or with friends. Plan your day around The Glass Museum. The library is close by for a restroom stop. The Daniel Webster Inn is another historic visit. The chowder here is well worth getting. Don't leave Sandwich without walking on The Boardwalk.

Great little museum. They put a lot in such a little building. First floor had a bird watching…read morearea, displays on Native American historic culture, duck decoy artist studio and other exhibits. Downstairs was an aquarium. Along with a bird exhibit. After we finished in the museum we went for a hike out to the bay. Although the trail was not marked the path overall was easy to find. It was a great excursion!

Every time I come here, at least one staff member is extremely rude. It's expensive and it's one of…read morethe only museums on cape that doesn't allow library passes or any wic discounts, which discourages the locals from enjoying it and learning about the local history. The high entrance fee you pay doesn't pay for the whole museum, either. You have to pay extra to see butterflies, and even more extra to feed them. The website and front desk say they take cash but they refused to take it. When I insisted and pointed to sign saying they take cash the worker announced loudly in front of a lobby of people not to let me kids in, we haven't paid! (I was holding the cash while we waited for change to come from another part of the museum) . The staff(or volunteer) in the aquarium was I extremely rude too. This museum is meant for children and to show such little tolerance for their questions and curiosity is sad. On the contrary the science center staff was kind and engaging, but it didn't make up for the salty taste the negative experience made. Beyond that, several parts of grounds were in disrepair and even dangerous. It needs some upkeep, some training, and to be part of the community in a way they currently are not.

What a great museum to visit when in town. Learned so much as I walked through the rooms…read more Read through the history and truly left feeling like I learned more than walking in and that all you can really want from a museum. The staff was pleasant in the front and provided great information. Museum is not large. Didn't feel overwhelmed by all the rooms. Definitely a must visit!

The JFK Museum is located in the heart of Main St in Hyannis. The museum has 2 floors, with most of…read morethe exhibits of interest housed on the first floor. By exhibits, it's mostly pictures and historical context rather than many actual artifacts, so I totally get all the negative reviews questioning it's merits as an actual museum. As most of my historical knowledge was that of what I learned about JFK in school and some sites I visited in Dallas, the chronological layout of the place did give me a bit of historical overview of his life at various times, as well as his family. While the museum could have used some more film rooms and actual artifacts of JFK, it's perfectly fine as a rainy day activity while visiting Cape Cod. While the cost of admission isn't that expensive, it is a bit pricey for what you actually get as a "museum experience" as a whole. There is a small gift shop if you're interested in purchasing souvenirs. Overall, I'd rate the JFK Hyannis Museum a 3.5 out of 5, but feel the place could have made better use of the 2nd floor and made more of an effort to include actual artifacts in the exhibits.

Super fun. Totally worth it way to learn about such an important part of our history. Loved the…read moreship and the whole experience.

Whether you're a history buff, a curious traveler, or just someone looking to touch the wood and…read morerigging of a time long past Mayflower II is absolutely worth the stop. Docked along the calm Plymouth Harbor, this full-scale reproduction of the original Mayflower is part of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, and stepping aboard feels like you're slipping back 400 years to an era of resilience, survival, and new beginnings. What Stood Out: The Ship Itself The craftsmanship is incredible. The towering masts, coiled rope, and carefully restored woodwork give you a real sense of what life might've been like on that 66-day transatlantic voyage. You can walk the cramped quarters, peer into the hold, and picture just how uncomfortable (and brave) those original passengers were. A Balanced Narrative The museum signage and storytelling have come a long way from the one-sided Pilgrim myth. The partnership with the Wampanoag communities through Plimoth Patuxet Museums brings context, balance, and truth to the history something that makes this visit not only powerful but necessary. Friendly Staff Whether you're chatting with costumed interpreters or just asking a question at the ticket booth, the staff is welcoming and clearly passionate about what they do. They're happy to explain everything from sailing techniques to the social dynamics onboard. Great Photo Ops Cloudy or sunny, the Mayflower II is a stunner. With the ship framed by the harbor, it's hard to take a bad shot here. From the pier, the angles are dramatic especially with those brooding New England skies. Final Thought: The Mayflower II isn't just a replica, it's a reminder. Of sacrifice, of missteps, of courage, and of the complex story that built this country. A walk on that deck will leave you thoughtful, grateful, and maybe even a little more connected to the real people behind the history books. #MayflowerII #PlymouthMA #LivingHistory #PlimothPatuxet #HistoricHarborViews #WalkThroughTime #ItsTheLittleThings #ThePuddingCreekTrestleApproves

To press onward to…read morehigher attainments Back in 1872 the wealthy Elizabeth Taber decided to "put some snap" into her home town of Marion and donated portions of her fortune to help educated and improve the community. One of the things she specified was a natural history museum. So back in 1872 land was purchased and a building erected to house a library on the first floor and a natural history museum upstairs. This is still the arraignment today and a small but cool library and small but very active museum share the building. This museum isn't like a lot of larger museums that just empathizes looking, this is a museum for doing and learning. The one room museum is pretty messy and displays and exhibits come and go depending on what programs are going on. Sure there is cool stuff to look at but unlike most museums the real purpose on the museum is hands on; not just looking but actually doing. The museum has a huge number of evening adult programs, field trips, after school events and a very active summer program. Lectures and demonstrations in zoology, botany, geology, astronomy and just about every other natural science are represented at one time or another. The is natural history in it's broadest and most entertaining and edifying definition. The museum's purpose is to educate and encourage the public interest in natural history and the world around us, especially the local coastal environment around the town of Marion. Liz Tabor said she want people to press onward to higher attainments. The museum has been helping people do this extremely well for over a century.

A very dynamic and interesting museum with some of the best examples if fire department history…read moreanywhere!

I stumbled upon this place in New Bedford, so we went in. The guy who owned it was really nice and…read morethey had a lot of trucks and memorabilia. It is in an old fire station and he kept the living quarters as they were back in it's days of operation. I would recommend this place when in New Beford and looking for interesting places to see/things to do.