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    Recommended Reviews - Hammond Castle Museum

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    Exterior
    Olivia S.

    What a cool place to visit! You can either 1. Walk through the museum on your own or 2. Take a guided tour. We ended up walking through the castle on our own and with the paper guide and map, there was enough information to follow along and get a sense of the history. The castle was beautifully decorated for the holidays!

    Mallory W.

    I have been wanting to come to Hammond Castle for years and finally got to go! I came with my best friend, and we had such a great time. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted very warmly and everyone we met who worked there was friendly and helpful. You have two options: self guided or guided tours. We chose the self-guided, but the woman at the check-in counter suggested we go watch the short introduction movie about the history of the place, and I am glad she did. The video is maybe 5 minutes, but worth the watch as you learn a lot in that short time and it's great to listen before the tour. The castle is huge, and there's so many interesting things to see and read about. I don't want to give too much away, as I personally feel it's much better to experience this in person. If you're a fan of eclectic places, art, and science, this place is for you. If you've ever been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, they have a lot of similarities and I love that! If you've been wanting to go, I highly recommend taking the trip here. It's just 30 minutes north of Salem, and we were in Salem for a visit and it was such an easy drive to get here from there.

    Nichole M.

    I love castles and history. I did NOT want to pay for a tour so we went on a self guided tour. Enjoyed the freedom of having the ability to tour by ourself. There are lots of informational signs so I felt I learned a lot. The building is absolutely beautiful and well cared for. Really loved the atrium area and the library. Appreciate the opportunity to see and experience a castle.

    Jon R.

    This evening on May 31, 2025 was a truly magical Ceremony for a Romantic wedding in honor of a Prince and his breathtaking Princess among their family and friends, in the Great Hall of this Medieval style museum. The Hammond Castle, perched high along one of Massachusetts breathtaking Atlantic Coastline in the Magnolia Area of Gloucester built by scientific inventor John Hays Hammond in the 1920's! This amazing Architectural undertaking encompassing several centuries of artifacts and exhibits from the 15th Century on! This day was executed perfectly by the Staff to give this Couple, who I will only say are Prince Benjamin and his beloved Princess Veronica. It began with invited guests arriving to see how beautiful it was. Their arrangements of the huge long family style tables on each side of the Great Hall so that the Bride would walk down the aisle along the white lining draped tables with ivory and gold china plates and crystal glasses for water and champagne flutes to eventually toast the newly married couple and beautifully adorned with flowered vases and a special Thank You Gift for their Guests! The Ceremony began down the aisle with the proud parents and brides maid of honor and bridesmaid! Both gowned in Royal shades of lavender and purple chiffon! This Princess Bride wowed her mesmerizing guests while on their feet to witness her long journey flanked by her guests toward her beloved handsome to be Prince on the staircase next to his groomsmen! Her White Satin off the shoulder full length bridal gown the had a long white laced train to marvel any Royal Wedding! This ceremony was performed in a manner that was so perfect. You were clued to his every word especially when each said their vows to each other, he then pronounced them married! Then, the festivities begun, with an open bar and a feast fit for a King! From Chicken Parm, Pasta with Red Sauce, Potatoes and Steak Tips with baked Haddock along with Rolls and tasty Caesar Salad! To eat family style was a treat to make it so accessible to chat with others! My Royal married couple sat facing their guests and had a view with made it all so intimate and inclusive! We dined, we drank, we danced to a wonderful DJ, we laughed and we all celebrated their wedding Day at this MAJESTIC HAMMOND CASTLE for this special Prince and Princess!

    Great hall
    Michael C.

    The Hammond Castle is a beautiful mid evil home of one of Americas greatest inventions belonging to John Hammond and his wife. John invented radio operations for the U.S government. He also invented other things that we take for granted everyday he was quite a man. But you can tour the castle and it's very interesting the great hall and the gardens are beautiful the view overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Gloucester harbor the grounds are very well preserved they have a guided tour or self tour parking is limited but you won't regret it it's worth the trip to see this Mid-Evil Castle they have a gift shop as well then you can take a short drive to see the Fisher man's memorial

    Erica A.

    We took a ride to Hammond Castle as a day trip. It's been on our list of things to do for a while. This is definitely a place to go when the weather is nice as it's right on the water and it's beautiful outside in the gardens. It cost $25 for each one of us to get in, and took about 45 minutes to go through the museum. There's a lot of very interesting artifacts some dating back to the sixth century. We decided to do the self-guided tour, and I think if I was to go back, I would do the guided tour just to learn more about the different artifacts that were there. Some of the areas were very tight for somebody who was claustrophobic, and we were there during what seemed to be a pretty busy time so we had to stop and wait quite often to let people go past us to get into the next room due to the tight spacing. It was definitely something to check out if you're in that area because it's very unique. We really enjoyed it!

    The outside of the castle
    Paul J.

    What a great experience architecture, as well as the art, and the story behind it all was excellent what a beautiful place to visit. Look forward to my next visit.

    Olivia N.

    Overall rating: 4.4 Visited this place over the holidays with family. Not as large as the pictures make it seem and the items are interesting for someone's house. The outside though is absolutely beautiful. Definitely recommend a tour because trying the solo route is not it. I wish the castle represented more than just someone's project. But I guess that's history.

    Hammond Castle
    Felicia G.

    We went to the Hammond Castle for a self guided tour as we were too late to get on a guided tour. Very beautiful castle with all its rooms and outside views of the beautiful ocean. We found out the castle is named after the man John Hays Hammond Jr. who had it constructed for his many artifacts and exhibits for his 400 patents and his work in the study of remote control. The castle was built between 1926-1929 I believe if you like castles and happen to be in this area it's a must see. I have so many pictures of so much stuff there is no way I could load all this on here. Amazing place. Gorgeous top to bottom. The staff is amazing and will answer any question you have.

    Aya R.

    Castle built in the 1920's that was once used as a lab during the war. Very cool exhibits, both the castle as a residence and the lab area. The outlook on the water is gorgeous and I recommend taking time to soak in the views on the lawn. Beautiful courtyard inside the castle as well. It's fun to explore through the different corridors and floors. Moreover, the north shore is a great place to visit when in MA!

    Padma A.

    My niece got married over the summer... it was fairy tale wedding venue with an old style charm. Small wedding of 100 guests and perfect venue. Loved the gothic castle and it's Indoor/ Outdoor space. Highly recommend good shoes and warn all seniors of the cobblestone pathways

    Mr F G And Mrs M S.

    Wow, this place is absolutely beautiful. If you love medieval castle, you'll love this place. This place is absolutely magical. Very cool exhibit. Highly recommended! Worth the trip!

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    Review Highlights - Hammond Castle Museum

    My husband and I visited Hammond Castle last week, during Covid-19 protocols, and had a great time.

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    Annisquam Harbor Lighthouse - Great views.

    Annisquam Harbor Lighthouse

    (3 reviews)

    Many signs saying private road residents only. Very snobby and exclusive area. Nothing to see when…read moreyou get there. On the other hand, beautiful houses in the area.

    You can't get there…read morefrom here The diminutive Annisquam Harbor Lighthouse is a classic. Not many people know it's name or even where it is but millions have seen this light in movies, TV commercials and numerous ads. Very quietly very famous, Rudyard Kipling once stayed at the light to work on his Captain Courageous book. The Annisquam Light certainly isn't massive, tall or physically imposing but perhaps that's part of the appeal. It's gracefully flowing shape and gentle lines make for an extremely aesthetically pleasant sight. It's the light that many people instinctively think of when they hear the word lighthouse. The first lighthouse in the area was built in 1801 but as ship traffic in the harbor increased the small tower was replaced by the present 41 foot high present light in 1897. It originally had a 5th order Fresnel Lens but the lighthouse was automated in 1974 and is presently maintained by the Coast Guard. I would easily give this light five stars except for one important reason. It's virtually impossible to get close to. The only road to the lighthouse was made private and is guarded more securely than most stockpiles of nuclear weapons. The only way to really see the light is by the water or by being very, very sneaky. It is such a special and incredibly beautiful light that it is indeed a travesty that they make it impossible to get near. Damn, it's a lighthouse not a nuclear submarine, access to the light should be given to the public. Another example of bureaucrats doing what is easy but not what is right.

    Eastern Point Lighthouse - Gorgeous views of the water

    Eastern Point Lighthouse

    (10 reviews)

    If you're in Gloucester and looking for something non-beachy to do, I recommend checking out…read moreEastern Point Lighthouse and walking across the breakwater to Dog Bar Lighthouse. First, you have to turn onto a private street lined with ridiculously beautiful mansions that you will never be able to afford in your lifetime and possibly your children's, staffed by a security guard (tell him you're here to see the lighthouse). After you drive past the private beach and the yacht club, all bedecked with No Trespassing and Private Entry Only signs to make you feel as unwelcome and plebian as possible by the 1% of Gloucester, you'll see the parking turn-off for the lighthouse. There, we met a very kind lady from Mass Audubon who explained the various migrational birds roaming around the area. You can't actually see or tour the lighthouse because it's fenced around and, from a distance, looks a little worse for wear. But looping around the side across some rocks, you can hop onto the jetty and stroll around and take in the sights. Great spot for photographers. It was beating down with zero shade and we forgot to put on sunscreen before heading out so we did a quick out-and-back but otherwise, it'd be a neat area to sit. $10 fee per vehicle (cash or QR code). No fee if you walk in. Definitely wear close-toed shoes; sandals or flip-flops on slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Also, watch out for poison ivy along the path to the jetty.

    Beware: This is not a polished tourist destination. Only visit if you're looking for a bit of…read moreadventure. To get to the Eastern Point Lighthouse, you have to turn down a road marked as private. (Apparently it isn't, really?) Then, you pass some other unwelcoming signs. Then you finally get to a small gravel parking lot with a sign that says "All are welcome!" The lighthouse isn't operational or open for tours. It's surrounded by fencing that makes it look condemned. But, if you walk through some sand and rocks along the water and then do a small bit of rock climbing, you can get a good view of an iconic lighthouse. When I visited, it was freezing rain and very windy. When I climbed up on the rocks to take a picture, the winds up there were so strong I was worried they'd blow my phone out of my hand. Combined with the sense that I was almost trespassing, it was oddly thrilling. There's not enough going on to warrant a long trip, but if you're in the area, want a fun diversion, and are fine driving down narrow, possibly private roads to a small gravel parking lot before navigating sandy, rocky, seaweedy tidewaters to see something iconic, it's a worthwhile diversion.

    Hammond Castle Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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