Cuttyhunk Historical Society

Museum of the Elizabeth Islands

Cuttyhunk Historical Society

Museum of the Elizabeth Islands


Exhibits for Summer 2009

Fish Tales, Hooks, and Chums: Fishing the Elizabeth Islands
Special Exhibition 2009-2010

A celebration of fishing!  Photographs—old and new, skin-stuffed fish—including a world record-holder, fish (in) art, island fishing guide history, trophies, tackle, bass boat information, real fish, plugs, lures, and jigs and much more.


Fish Tales, Hooks, and Chums - Plugs display

Shifting Sands, Rising Seas - Barges Beach

The exhibit chronicles the changing faces of Cuttyhunk’s ‘barges’ beach over the years.  With the inventive use, fifty years ago, of recycled wooden railroad barges or ‘car floats’, the storm damaged beach was rebuilt.  Now, after years of exposure, the barges are almost a memory, a casualty of the dynamic forces of erosion.

Barges Beach Sand
Shifting Sands, Rising Seas - Barges Beach



The Museum is open in 2009 from Friday, June 26 to Labor Day, September 7th.
Admission is free, donations appreciated.

Museum Hours:
Wednesday2:00-4:00 PM
Thursday, Friday, Saturday10:30 AM-12:30 PM and 2:00-4:00 PM
Sunday10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Monday and TuesdayClosed

Please note that arrangement to visit the Museum during unscheduled hours can be made by contacting Kathryn Balistrieri:  508 984 4611


Gosnold At Cuttyhunk, Beirstadt painting
Fish Tales Preview Reception (Kathryn Balistrieri, June 25, 2009)


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Banner photo on this site courtesy of Dana Morris, early 1970s, showing Bell 6 and the windmill.




Boston Globe article regarding proposed wind farm
(December 11, 2009)


The museum is closed until June 2010.

Coming Soon to Our Website:

Information on the new exhibition for 2010

Calendar of youth workshops and events for summer 2010


Video tour of Cuttyhunk in Spanish, by journalist Belén Bogado of ABC TV in Paraguay.

Click here for the 4/30/08 NYTimes article in which author Tony Horwitz discusses Cuttyhunk's history.

A wealth of research on the history of the Elizabeth Islands.

"Cuttyhunk and the Elizabeth Islands" (newly reprinted).

CHS's 2009 schedule.

CHS's Summer 2009 Quarterboard.

Past 2009 Craft Workshops