The Best Cape Cod Museums

The Cape Cod area has numerous museums, covering a variety of diverse subjects. Here, you can enjoy museums that focus on maritime subjects as well as the area's natural surroundings. We've listed some of our favorite museums below.

If you have any questions regarding museums in our area, don't hesitate to contact us.

Cape Cod Museum of Art

Location: 60 Hope Ln, Dennis, MA

Distance: 7.9 miles

Hours: Vary

Cape Cod Museum of Art features art by Cape Cod artists as well as art that has a strong association with the Cape Cod area. Members seek to educate and inspire visitors through the use of gallery displays and a variety of diverse programming.

It offers educational programs along with contemporary art, impressionist art, various sculptures, and a number of special exhibit collections. Cape Cod Museum of Art also has a museum shop where you can purchase a variety of items, all made by Cape Cod artists.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

Location: 869 Main Street/Route 6A, Brewster, MA

Distance: 8.0 miles

Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History serves three functions: a natural history museum, an educational center, and a steward of conservation land. (The museum owns over 400 acres in Brewster and Stony Brook Valley.)

The site is made up of a 17,000 square-foot building and two sections of land (making up the total 400 acres). The museum has exhibits related to local natural history and archeology. It even has a butterfly house and an aquarium, with over 80 fish species. The surrounding land has a number of walking trails.

The land features a wide variety of habitats, including salt marshes, pine woodlands, a beach, and Stony Brook River. You can also take part in the museum's educational programs. Note that the summer programs for kids are very popular, so check well ahead of your visit to make sure spaces are available.

Cape Cod Maritime Museum

Location: 135 South St, Hyannis, MA

Distance: 10.5 miles

Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday

Cape Cod Maritime Museum was the first Cape Cod museum focusing on the area's maritime culture. The museum has information on boat building, yachting, and the nautical arts. Members promote maritime culture through displays, exhibitions, and a variety of educational programs.

Of particular interest is the boat-building seminars they offer throughout the year. You can also schedule a 1.5-hour sailboat tour of Hyannis Harbor on the museum's 1886 Crosby catboat replica, which was built right on site.

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

Location: 397 Main St, Hyannis, MA

Distance: 12.9 miles

Hours: Vary

The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is dedicated to John F. Kennedy. It features photographs, artifacts, and archival films related to John Kennedy. The focus is on Kennedy's life on Cape Cod, especially his formative years.

Much of the information covers Kennedy's relationships with other members of the Kennedy family. Exhibits include JFK's life and legacy, RFK's life and legacy, and an extensive collection of Jacques Lowe's photos of the Kennedys. (Lowe was the Kennedy's personal photographer.)

Whydah Pirate Museum

Location: 674 MA-28, West Yarmouth, MA

Distance: 7.0 miles

Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily

Whydah Pirate Museum examines pirate life, particularly pirates who sailed the Whydah. The Whydah was a pirate ship commanded by Black Sam Bellamy. The ship, originally a British slave vessel, was sunk in 1717. The wreckage was discovered by Barry Clifford, a local explorer.

The Whydah Pirate Museum has thousands of items recovered from the Whydah. In fact, the museum has the world's largest collection of pirate artifacts recovered from a single shipwreck. The museum also features a walk-through of a partial replica of the Whydah.