Welcome to the Harwich Historical Society online.
The Harwich Historical Society is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to preserve, collect, and interpret Harwich history through exhibitions, education programs, active collecting, and research. The Society is housed in the historic Brooks Academy, the former Pine Grove Seminary. The 1844 building is owned by the town of Harwich. In 2019 we celebrated the 175th birthday of the building!
Founded in 1953, the Harwich Historical Society has been operating for 70 years!
The Society's collection chronicles several hundred years of Harwich History, highlighted by the Cape's largest cranberry culture exhibit.
Hours and access to materials
- The Museum is open to the public in season June through October.
- Research library & Photo archive – Open by appointment year-round.
- Office Hours – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, year-round, with occasional exceptions. It is always a good idea to call before stopping by: (508) 432-8089. If no one answers, leave a message and someone will get back to you or send an email to info@HarwichHistoricalSociety.org
Membership
Whether you are a Cape Cod native, a “washashore,” or a summer visitor, membership in the Harwich Historical Society is a great way to connect with Harwich’s history on an ongoing basis.
Your contribution supports education programs, exhibits, and the preservation of Harwich’s past.
Members receive a quarterly newsletter, advance information about upcoming lectures and exhibitions, free admission to the museum and research library, reduced fees on programs, and a gift shop discount.
Please click here for a printable version of our membership form, or sign up online here.
Get Involved
We invite you to join our active group of volunteers who are involved in all parts of museum work. They enjoy fellowship with like-minded volunteers and the opportunity to learn more about Harwich history. There are opportunities in guiding, working with collection materials, exhibit construction, programs, gift shop assistance, and more. We'd love to hear from you.
If you have an item of historical interest, especially one with Harwich provenance, please consider donating it to the museum. Keep in mind though, we don't have much storage room, so call us first to discuss large items. Your donation is tax-deductible and your contribution to the preservation of Harwich history is immeasurable!
Who We Are
Museum Director: Marie Kesten Zahn
Director@HarwichHistoricalSociety.org
President: Anita Doucette
President@HarwichHistoricalSociety.org
Vice President: Vacant
Treasurer: Linda Cebula
Secretary: Vacant
Membership: Christina Joyce
Membership@HarwichHistoricalSociety.org
Gift Shop: Jane Chase
Collections: Carole DeChristopher
Landmarks: Dr. Joan Maloney
Research: Lynne Zalesak and Anita Doucette
Research@HarwichHistoricalSociety.org
Archives and Cataloguing: Taffy Aldrovandi
Fundraising and Development: Vacant
Volunteer Coordinator: Vacant
2022-2023 President: Sally Cormier
2021-2022 President: Taffy Aldrovandi
2020-2021 President: Peggy Rose
2019-2020 Co-Presidents: Carole DeChristopher, Fran Geberth, Dr. Joan Maloney