New Exhibitions
Image: Courtesy of the Swedish History Museum
Finding Vinland: Exploring the Possibility of Vikings on Cape Cod
Opens at Falmouth Museums on the Green on Thursday, September 3, 2026, with a special members’ reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and opens to the public on Friday, September 4. Located in the Visitor’s Center Hallett Barn.
Curated by an advisory panel of scholars and experts from around the world, this fascinating new exhibition explores one of Cape Cod’s most enduring historical mysteries: could Vikings have reached these shores centuries before Columbus? Through archaeology, geography, Native perspectives, and historical scholarship, the exhibition examines the long-debated connections between Cape Cod and the legendary Norse voyages to Vinland. Featuring artifacts, maps, interpretive panels, and local stories, Finding Vinland invites visitors to consider how myth, memory, and evidence intersect in the search for New England’s earliest European encounters. Intimate in scale but global in scope, the exhibition offers a compelling new perspective on Falmouth’s place within the broader story of Atlantic exploration.
Resistance & Resilience: The Road From The Revolution In Falmouth, 1779–1850
Exhibition Runs June 5, 2026 to May 10, 2027. This exhibition is part II, starting 2025-2026 with “The Road to The Revolution.”
This new exhibition invites visitors to explore how the people of Falmouth experienced the American Revolution and how those moments shaped a new national identity in the decades that followed. Beginning in 1775, Falmouth’s residents played an active role in the fight for independence, guarding the coast, supplying troops, and supporting privateering efforts. In April of 1779, the war arrived on their doorstep when a young boy carried word of a planned British attack across seven miles of water, allowing local militia under Major Joseph Dimmick to successfully defend the town in a dramatic and defining moment now known as the Battle of Falmouth, the only land battle on Cape Cod during the Revolution.
The exhibition continues through the War of 1812, when Falmouth again faced British assault, and into the early nineteenth century, as the community turned from conflict to growth and industry. Visitors will discover how ordinary people navigated uncertainty, rebuilt their lives, and contributed to the shaping of a new nation. Through stories of bravery, endurance, and everyday life, the exhibition traces the emergence of early American ideals including faith, resilience, and opportunity. Grounded in local history but national in scope, this exhibition reveals how Falmouth’s past reflects the broader story of America’s beginnings.
The exhibition opens on June 5th, 2026, with a special members-only reception on June 4th from 4 pm to 5:30 pm, remarks at 4:45pm. Exhibition catalogs are for sale in our gift shop.
Falmouth Faces of Change – Opened July 2025 – July 2026. Located in the Visitor’s Center Hallett Barn.
Behind every face, there’s a unique individual, and a story about the difference that person made in the world. In our exhibition “Faces of Change” we celebrate historic Falmouth residents from the 19th and 20th centuries. Their passion and hard work changed our town for the better in countless ways.
This project was first conceived as a collaboration between the Falmouth Historical Society at Museums on the Green and Corine Adams’s ceramics class at Falmouth High School. Last winter, students visited our campus to learn about local people who made their mark in fields as diverse as politics, education, industry, and the arts. Students chose a character who inspired them and made a ceramic mug decorated with that person’s likeness.
We invite you to admire the students’ artwork, and to discover the people behind the historic faces. Each mug is paired with an item from our collection that symbolizes that person’s achievements. Some names may be familiar to you, such as Elijah Swift and Katharine Lee Bates. Others may surprise you, such as Korean War veteran Alexander Booker, entrepreneur Moses Gulesian, and nurse Edith Tripp.
Despite their diverse backgrounds and talents, these individuals were united in their love for Falmouth. They also displayed a common determination to work through difficulties, and by their efforts to leave their communities better off than before.
“Better Together: Falmouth Families at Sea 1852-1886”
Conant House
In nineteenth century Falmouth the life of a Whaling Captain was full of adventure on the high
seas, dangerous encounters, and exploration to lands beyond their wildest imaginations. Whaling
voyages could take up to four or five years and only the Captains were allowed to take their
families aboard ship. For the families who did select to stay together during the voyage, their
lives would never be the same, coming back with stories that continue to inspire future
generations. In the new exhibition at the Falmouth Museums on the Green, the show explores the
opportunities and obstacles families faced at sea highlighting the Lawrence and Hamblin families
and others as case studies. The exhibition delves into topics like hygiene, community, and even
pet ownership to present a multifaceted overview of the topic using photographs and primary
objects from whaling families who went to sea. Ultimately, this interactive exhibition asks if
you too would have wanted to go on a whaling voyage.
Sponsored by Judy Frank, great-great granddaughter of Captain Zenas Hamblin of Waquoit.
Current Exhibits
“Without Julia”
Wicks House
“Falmouth: Changing with the Times”
Conant House
There’s no better way to learn about a place and the people who lived there than by seeing what they left behind. And, like most things, what remains changes with the times. The sea trade, tourism, farming, industry, and military and civic service are common threads in the fabric of this exhibit. LEARN MORE
Falmouth Whaling During the Civil War – Virtual Exhibit: This presentation was created by local High School student Anne Jeffrey. An animated version is planned and will eventually be available for viewing, either online or at the Museums. Falmouth Whaling During the Civil War PDF VERSION
Collections
The Falmouth Historical Society collects items related to the history of the Cape Cod town of Falmouth. If you would like to make a donation to the collection, please call (508) 548-4857.
Artifacts
HMS Nimrod, Painting by E.F. Lincoln
Gift of William L. Allison
The HMS Nimrod was a British man-of-war that patrolled New England waters during the War of 1812 in an effort to limit American shipping. At the time, Falmouth had several small cannon that it used to good effect against the British. In January, 1814, the commander of the Nimrod sent a message demanding the Town surrender the cannon or risk bombardment by the mighty ship. Local lore says that Falmouth’s response was, “If you want our cannon, you can come and get them, and we will give you what’s in them first.” Regardless of the exact wording, it is clear that the town refused to give up its weapons and that the British ship retaliated. Several of Falmouth’s buildings still proudly bear the scars of the subsequent cannonball fire. In June of 1814, the Nimrod crew heard that some Falmouth ships were hiding in Wareham Harbor, near the head of Buzzards Bay. The British ship attacked and burned 17 ships. On the return down Buzzards Bay, the Nimrod ran aground. To avoid being caught in a vulnerable position, the captain ordered that the cannon be jettisoned overboard to lighten its load.
These two significant Falmouth folk-art portraits were acquired at auction in November 2024. These portraits, created around 1840, depict Captain Levi Doty (1803–1890) and his wife, Grace Fish Doty (1803–1872), a couple with deep ties to Falmouth’s maritime heritage. Captain Levi, a descendant of a Mayflower passenger, was involved in local business ventures, including co-founding the Falmouth Glass Works and partnering with Dr. Aaron Cornish, a prominent Falmouth figure. Grace’s portrait showcases her elegant clothing, while Levi’s depicts him aboard a ship with a spyglass, reflecting their maritime connections.
Falmouth Historical Society Receives Generous Donation of Historic Harpoon with Deep Local Ties
Exhibition Sponsorship Information:
The Clipper Ship Society Level $250
Includes promotion on our website, weekly eblast (2,500 mailing list) during the duration of the show from June 6 to October 18, 2024. The businesses/individuals name will also be included on the sponsorship panel. The business/individual will get two free tickets to the exhibition opening reception on Thursday, June 6th, 2024.
Friends of the Collection $500
A sponsorship on this level would get all the benefits above plus an opportunity to include a historic photograph/item in the exhibition and four tickets to the opening reception.
Preservation Circle $1,000-5,000
A sponsorship at our Preservation Circle level would include all of the former benefits plus an opportunity to speak at the opening reception and ten tickets to the opening reception.
Please contact our Executive Director, Rachel Lovett, for more information at Rachel@museumsonthegreen.org or 508 548 4857 x15.
