Photograph courtesy of: Dale E. Martin

Visiting the Museum

Guided and Self-Guided Tickets for the 2024 Season are available HERE.

General Admission Fees:

  • Adults & Teens: $20
  • Senior Citizens (65 yrs +): $15
  • Children (ages 5 to 12): $10
  • Children ages 4 and younger are free but require a ticket.
  • Members enjoy complimentary access to daytime tours and guided and self-guided tours during our extended hours on Thursday evenings in July, August and September.

Hours of Operation: 

10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

On most days, the last entrance for Self-Guided Tours is at 3:15 pm. The last Guided Tours begin at 3:00 pm. The Museum, Museum Shop, and grounds close sharply at 4:00 pm.

*Please note:  The Museum will close a half hour early (3:30 pm) with last entrance at 2:30 pm on the following dates: May 14, 25 & 31; June 8, 18, 28 & 29;  July 6, 19, 27 & 28; August 4, 8, 9, 18, 23 & 25; September 8, 20, 22, 25, & 26, October 3, 7 & 10.

Tour Schedule for 2024:

  • April 5 – 28th: Gertrude Cawein at Hammond Castle Museum – Self-Guided Tours only.
  • April 29th: Closed.
  • April 30th – November 8: Daily Guided and Self-Guided Tours
  • November 9 & 10th: Special Event – Self-Guided Tours only
  • November 11 – 13th: Closed
  • November 14th – December 29th: Guided and Self-Guided Tours During our Deck The Halls Holiday Celebration
  • Holidays closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

For those guests who wish to see only the exterior of the Museum, they are welcome to visit a portion of the grounds without a ticket purchase.  The 12th & 13th-century arches, Look Out Point, Bell Tower, and iconic Drawbridge are all available for the community to explore and enjoy during regular business hours. The grounds close to the public at 4 pm.  All photoshoots for commercial use or with a professional photographer (for example: photos for a wedding, engagement, birthday, or professional family photos) must be booked in advance. For more information regarding photography session fees and to schedule an appointment, please click here. 

Please note that the following items are not permitted in the Museum or on the Museum grounds:

  • Bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, and scooters
  • Dogs
  • Drones
  • Food & Drink (water is OK)
  • Large bags and backpacks
  • Selfie sticks and tripods
  • Strollers
  • Weaponry

While the Hammond Castle Museum, a historic landmark built in the late 1920s, is not handicapped accessible for assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers due to the number of stairs, it does allow service dogs on premises. This Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for over 50 years, presents challenges for visitors with mobility impairments, as it features numerous stairs. Accessing the Lobby and Museum Shop from the parking lot requires descending approximately 30 exterior stone stairs, with only a portion having a railing. Further, navigating through all galleries involves over 160 total steps across more than six levels, and most galleries do not have visitor seating.

The Museum is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and alternatives to visitors in need of additional assistance, for more information, contact us at: info@hammondcastle.org.

 

How to reach the Museum:

Our address is
80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930.

Heavy traffic should be considered when planning your travel time.   Take I-95 North out of Boston to Exit 45, then Route 128 North to Exit 14.  Turn right onto Route 133 to the very end of that highway, and with the ocean directly in front of you turn right onto Route 127.  Approximately 3/4 of a mile from that intersection the road will begin to narrow. Look for a blue and white sign on your left for the castle, and turn onto Hesperus Avenue. The Museum is just a few blocks down Hesperus Avenue on your left.  Park in the lot off the street, and take the walkway and stairs down to the entrance.

Hammond Castle Museum is also accessible by the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA). Please note the bus schedule varies throughout the week and season. To learn more, visit canntran.com.

Navigating the Museum: