Welcome to Hammond Castle

Hammond Castle Museum John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle between the years 1926 and 1929 to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. In addition, the building housed the Hammond Research Corporation, from which Dr. Hammond produced over 400 patents and the ideas for over 800 inventions. Second only to Thomas Alva Edison in number of patents, John Hammond was one of America's premier inventors. His most important work was the development of remote control via radio waves, which earned him the title, "The Father of Remote Control."

Visitors to Hammond Castle Museum are welcome to explore the castle on a self-guided tour of many rooms including the great hall, indoor courtyard, Renaissance dining room, two guest bedrooms, the inventions exhibit room, the library, the War room, the kitchens, the Natalie Hays Hammond exhibit room, the tower galleries, as well as several smaller rooms and passage ways including a secret passageway. Visitors may also enjoy the beauty of the castle grounds and a view of the Atlantic shore line.

In addition to self-guided tours, Hammond Castle Museum offers a number of educational programs and prearranged tour opportunities for school and tour groups.

"For the last three years I motored many miles through Europe. After traveling all day, I would arrive at my destination to see a church, a cathedral, a town hall, a scrap of Roman wall or viaduct, a colosseum or an ancient theatre. It was always a piece of architecture that suddenly dissipated the obscurity of time and brought the living presence back of all ages. It is in the stones and wood that the personal record of man comes down to us. We call it atmosphere, this indescribable something that still haunts old monuments. You can read history, you can visit a hundred museums containing their handiwork, but nothing can reincarnate their spirit except to walk through rooms in which they have lived and through the scenes that were the background of their lives. It is a marvelous thing, this expression of human ideals in walls and windows."

(John Hays Hammond, Jr., Unpublished letter, 1929)

Hammond Castle Museum

80 Hesperus Ave.
Gloucester, MA 01930

Tel: 978-283-2080

HAMMOND CASTLE MUSEUM ... is open six days a week (Tuesdays thru Sundays) 10 AM till 4 PM with the front door locking and the last ticket sold at 3:30 PM thru Labor Day. We are CLOSED on MONDAYS except LABOR DAY.

AFTER LABOR DAY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ... We will be OPEN Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays ONLY. We will be CLOSED MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAYS.

FOR THE FIRST PART OF OCTOBER ... We will be OPEN Saturdays and Sundays only 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. and also Monday October 11 Columbus Day. We are closed every other day.

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Unfortunately, since we have had several guests fall already on Museum property please be aware that there are many stairs both outside and inside the castle as it is a historic house museum and does not have elevators. If you have problems walking down the stairs from our parking lot it is suggested that you not try navigating the many stair cases inside the museum itself.

You will also note a large landscaped area adjacent to the parking lot. This is private property and is not ours so please do not picnic or walk in that garden area. Picnicing can be done at Stage Fort Park which is one mile from our Castle Museum. PICNICING IS NOT PERMITTED AT THE MUSEUM OR ON ITS GROUNDS.

Once you have entered the castle paid your admission fee which is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors and $6.00 for children ... take a few minutes in our Lobby to view the NEW video of the history of John Hays Hammond, Jr. and Hammond Castle featuring the remininces of Curator John Pettibone before walking through the museum on your own with your map as a guide.

To book a school or motor coach tour or to talk with someone about a corporate or wedding rental please phone (978)283-2080 and leave you name and phone number and someone will call you back.

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At No time is COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY or WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY permitted on the grounds of Hammond Museum nor in the building itself WITHOUT paying a fee. To arrange a commercial or wedding shoot please phone 978-283-2081 and speak with our Director of Functions.

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As much as we would like it to be otherwise Hammond Castle Museum being a very old historic structure is not handicapped accessible. We look forward to seeing you here in Gloucester very soon, and thank you for visiting our website!!