The Ipswich Museum was founded in 1890 as the Ipswich Museum Historical Society. Today, our collection reflects over 100 years of acquisition and preservation by these early visionaries. We continue to honor the original mission of the society to preserve Ipswich’s social, cultural, and architectural history to make these treasures more accessible, relevant, and connected to our day-to-day lives.

Our museum is anchored by two significant properties: the 1677 Whipple House and the 1800 Heard House, which serves as our headquarters. Both properties are filled with original architectural detail, furnishings, and artifacts that give visitors an intimate glimpse into the lives of early Ipswich residents.

The Ipswich Museum also owns the largest collection of works by Arthur Wesley Dow, including oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, ink-wash drawings, woodblock prints, and plaster casts. Dow (1857–1922) was born in Ipswich and interpreted images of the town throughout his life.