The Durand Room: This gallery was given in 1974 by Mrs. Samuel Durand in memory of her husband. It houses their collections of Parian Ware, threaded Sandwich glass and sea shells from around the world. Later their son, John Durand, bequeathed his valuable collection of 32 miniature carved birds by Elmer A. Crowell, the noted Cape Cod artist and carver of decoys. Popular in the 19th century, Parian Ware is so called because of its resemblance to the white marble from the Greek Island of Paros, used by so many of the classical sculptors. It was first produced in England about 1842 and later was made briefly in America by the Bennington Pottery Co. of Vermont (1843 – 1854). Parian figures originally were copies of classical and renaissance staturary. Soon manufacturers began making busts of contemporary figures, such as Dickens and Byron. Also of interest in this gallery is a fine collection of ornamental threaded glass produced by the Sandwich Glass Factory in the 19th century. The large collection of shells from around the world and Cape Cod, too, delights visitors of all ages.

The Joseph C. Lincoln Gallery: Although born in Brewster, Joseph Lincoln’s adopted home was Chatham, and many of his 50 books, including 38 novels and several collections of short stories, verse, and personal reminiscences of Cape Cod, were written in his home on Shore Road. The gallery now devoted to this local author, whose works were bestsellers during the first half of the 20th century, resulted from the expansion and renovation of the museum in 2005. Exhibited are some of his manuscripts, articles about him, paintings by Harold Brett used as illustrations for is works, photographs of the author, a chest of tools belonging to the man who inspired Lincoln’s novel Shavings, and first editions of all his works. Lincoln’s stories bring to life the people and the times of Chatham and Cape Cod during the last 19th and early 20th centuries. It is therefore an appropriate exhibition in a museum that preserves the history of our town.

Chatham’s Twin Light: From 1808 until 1923, ships in the Atlantic knew they were off Chatham MA when they saw the town’s famous twin lights. In the course of their history, the two lighthouses were moved back from the sea at least twice because of erosion. In 1857, the lights were equipped with Fresnel lenses so they would project the beam farther out to sea. In 1923, a clock mechanism was installed so they could rotate, making it unnecessary to have two lights. Consequently, one was moved to Eastham to become Nauset Light; the other remained in Chatham until 1969 when it was replaced by a new and larger lantern room with modern aerobeacons. The old lantern room and its Fresnel lens were donated to the Chatham Historical Society. The relocation to the grounds of the Atwood House Museum was made possible by the daughters of Mrs. Fannie Lewis Shattuck, a supporter of the society from its beginning.

With the expansion of the Atwood House Museum in 2005, increased parking was necessary and the lantern house was moved to its present location. It was determined that both the lens and the lantern room required major restoration. These improvements were made possible by generous grants from the Community Preservation Trust Fund and the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. Thanks to the detailed specifications of architect Edward C. Collins, the lantern room now has been restored so it appears exactly as it did when it shone from the tower on Chatham’s east shore. To the best of our knowledge, it is the only lantern room with its original Fresnel lens that still operates.