LINCOLN ROOM:This first addition to the old house was built in 1948 and named in honor of Joseph C. Lincoln, a Chatham author who wrote many novels and short stories about the people of Cape Cod in general and Chatham in particular. A complete set of first editions of his works are on display, as well as one of his original manuscripts. The Society owns several other of his manuscripts, and they are available for inspection by interested scholars. Also on display in this room are Mr. Lincoln's personal memorabilia, photographs of Joseph Lincoln and friends, as well as several oil paintings by Harold Brett of illustrations for his novels, and an oil portrait of the author by Brett.

DURAND ROOM: This second addition was given in 1974 by Mrs. Samuel Durand in her husband's memory and houses their collections of Parian Ware, threaded Sandwich glass, and seashells from around the world.

Popular in the nineteenth century, Parian ware is so called because of its resemblance to the white marble from the Greek Island of Paros that was used by so many of the classical sculptors. It was first produced in England in about 1842 by the firm of Copeland, the successor to the famous Spode company. Parian ware was made briefly in America by the Bennington pottery company in Vermont (1843-1854), under the direction of a craftsman who was brought over from the Copeland company, along with many of his molds. Parian figures originally were copies of statuary of classical and renaissance sculptors, but soon the manufacturers began making busts of contemporary figures, such as Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, and others. Later novelty works were introduced, such as a poodle with a basket in its mouth, dogs, sheep, lambs, cats, and other fanciful figures, usually in amusing positions. Our collection includes examples of all of these figures, as well as many more too numerous to list.

THE JOSEPH A. NICKERSON JR. PORTRAIT GALLERY: Built in 1987 through the generosity of an anonymous doner, this section houses the portraits of Chatham sea captains and other Chatham notables painted by Frederick Wight, the son of Alice Stallknecht Wight, between 1928 and 1935. Raised in Chatham and graduating from Chatham High School in 1919, Frederick Wight eventually became head of the Fine Arts Department at UCLA, as well as Director of its art gallery, which now is named in his memory. While Mr. Wight was painting the portraits of the sea captains, his mother recorded their recollections of days at sea, creating an intriguing and fascinating oral history of the lives of these seagoing men of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Transcriptions of her notes are available in this room, as well as in a book made from them called A Home on the Rolling Deep that is published and sold by the Society.

THE NICKERSON GALLERY: This room takes its name from William Nickerson the founder of Chatham. The space is used for special exhibits. It also contains a marvelous collection of dolls and toys of the late 19th century and early 20th century that once belonged to Chatham children. On the floor is a braided rug made by Mrs. Leroy (Evelyn Taylor) Foster and donated by her to the Society in 1981.

THE MARITIME ROOM: The Maritime Room is devoted to paintings and artifacts relating to Chatham sailors and their ships. Most of the paintings of ships were done in the nineteenth century, and some clearly were painted while the ships were in Chinese or Japanese ports.

In the cases around this room are nautical instruments and other ship's gear. A large late nineteenth century sofa in the room was originally in the ward room of the U.S.S Constitution.

THE ATKINS-KENT ROOM: A memorial to Josephine Atkins-Kent (1887-1974), this room primarily contains furniture and objects that belonged to her family. After her mother and father died, Josephine was cared for by Captain James H. Kent and his wife Almena, who adopted her when she was 19 years old. The portraits of Captain and Mrs. Kent are on one wall, with a photograph of Josephine as a child nearby. Among the items that came from Josephine's house in the Old Village are a fine set of rose Medallion china, including two very large bowls, and other treasures from the Orient.

An intriguing story is connected to the painting of the Wild Rover, that for many years was owned by Captain Alpheus Hardy of Chatham. During most of the nineteenth century, Japan was closed to trade with the outside world, and any Japanese who attempted to leave the country were subject to the death penalty. Nevertheless adventurous American skippers managed to trade with Japan and one such vessel, the Berlin, was en route from Japan to Hong Kong when a young Japanese stowaway named Neesima Shimeter was discovered on board. Upon arriving in Hong Kong, the skipper of the Berlin transferred the young boy to the ship Wild Rover, which was under the command of Captain W. B. Taylor of Chatham and was about to set sail for Boston. During the return voyage Neesima, who was promptly given the name of "Joe", proved to be bright and resourceful, quickly picking up the rudiments of English. When the ship reached Chatham, Joe was invited to live with the owner of the ship, Captain Alpheus Hardy. The Hardys became very fond of the Japanese boy and raised him as one of their own sons, ultimately sending him to Philips Andover Academy and then on to Amherst College.

Shortly before his graduation from Amherst, a Japanese delegation that was in the United States studying our educational system enlisted Joe as their interpreter, both here and in their subsequent trip to Europe. It was at this time that Joseph Hardy Neesima became interested in transforming Japan's educational system.

Because of his services to the delegation, Joe was pardoned for leaving Japan illegally, and upon completing his studies in the United States, he returned to Japan and founded a small college patterned after Amherst College. The school was named Doshisha (Sharing Ideals), and is now one of the largest colleges in Japan with an enrollment of over 30,000 students.

THE TOOL ROOM: Located in the basement of the Nickerson Wing, the Tool Room displays old tools used in local trades and crafts, such as cranberry production, fishing, shell fishing, and carpentry. There also is a display of the technique of producing salt from the ocean by the use of stages. Of interest but unrelated to the tools is the nineteenth century sleigh that dominates the center of the room.

THE MURAL BARN: Perhaps one of the most interesting and unusual displays at the museum are these murals that provide a picture of a small town in the 1930's and 1940's. Executed during that period by noted local artist Alice Stallknecht Wight, the earliest paintings have as their theme Christ as living amongst us in the form of any ordinary member of the community. The tryptich at the end of the room, entitled  "Christ Preaching to the Multitude," that originally was in the entryway of the Chatham Congregational Church depicts Christ arriving on local shores in a dory of the period, while townspeople flanked on either side watch in fascination and wonder.

On one side wall the "Circle Supper" murals depict a church supper of the 1930's, with Christ in the middle of the table giving his blessing, again depicted as one of the local citizens. All of the people shown in the murals were residents of Chatham at the time and relatives of people still living in the town. One place at the table is empty as an invitation to anyone viewing the paintings to take his place at the table.

The other side wall, painted a bit later, is entitled "Every Man to his Trade," and depicts many of the occupations that were common to a town like Chatham at the time. Once again, all of the people represented were residents of Chatham when Alice Stallknacht painted them. The murals move from birth on the far left to death on the far right, represented by the image of a grief stricken women in a graveyard. There are stories attached to many of the other paintings as well.

Certainly these murals providing a portrait of a small Cape Cod town are unique and of compelling interest to all who see them.

THE NORTH BEACH CAMP: The latest addition to the museum complex is this simple camp that was used by the Joshua Nickerson family as a summer cottage on the area in Chatham known as North Beach, a long point extending from Orleans to Chatham that was for many years a favorite place to get away from one's daily life and live more simply. Given to the Museum by the son of Joshua Nickerson, this camp is typical of many that were built on the beach by squatters in the early part of the twentieth century on land that now belongs to the National Seashore. Many have been washed into the sea by storms over the years, and as of 1999 all of them must be abandoned by an agreement made with the National Seashore when it was first created. The camp provides a picture of the simplicity that people once sought for their vacations.

THE LIGHTHOUSE TURRET:Chatham was famous for its twin lights from 1808 until 1923, when one of them was moved to Eastham to become Nauset Light. In 1972 when a more modern light was installed in the Chatham Lighthouse, the remaining twin light was given to the Historical Society and mounted next to the Atwood House in memory of Fannie Lewis Shattuck (1874-1970).
As it guided ships at sea for so many years, it now guides visitors to our doors, as it always is flashing when the museum is open.