Museums at Aptucxet: Spring Hours and Tour Information
Come visit the Museums at Aptucxet, where history comes to life against the scenic backdrop of the Cape Cod Canal.
We’re excited to welcome visitors for Daffodil Days, April 21–26, 2025! The Museums, Gift Shop, and Windmill Vintage will be open daily from 10 AM to 3 PM, with kids activities from 10:30 AM to noon each day. It’s the perfect time to enjoy spring blooms, explore our historic grounds, and get a preview of the season ahead.
We will re-open for walk-in tours Memorial Day weekend in 2025. Private tours are still available by booking in advance, offering a personalized experience with deeper insights into our exhibits and historic sites.
Private Tours:
Private tours can be arranged for large and small groups any time during the year. The cost is $10 per person with a $60 minimum to book a private tour. To book, email BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net or call (508) 759-8167.
We look forward to seeing you this spring and throughout the 2025 season. Thank you for supporting local history!
About the Museums at Aptucxet
The Museums at Aptucxet is a 12-acre campus on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, Massachusetts consisting of small historical buildings, historical replicas and outdoor installations that collectively tell the story of local history from the colonial era through the 20th century.
The main museum building is the Aptucxet Trading Post, a replica of the 17th century Pilgrim Trading Post built by Plymouth Colony in 1627 in this area to trade with the local Wampanoag people and travelling Dutch traders.
The property also features the 19th-century Gray Gables Railroad Station, which was built to serve President Grover Cleveland during his second term and now functions as a mini museum of Cleveland’s connection to the area.
The historic Joseph Jefferson Windmill was originally built as an art studio for the actor Joseph Jefferson at his summer home on Buttermilk Bay and was relocated to the grounds of Aptucxet in 1976. In recent years, it has served as a gallery and studio space for local artists. For the 2025 season, the Windmill will be home to our Windmill Vintage Shop, offering a curated selection of antiques, collectibles, and unique vintage finds.
An artisan-lead Gift Shop is housed in a historic information booth from mid 20th century Sagamore Village. The museum property also features a replica of a 19th-century saltworks, a replica of a 19th century coastal schooner and a work-in-progress 1/2 size model of the Schooner Sultana. A walk through the property will bring you by the Colonial Gardens, Three Sisters Garden and Wildflower Garden and recently added Hydrangea Gardens next to a 3 season open-air event pavilion.
The Museums at Aptucxet are open Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend.
- Days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Hours: 10am – 4pm
- Open by appointment for bus tours, private tours and school groups year round. Contact BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net or call 508-759-8167 for more information
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