Many of you are familiar with the arts and beauty of Ogunquit, having been to the Playhouse and ambled Marginal Way.

But a little gem of a museum may be your best bet this summer. The Ogunquit Heritage Museum is actually in the heart of the village on Obeds Lane, tucked away on a quiet little park. It’s actually just steps from the Meadowmere and on the way to Ogunquit Beach from our hotel. The Museum building, known as the Captain James Winn House, is a restored home with amazing original features.

This year, we hear that exhibits will include Marginal Way, the trolleys (remember Molly the Trolley? Does every kid need a picture next to Molly?), new featured Ogunquit artists and a history of Josias Chase, the man who donated the Marginal Way.

Staying from last year is the Dory Exhibit  – which is a real handmade Ogunquit Dory. These little ships are what lobstemen and fishermen would leave from Perkins Cove in to catch dinner and make a living. the Dory at the Museum is to scale and it is fascinating to think of a lone person sailing one into the Gulf of Maine. Very Homer Winslow.

So why hasn’t this little Museum been found? Well it’s funded entirely by donations is relatively new compared to the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Ogunquit Playhouse. But you’ll learn a lot about the wonderful and fascinating history (did you know that rum was run here? Actually, that may be a big part of Billy’s famous punch now that we think about it!) of Ogunquit. Open from June 2 through Labor Day and with Christmas by the Sea and OgunquitFest tours, this is a nice (and free) thing to do when in Ogunquit. Enjoy!