OHM Ogunquit Heritage Museum

07/18/2026

In celebration of Jonathan's Restaurant turning 50 this year, we had created an exhibit. When we were closed down indefinitely it was disappointing that our exhibit of Jonathan's wouldn't be seen during the year of it's celebration.

We are thrilled to announce we have mounted the exhibit in the 2nd floor foyer at Jonathan's! Please stop by and see it! It will be up through the rest of the year.

Starting with his Mom having been one of George and Naomi (Ramsdell) York's children to be born in the Captain James Winn house when it was located up on Post Rd. where the Gorges Grant Hotel is now located. Of course the house would become the Ogunquit Heritage Museum some 80 years later!

Plenty of early photos when Jonathan first started the restaurant in 1976. Photos of long time employees, performers, The Finson Rd. Farm, and the legacy of his children and grandchildren.

You are encouraged to just stop by and have a look. You don't have to be going for a show, dinner, breakfast on Sat. or Sun., or for the famous Buck Shuck everyday from 3-6 in the lounge. Just stop by and see how it all came to be. Cheers!

photo: Jonathan and his oldest daughter Caitlan, Halloween 1985.

07/13/2026

A VERY timely topic! Hope to see you there.

07/12/2026

We would like to take a minute to thank everyone who joined us on Thursday for "Women of '76." It was a really fun, insightful, thoughtful program! All enjoyed very much.

If you would have liked to have attended fear not! Eliot Historical Society is having Waterfall Productions & Rita Parisi perform "Women of '76" on Saturday July 18 at the Fogg Library at 1PM. We really encourage you to go. You won't be disappointed!

07/09/2026

Hope to see you this evening at 5-6, Dorothea Jacobs Grant Common 86 Obeds Ln. Parking free in the Obeds lot on Cottage Street!

07/02/2026

WOMEN OF ’76 at Ogunquit Heritage Museum

Step into the untold side of the American Revolution.
On Thursday July 9 at 5PM, OHM in conjunction with the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit, will welcome Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions for a powerful solo theatrical performance of *Women of ’76* — a journey into the lives of the real women who witnessed, chronicled, and in some cases *changed* the course of the Revolution.
Audiences will meet voices rarely heard in history books:
- Baroness Frederika von Riedesel, the German noblewoman whose vivid journals capture the chaos of war.
- Prudence Wright, the Massachusetts patriot who led a militia of women to capture Tory spies.
- Nancy Hart, the fearless Georgia frontierswoman who faced down a band of British soldiers.
- Mary Katharine Goddard, the courageous printer and publisher who issued the first printed Declaration of Independence to include the names of the people who signed it.
- Mary Gould Almy, a loyalist diarist whose moving firsthand accounts documented the siege of Newport.
Their stories — patriot and loyalist, American and foreign — reveal a deeper, more complex portrait of the American Revolution.
Rita Parisi, an accomplished actress and playwright, has been touring original solo works for over 20 years. Since founding Waterfall Productions in 2005, she has brought history to life for audiences throughout New England and beyond. A proud member of SAG-AFTRA, her work has been seen on film and stage, including features at the Boston International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
Don’t miss this riveting and richly costumed performance that gives voice to the women of the Revolution.
The event will be held in the Dorothea Jacobs Grant Common in front of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. So, bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic to enjoy the show. Parking in the adjoining Obeds parking lot is free for patrons of the show.
The performance is funded by Friends of Ogunquit Heritage Museum, FOHM. For more information, please contact OHM at 207-646-0296.

06/19/2026

How kind York County Coast Star, thank you!

The guided walk takes visitors back to the turn of the 20th century, highlighting the Cove’s early teahouses and the evolution of several well‑known restaurant buildings. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Ogunquit Heritage Museum

06/12/2026

Historic Walking Tours: Perkins Cove

Ogunquit Heritage Museum is going to be running their Historic Walking Tours: Perkins Cove starting June 24, 2026. The Tours will be held every Wednesday and Thursday, from 10-11am. Reservations are necessary and need to be made by 5PM the evening before the Tour you want to attend.

Enjoy a tour of the Cove taking you back to the turn of the last century and before. Learn about some of Ogunquit’s illustrious teahouses, The Dan Sing Fan and the Whistling Oyster, and their storied histories. Some of the restaurants are highlighted and what their structures were before they became a restaurant. Barnacle Billy’s was Ansel Hutchins fish shack before 1908 when Hamilton Easter Field bought it to build a garage and a forum for his Thursday night talks.

The Cove was the center for two schools of art- Hamilton Easter Field’s Summer School of Graphic Art opened in 1911 and Charles Woodbury’s School of Drawing and Painting opened in 1898. These schools and the artists changed the trajectory of Ogunquit.

The many fishermen and their quirky personalities are brought to life in fun anecdotes.

Get information on the many bridges over the years and the various dredgings of the cove. Did you know because of the second dredging there was a gold rush? The tour offers many insights into the history of Perkins Cove and is accompanied by a brochure showing 19 wonderful vintage photographs.

Call or email the Museum for reservations, 207-646-0296 or [email protected] .

06/02/2026

The Town of Ogunquit has postponed the seasonal opening of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum following the results of a recently completed lead paint inspection of the historic building.

The inspection identified lead-based paint on various historic painted surfaces within the structure. While the presence of lead-based paint is not uncommon in buildings of this age, the inspection also identified areas that warrant further evaluation before the facility is opened to the public.

The Town is currently consulting with qualified environmental and lead remediation professionals and is in the process of reviewing recommendations, potential corrective measures, associated costs, and project timelines.

Out of an abundance of caution, the museum will remain closed while this evaluation process is completed.

"The safety of our visitors, volunteers, and staff is our highest priority," said Town Manager Matt Buttrick. "We want to fully understand the scope of any work that may be necessary and make informed decisions based on professional recommendations before reopening the facility."

At this time, no reopening date has been established. The Town will provide additional updates once the evaluation process has been completed and a path forward has been determined.

For additional information, please contact:

Matthew Buttrick
Town Manager
Town of Ogunquit

04/01/2026

Huge thank you to All who joined us on Monday for Dr. Taylor's Q&A! If you were unable to join us but were interested here is a link to a recording of the talk.

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/odCnu4FPltLYnE1rOYm9tmRmDUzbv9hNfAsR46n_J4a7J49oeIOAkloYWMPaJ1s9.m8iOGozLVa0PFhO0?startTime=1774911521000
Passcode: ti8$j*8D

Stay tuned for more OHM 250th celebrations and celebrations held by other members of the York County Consortium of Historical Societies and Museums coming this year.