Cape Ann Museum Reopens with $20M Renovation and Major Rothko Exhibition

After a 20-month closure, the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, MA reopens on June 30, 2026, following a $20 million renovation of its five-building campus, including an 1806 captain's house. The museum, which marks its 150th anniversary, features redesigned Fisheries Galleries showcasing Gloucester's history as America's largest fishing port from the late 1800s to early 20th century. Upgrades include new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting, security, an improved auditorium, reimagined atrium, upgraded education spaces, and a new archival display gallery. Director Oliver Barker emphasized maintaining the museum's intimate feel. The reopening coincides with the exhibition "Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea," organized with The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., running through September 27, 2026. It explores the artistic relationship among Milton Avery, Mark Rothko, and Adolph Gottlieb, who summered on Cape Ann from the 1920s to 1940s. Over 40% of the 82 artworks have never been publicly displayed, with loans from MoMA, the National Gallery, and private collections. The exhibition includes early Rothko works of fish drying on Gloucester Harbor, showing his simplification toward color planes. This is the first Cape Ann Museum-organized exhibition to tour a national museum.