Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center (GMHC) is a grassroots nonprofit organization which got its start in 1999 when nearly three hundred local people joined together to purchase a 39,060 square foot parcel on the industrial harbor which includes the oldest continually operating marine railway in the United States. Our property also contains a cavernous ice house which has been renovated into a boatbuilding shop, the Sarah Fraser Robbins Marine Education Center (containing a small auditorium and a digital microscope lab), the Gorton's Seafoods Gallery, a 19th century mill building, and three piers. All of our programs operate out of this property.

The goals of GMHC are to champion the preservation of Gloucester's maritime history and traditions and to serve as a resource for the study of marine science and technology.

Our objectives are:

to educate visitors about the relationship between the health of the Gulf of Maine and the health of the related shoreside industries;
to tell Gloucester's story through exhibits, cultural programs, and the performing arts;.
to assist youth in the development of a sense of stewardship for the ocean environment;
to provide opportunities for youth and adults to learn skills associated with boat building and boat repair;
to provide youth with participatory opportunities in marine science including acquisition of laboratory skills;
to expose youth to a wide variety of career opportunities related to marine science and the maritime industries.