Dedicated to the preservation of Gloucester's maritime industrial history, the Center features the oldest continuously operating marine railway in the country. Originally called the Burnham Brothers Railway, the first rail was built in 1849 by brothers Parker, Joseph and Elias Burnham, who recognized the need for a facility that could haul boats out of the water for repairs. A second rail was added in 1856. Originally powered by steam engine, the single rail still in operation today now runs on electricity.

In 2001 we restored our marine railway. Our first executive director was hired in January, 2002; in that same year we signed an agreement the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to relocate the MIT Sea Grant Fin Fish Hatchery to our site. Sea Pocket Lab, our outdoor aquarium, opened on June 20, 2003, along with our new Visitor Center.

In 2003 we launched a summer marine science internship program for teenagers willing to commit at least ten hours per week. The program continues to accommodate up to 20 youth each summer. 

In 2004 we launched our first after-school programs: an introductory marine science course and an ocean engineering course in which children build their own remotely operated underwater vehicles. That same year we formed an ongoing partnership with  Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which now maintains a permanent exhibit at our site.

In 2005 we renovated an industrial building on our site to serve as a Marine Resource Center containing a small auditorium and a laboratory equipped with video microscopes, enabling us to transition from a seasonal to a year-round facility. We also opened the Vincie N. Exhibit which focuses on a 1936 Gloucester dragger and the family who fished her for over 50 years.

Highlights of 2006 include receipt of a $50,000 Preserve America grant for the development and fabrication of an exhibit about the history of the fishing industry. We were also awarded a $200,000 grant through the Massachusetts Economic Stimulus Bill. This funding allowed us to completely rebuild the head of our Main Pier. 

In 2007-2008 we raised the funds to build a second and third story addition above the Sarah Fraser Robbins Marine Education Center, a project we completed in 2009. The highlight of this new space is the Gorton’s Seafoods Gallery, where we can present exhibits that tell the story of the fishing industry while at the same time encouraging visitors to think about the challenges involved in preserving the ocean for future generations. The project also tied together three existing buildings on our property, enlarged our gift shop, and added much needed office space.