Essex is a must see if you love antiques and seafood! Incorporated as a town in 1819, Essex was previously part of Ipswich. The first European settlers arrived in 1633 to what was then land inhabited by the Agawam tribe. The settlers supported themselves through farming, fishing, clamming, and most importantly ship building. In 1852, one out of every 28 American ships was built in one of Essex’s 15 shipyards. By the early 1900s, a quirky collection of local seafood restaurants provided a new destination all of its own. Recreational boating took the place of the working boats as the meandering Essex River provided a gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Today, the numerous antique shops located there make Essex “America’s Antique Capital.” Coastal Byway Miles: 4.3
Amesbury
Andover
Beverly
Boxford
Danvers
Georgetown
Gloucester
Groveland
Hamilton
Haverhill
Ipswich
Lawrence
Lynn
Lynnfield
Manchester By The Sea
Marblehead
Merrimac
Methuen
Middleton
Nahant
Newbury
Newburyport
North Andover
Peabody
Rockport
Rowley
Salem
Salisbury
Saugus
Swampscott
Topsfield
Wenham
West Newbury
Essex River Cultural District
21R Spring Street
Essex, MA 01929
