Essex National Heritage Area
Marblehead mapFort Sewall
Marblehead, Massachusetts
  • Address:Front Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945
  • Hours: Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.
  • Admission: Free.
  • Map: Map
  • Trail:


Fort Sewall was first established in 1644 as a defensive breastwork on Gale's Head, one of this area's rocky headlands. The fort was enlarged in 1742 for defense against the French, and further construction including a magazine and barracks occurred in 1794 and, again, at the time of the Civil War. A company mustered at the fort during the War of 1812, and in 1814 the fort was named in honor of Judge Samuel Sewall, a town benefactor during and after the Revolution, who later became a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. The fort was deeded by the US government to the town of Marblehead in 1890. The headland, which is open to public as community parkland, provides spectacular views of Marblehead harbor, Cape Ann, off-shore islands, and the Atlantic. Revolutionary War re-enactment encampments by members of the modern-day Glover's Marblehead Regiment occur at the fort annually, and public programs are presented.



Nearby Area Sites

  • Crowninshield Island
    This modest coastal island features a variety of marine ecosystems, including several tidal pools, a small sandy beach, a field, a salt marsh, and a wooded hilltop. From a jagged granite promontory, visitors can take in views of Fort Sewall, Gerry Island, Marblehead Light, and Marblehead Harbor.
  • Fort Sewall
    First established in 1644, this fort was used as a defensive breastwork for more than 200 years. Now a public park.
  • Jeremiah Lee Mansion
    The Jeremiah Lee Mansion is a magnificent colonial Georgian home built by American craftsmen in 1768 when Lee was the wealthiest merchant and ship owner in Massachusetts. Preserved in its nearly original state, the house stands as a tribute to both colonial America's strong ties to England and its independent commercial success.
  • Marblehead Historic District
    The Marblehead Historic District is one of the largest contiguous colonial districts to be placed on National Register, the nation’s official list of important sites and structures that preserves local, state, and national heritage.
  • Marblehead Museum and Historical Society
    The Marblehead Museum properties include the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and Gardens and the G.A.R. and Civil War Museum. The Museum also includes the J.O.J. Frost Folk Art Gallery, a permanent installation of paintings and sculpture by Marblehead native J.O.J. Frost.


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