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

Cogswell’s Grant

60 Spring Street
Essex, MA 01929

Cox Reservation (Allyn Cox Reservation)

82 Eastern Avenue
Essex, MA 01929

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

3 Andrews Street
Essex, MA 01929

Essex Shipbuilding Museum

66 Main Street
Essex, MA 01929

Stavros Reservation

32 Island Road
Essex, MA 01929

Essex River Cultural District

21R Spring Street
Essex, MA 01929

Cogswell’s Grant

60 Spring Street, Essex, MA, 01929, US

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Cox Reservation (Allyn Cox Reservation)

82 Eastern Avenue, Essex, MA, 01929, US

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Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Essex River Estuary, Essex, MA, 01929, US

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Essex Shipbuilding Museum

66 Main Street, Essex, MA, 01929, US

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Stavros Reservation

Island Road, Essex, MA, 01929, US

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Essex River Cultural District

Essex, MA, 01929, US

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