Peabody Essex Museum

The museum was founded in 1799 by the East India Marine Society, a group of Salem captains and merchants who had sailed beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn. Their third objective was to form a museum of natural and artificial curiosities found beyond these capes. In 1825, the society dedicated the newly constructed East India Marine Hall, designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, to house the growing collection.

The museum operated under the East India Marine Society name until 1867, when it was purchased by the Salem Athenaeum, and later merged with the Essex Institute in 1992 to form the Peabody Essex Museum.

The museum's historic core includes the East India Marine Hall (1825), a National Historic Landmark designed by Charles Bulfinch. In 2003, PEM completed a $100 million renovation and expansion featuring a new wing designed by architect Cesar Pelli. A further massive expansion, delayed by the death of Pelli, was finally opened in September 2019.

This new 40,000-square-foot wing, designed by Moshe Safdie, significantly increased the museum's gallery space and modernized its facilities, cementing its status as a leading cultural institution.

PEM's collections are vast and diverse, including over 3,600 objects of African art, over 1,000 American portraits, and more than 6,000 Chinese art objects. The museum holds one of the most important American clothing collections in the United States, with examples from the early 18th century to the present. Other significant holdings include over 5,000 objects of Indian art, approximately 1,800 pieces of Korean art, and over 15,000 objects of Oceanic art. The photography collection is the largest single collection by number of objects, featuring over 850,000 images.

The museum's Native American art collection includes over 20,000 objects, representing a wide range of indigenous cultures. The maritime collection is particularly strong, reflecting Salem's history as a prosperous seaport. The collection was initially built on donations from captains like Jonathan Carnes, who provided items such as an elephant's tooth and a pipe from the East Indies.

The museum also houses the embalmed head of a New Zealand chief and an idol of Kolia Moku, highlighting the global reach of its early acquisitions.

The museum has seen significant leadership changes in recent decades. Dan Monroe served as director and CEO from 1993 to 2019. In 2021, Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, the former deputy director and Chief Curator, became the first woman to serve as the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Director and CEO of PEM.

The institution continues to raise substantial funds for its operations and expansions, having raised $550 million by 2011 with plans to reach $650 million.

PEM is significant for its role in presenting a global perspective on art and culture, rooted in the history of American maritime trade. The museum maintains a diverse array of educational and public programs, including intergenerational activities at the Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center, curator-led gallery talks, and the 'PEMcast' podcast. It hosts major civic celebrations such as Lunar New Year festivals and 'Eerie Events' in October, alongside specialized programs for preschoolers and sensory-friendly tours, fostering creativity and cultural understanding.