Discover the fish that fed a revolution—and crowned an aristocracy.
Join us for an in-depth Curator’s Tour of our newest exhibition, "Built on Cod: The fish that fed a revolution and crowned an aristocracy", a compelling exploration of how a humble fish shaped centuries of New England life, global trade, and Beverly’s own identity.
From familiar childhood rhymes to the rise of the so-called “codfish aristocracy,” this exhibition uncovers the surprising cultural, economic, and spiritual significance of cod in early America. In New England, cod was never just food; it was faith, fortune, and folklore. While legend cast cod as the fish of Jesus, feeding the multitudes, its close cousin, haddock, with its dark lateral line and “devil’s thumbprint,” carried stories of failed imitation.
From Beverly’s bustling shoreline, salted cod traveled the world. The finest cuts sailed to Bilbao, exchanged for salt, silks, and wine. Lower grades sustained enslaved people in the southern colonies and Caribbean, while local families relied on the rest to survive harsh winters. These same transatlantic networks later fueled the American Revolution, supplying ships and critical goods and helping to define a new social class shaped, sometimes jokingly, by fish.
During this guided tour, you’ll explore how global exchange, local enterprise, and enduring legend intertwined to build community and influence class in early America. See the artifacts, hear the stories, and step inside the world that made cod far more than a fish, it made it a force.
Don’t miss this deep dive into Beverly’s maritime heritage and the extraordinary legacy of a seemingly ordinary catch.
$5 HB Members/$10 non-members
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