MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Museum will host lectures, walking tours and a social event this summer. 

Seth Mendell will offer three walking tours of historic Mattapoisett on July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 3 from 2 p.m. to about 3:15 p.m. Learn about historic buildings, the electric rail, the saltworks on Goodspeed Island, the Charles King Mansion at the mouth of the river, and “The Dude Special.” Mendell will also help participants visualize how whale ships were built in the park and how the British attempted to burn the shipyards during the War of 1812. Walks meet at the Mattapoisett Museum, and are free for members and $5 for guests. 

Mendell will also offer a series of seven historical lectures that cover the period from early Mattapoisett days to the Post-Civil War decline of shipbuilding. All lectures are free and open to the public. 

His first lecture, on July 23 at 7 p.m. at the Museum will address farming, trade, and shipbuilding. Mendell’s second lecture, on July 30, also at the Museum at 7 p.m. will cover Mattapoisett during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. 

On Aug. 13 at the Museum at 7 p.m., Mendell will speak about whaling in New Bedford, Nantucket and Mattapoisett.  On Aug. 20 at the same time, Mendell will use the museum’s space to talk about the shipyards of Mattapoisett and Joseph Meigs Esq. A week later, Mendell will give a lecture at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library at 7 p.m. where he will show and discuss a collection of glass lantern slides that show Mattapoisett around 1900. 

On Sept. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mattapoisett Museum Mendell will tell the audience about Mattapoisett’s separation from Rochester, the California Gold Rush, and the clipper ship era. The final lecture will take place on Sept. 10 at 7pm at the Mattapoisett Museum and will call the Civil War and the decline of whaling and Mattapoisett shipbuilding. 

The Mattapoisett Museum will also join with the Mattapoisett Land Trust to host The Great Community Picnic on Thursday, Aug. 1 at  5:30 p.m. at Munro Park, Mattapoisett. The hosts will provide tables, chairs, tablecloths, a cash bar and music. Attendees should bring their own food, utensils and plates. Creatively transform your table with flowers, napkins, etc. Tables will be sold for 4 ($120), 6 ($180), 8 ($240) or 10 ($300) diners. Space is limited. For tickets, call 508-758-2844.

On Aug. 6 the Mattapoisett Museum will have a 7 p.m. lecture by Jill Sanford exploring American art from colonial times to today. Sanford’s free lecture will encompass both traditional and folk art, and challenge the audience to see in new ways. Visit www.artforyourmind.com for more information.

The museum will also host one concert on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.  Party of the Sun is an indie folk band from New Hampshire led by songwriter Ethan McBrien and producer/multi-instrumentalist Rory Hurley. Since 2006, both McBrien and Hurley have recorded and performed with funk/rock fusion outfit The Youngest Sun. Tickets for the concert are available through Eventbrite.