Mattapoisett Museum opens exhibition celebrating historic swordfish weathervane

MATTAPOISETT - The Mattapoisett Museum, 5 Church St., will open a new two-year exhibition celebrating the town's iconic swordfish weathervane Thursday, July 9, at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend the opening celebration.

The swordfish weathervane has been a familiar fixture on the Mattapoisett waterfront for more than a century, conjuring memories of Harbor Days, bandstand concerts and ice cream at the Slip. The iconic figure serves as a reminder that Mattapoisett's maritime culture did not disappear when the last whaleship left the harbor.

The exhibition explores the history behind the weathervane — why it was created, who crafted it, when it arrived at the wharf and who has maintained it over the years. The original vane, which has been absent from its perch at the end of Long Wharf since fall 2024, has returned to the village and is now on permanent display in the Mattapoisett Museum Carriage House.

Visitors can view the original swordfish weathervane, try sanding and shining a swordfish bill for scrimshaw with local scrimshander Al Doucette, and learn about a 100-year-old note discovered inside the weathervane during its 1995 restoration. The exhibition also features time capsules from 1920, the 1970s, the 1990s and 2026, along with swordfish-related artifacts, memorabilia and artwork.

The Mattapoisett Museum thanks its exhibition sponsors: Demakis Family Realty, Triad Boat Works, Brownell Systems, Turks Seafood, and David Considine Model Ship Building and Repair.