Lynn has been shaped over thousands of years by the people who have called this place home.

While Lynn is well-known as a center of industry in the nineteenth century, there are many lesser-known stories about the people and communities that have formed this city. Today, Lynn is the largest city in Essex County with over 100,000 residents, all with their own experiences, struggles, and joys. From indigenous history to modern immigration, this exhibition explores dynamic periods in Lynn’s past and present, creating a fuller picture of this vibrant place and its residents.

Over the course of a year, museum staff invited the Lynn community to contribute stories and artifacts to build this exhibition with us, resulting in exciting new relationships, collaborations, and partnerships. There are many more stories that have yet to be told, and this space will change to include more over time.

Whether you were born and raised in Lynn or this is your first time visiting, you belong here, too. What’s your Lynn story?

This exhibit is permanent and is located in our second-floor galleries.