CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
A Special Message from the Wenham Museum
Looking Ahead to an Exciting Future
Friend and Supporter,

The Wenham Museum is a beloved North Shore institution that has delighted generations with its collections and programming. We are very excited to introduce our updated brand that is grounded in our 100-year history and looks to the future with excitement for what we have to offer families and their friends.

We invite you to continue reading to explore our new brand. We hope to see you at the Wenham Museum soon, as our 100th Anniversary year is a wonderful time to visit again or for the first time.

Sincerely,

Kennon Anderson
President
Board of Trustees
Wenham Museum's New Brand

In preparation for Wenham Museum’s 100th Anniversary, the Wenham Museum Board of Trustees hired Communications, Ink, a certified, women-owned, strategic marketing agency, to conduct a Deep Dive analysis of our membership and operations. This resulted in our new north star:

Escape to an easy-to-access place with a singular focus on families. An engaging gathering spot where stories and educational experiences meet to explore the past and develop new skills. A nostalgic place to build connections around our New England heritage and history. The North Shore meets the world and the past informs the future.
Generations at Play.

Their findings are reflected in the new logo. Working with input from staff, board members and donors, we are delighted to introduce our new visual identify:
In alignment with the Museum’s Vision 2022, our new brand focuses on providing heritage experiences for visitors of all ages and interests in a child-centered, artifact-driven experience that leverages our local history. It’s an exciting time!
Why a New Brand?

While much has changed over the past 100 years, the desire to gather, play and learn has remained compelling to all ages. However, our current logo did not reflect who we are today. Our collections have evolved and we are excited to welcome the Patton Family Archives into our community. From a graphic perspective, the current logo was hard to scale for digital platforms and lacked relevancy for today’s audiences.

While the Board of Trustees considered a new name change, we believe our name properly represents who we are and where we are located. It also has significant name recognition and a positive reputation within our audiences.

As a hands-on museum, the Wenham Museum is a transcendent place for all ages to play and be playful. Leveraging this concept, the new icon is an interpretation of a whirlygig. The whirlygig is a colorful, simple, kinetic toy that has been built and enjoyed by children and adults for generations. It’s simple, low-tech design is timeless and easy to master. The icon is a playful interpretation that is vibrant and energetic.

With its colorful appearance, this new icon represents the ability that play has to connect us through history, imagination, sentimentality and curiosity. The new tagline, Generations at Play, references the opportunity to create new memories grounded in play. It also shows us that we are never too old for play and for making generational memories. From tiny explorers to proud grandparents, the Wenham Museum has something for everyone. 

The color palette is a vibrant palette that is appealing to people of all ages and interests. It also breaks beyond gender stereotyping with happy colors that draw us in.

While the new brand has changed, much has remained. The new brand remains tied to our culture and values. It relates to the old logo with a traditional typeface and red color while evoking more emotion and differentiating us from other cultural institutions. Best of all, we believe it will serve as a catalyst for new initiatives and re-energize our audiences.
THANK YOU!
Opening Reception
Celebrating a Century: Our Stories and Yours

Thank you to all who celebrated the launch of our 100th year with us last evening! It was a phenomenal night. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the museum during this 100th year to explore our latest exhibitions and to enjoy special programs and events.

Thank you to our special guest, Lea Rutledge, for sharing her story with us. We are honored to welcome a textile designed and created by Lea into our permanent collection.

Thank you to also to our elected officials, Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Jamie Belsito, for attending this event and for presenting citations on behalf of their colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives honoring the Wenham Museum's 100th Anniversary.

Would also like to thank HWCAM for capturing our brief program. Click the link below to watch!
About the Wenham Museum

The Wenham Museum is a multi-generational place to roam, play and discover. For 100 years the Museum has proven that the desire to gather, learn and play is as important as ever. 
Museum Hours

Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, 12 - 4 p.m.
Monday, Closed

Image: Wenham Lake Park Lunch Shack. Miniature by Nancy Shane of Wenham, Mass. Gift of John A. Shane to the Wenham Museum.