We rest here while we can, but we hear the ocean calling in our dreams,
And we know by the morning, the wind will fill our sails to test the seams.
The calm is on the water and part of us would linger by the shore.
For ships are safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.
Tom Kimmel & Michael Lille _____________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Seven Seas Wharf
Explore the historic home of the Gloucester House
and enjoy the many activities hosted on the wharf!
 

The historic Seven Seas Wharf has been in continuous operation for over 350 years in Gloucester Harbor. This harbor is one of the oldest commercial fishing ports in America. Some of the first settlers in Gloucester used the Seven Seas Wharf for the processing of fish to be shipped to England, and South America in exchange for salt, clothing and other essentials of daily life. Gloucester men had exchanged salt fish for molasses in the West Indies. They then made rum on this wharf from the molasses. Much of the rum was then shipped to England for finished manufactured goods that the early colonists needed. Some of the supporting beams of this wharf were once main masts of old fishing schooners and clipper ships joined together by treenails (oaken pegs) ten inches long.

Today's fishermen use this wharf to stow and repair their nets, maintain their vessels, fuel their boats, and unload lobsters and fish.

With crews of five to seven men, our fishermen fish within a radius of 300 miles from Gloucester. The fishermen journey to such places as the coastal waters of Maine, New York and Nova Scotia. These draggers (vessels) carry as much as 50,000 to 200,000 lbs. of fish, including cod, haddock, flounder, whiting, ocean perch, herring, and a very popular item on the Gloucester House Menu -- Native Squid.

Antique Anchor Display

Discover our Seven Seas Anchor Collection - one of the largest privately owned anchor collections in the United States - on display year round . We have anchors that were used by the Schooners of Gloucester and large clipper ships, as early as the 1700s to the early 1900s.

On our property we have three "Admiralty Anchors". This type of anchor with a wooden stock was used as early as 500 BC on the Greek warships known as Trirme, and used as recently as the early 1900s. A period of over 2500 years.

Our "Trotman Anchor" is prominently displayed on our property, near the Whale Watch ticket booth. This anchor was on the Battleship Maine when it was sunk in Havana, Cuba on February 15th, 1898.

Some of the other anchors on display, "Porter Anchors", are over 200 years old. All of these anchors have been "dropped forged," a long and tedious process that took as long as several weeks to complete. Some were even dropped forged here in Gloucester. 

Anchor chains were seldom used until early in the1800s. Before that, hemp rope was used by almost all vessels of the world.

In the year 1816 the USS Constitution and USS Guerriere were issued anchor chains for the first time. About the same time the British Navy started using anchor chains in place of hemp on all new vessels of war. By 1835 all of the world's larger vessels demanded iron anchor chains.

All of our anchors were recovered by Gloucester Fishermen - with the exception of one which was dredged up 2,000 feet from the Gloucester Breakwater.

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Visit the Attractions page to learn about unique opportunities on Seven Seas Wharf including whale watching and sailing adventures!