Chatham Marconi Maritime Center

Built in 1914, radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi’s company built a wireless receiving station in North Chatham paired with a transmitting station in Marion, Massachusetts intended to provide commercial point-to-point radio service between the United States and Norway.  Following World War One it was acquired by the newly formed Radio Corporation of America.  By 1921, RCA’s Chatham station with call sign WCC was in full operation, but now for maritime ship-to-shore service.  It would soon become the largest US coastal station. During the World War II Battle of the Atlantic, Chatham Radio intercepted Enigma-encrypted wireless messages between the Third Reich’s headquarters and its ships at sea.

Visitors to the museum explore radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi’s life and legacy, the role of maritime radio in world events, ship-to-shore communication with the actual shipboard radio from the hospital ship SS Hope, and artifacts from Chatham Radio WCC’s history.  The new “Golden Age of Trans-Atlantic Ocean Liners” exhibit tells the unique stories of six famous 20th century passenger ships in photographs, graphics and video clips. 

The Antenna Field Trail is the museum’s outdoor gallery, truly “open space” and open year-round.  Lectures on communication topics are offered year round, and there are summer programs for children to learn about science, technology, engineering and math. 

The Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum of the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center is located at 847 Orleans Road (Route 28) across from Ryder’s Cove in North Chatham.

The Museum's spring hours (May 18th - June 18th) are Thursdays - Saturdays, 10am-4pm and Sundays 1pm - 4pm.

The Museum's summer hours (June 20th - Labor Day) are
Tuesdays: 4pm - 7pm
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Thursdays: 10am - 7pm
Sunday: 1pm - 4pm