Postcards From Falmouth: Woods Hole Public Library and Historical Museum

Join Rob Blomberg as he dons his tour guide hat and leads us through the history of two beloved Woods Hole institutions: the Woods Hole Public Library and its partner organization, the Woods Hole Historical Museum. As Vice President of the library Board and a longtime museum tour guide, he weaves his personal experiences into a retelling of the library and museum’s shared story. “The Woods Hole Library is a very important connection to me,” he tells interviewer Troy Clarkson. “The first time I was ever there, I was maybe two or two and a half years old.”

What it took to run a library in 1873 is somewhat different from what it takes today, and operating costs are only the start—no more $1 yearly membership fees! Over the years, the library and museum have adapted to the growth of their collections, the growth of tourist traffic, and most recently to the unique demands of the pandemic. They’ve established their own traditions, like the library’s annual Fabric and Fiber Sale (coming on March 13). “Come down and visit,” Mr. Blomberg says. “They would be happy to have you.”

Read up on the Woods Hole Library and Historical Museum here.

Explore the postcard collection here.

Postcards from Falmouth is a local history project of Falmouth Public Library, funded by a LSTA grant and administered by the MBLC.