Organized in 1886 by local leaders, the Manchester Historical Society acquired the Trask House as Society headquarters in the early 1920’s. MHS is governed by an Executive Board that meets monthly for ten months during the year. The objectives of the society are to:

Encourage, maintain and foster an interest in historical matters pertaining to the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, and
Establish and maintain within the town a library and museum to collect and preserve objects which illustrate the history of the town.