Learn about local ship captains and inventors in "Captains and Currency," an exhibition celebrating Newburyport's maritime heritage and history of ingenuity.

The exhibit focuses on the local Perkins and Brown families and is housed in the historic Perkins Mint Building, where New England currency was printed in the early 1800s.

On land and at sea, the two families left their mark on local and national history. Four generations of Brown family men were ship captains, defending the fledgling US as privateers in times of war and bolstering Newburyport's position as a hub of international trade. Meanwhile, the Perkins family produced currency for much of New England, using new technology that helped to curb rampant counterfeiting.

This exhibition is sponsored in part by the Essex National Heritage Commission and the Institution for Savings.  The open house is part of Trails and Sails, featuring over 150 free events at historic, cultural, and natural sites in Essex County for two weekends in September.