Essex has a rich history of shipbuilding, clamming, agriculture, and ancillary businesses along its coastal landscape. The Great Marsh and the winding Essex River provide picturesque views and miles of open space for boating and kayaking, bird watching and waterfront dining. Considered by many to be America’s Antique Capital, Essex is a collector’s, dealer’s and decorator’s paradise with art, furnishings, and accessories ranging from “early attic” to fine American and international antiques – all housed in antique buildings in close proximity. One-of-a-kind festivals and events are held in this classic New England setting including an annual chowder tasting festival, an Essex River race, events at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and Cogswell’s Grant folk art museum, Plein Air painting, Essex Farmers Market and a self-guided Historic Essex Walking Tour in the Essex River Cultural District.