107 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA 01945
Tel: 781-631-7199
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00am–8:00pm
Saturday 8:00am–6:00pm
Sunday 11:00am–5:00pm
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The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore makes its home in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a quintessential seafaring town of great beauty and charm, located 17 miles north of Boston. Two hundred homes were built before the Revolutionary War and 800 before 1830. On the former colonial militia training field stands Abbot Hall, where the original painting of the “Spirit of ’76” by Archibald Willard hangs today. Painted in 1876, it continues to symbolize the spirit of the American Revolution.

Robert W. Hugo founded The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore in 1965. This independent bookseller continues to offer superior customer service. In addition to a full selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, there is a special emphasis on local and nautical history, special orders, used and out-of-print searches, children’s books, and over 50 quality greeting card lines.

The beauty and history of Marblehead is captured in a number of books available at The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore. Award-winning former Boston Globe photographer Ulrike Welsch (a Marblehead resident!) often visits to sign copies of her full-color pictorial gift book on Marblehead, along with similar ones on Boston and Massachusetts’ North Shore. Walkers, conservationists, and visitors with children find the maps and full color pictures in Discovering Marblehead, a treasury of some of the very special but lesser-known spots around town. There are also paperback books on the history of Marblehead, along with Marblehead calendars (when available), coffee mugs, bookmarks, magnets and cards. We invite you to contact us with your specific questions on the availability of books about Marblehead, or click on the link to our Local Books page.

The staff at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore take pride in being able to suggest titles based on customer reader interest in many areas. Our staff reflects a diversity of age and interests which are reflected in the choices on the extensive “Staff Picks” wall. Do you want a recommendation on the hottest new work of fiction? Spirit has plenty. Are you a mystery story buff? Let us introduce you to an author with whom you may not be familiar. Cookbooks? You’ll find our favorite picks (although it’s difficult to choose from our extensive culinary selections!). Perhaps we can lure you with a book from our Nautical shelves, if you’re a sailing aficionado or love stories about amazing seafaring voyages. Because our Children’s Book area is one of the most active sections of the store, we have a Staff Picks section there, including our thumbnail reviews of picture books, middle readers, and young adult books.

And now. . . our fearless manager presents STANLEY,
the literary hedgehog!