If you drive down Route 6A in Yarmouth Port, you might miss it. Honestly, it just looks like another handsome, slightly weather-beaten sea captain’s house tucked away on Strawberry Lane. But the gorey house cape cod—or "Elephant House" as Edward Gorey himself called it—isn't your typical Cape Cod museum. It’s a mess. A beautiful, curated, intentional mess that feels more like stepping into the attic of a brilliant, slightly morbid uncle than a sterile gallery.
Most people expect something truly frightening. They hear "Gorey" and "Gothic" and imagine a haunted mansion with cobwebs and jumpscares. That's not what this is. It’s actually quite cozy.
Edward Gorey, the man who gave us The Gashlycrumb Tinies (that alphabet book where kids die in increasingly creative ways), lived here from 1986 until he passed away in 2000. He wasn't some dark hermit. He was a guy who wore huge raccoon fur coats with sneakers, obsessed over the New York City Ballet, and lived with a rotating cast of six cats.
The Elephant House: Not Just a Museum
The house at 8 Strawberry Lane was built around 1820 by Captain Edmund Hawes. When Gorey bought it in 1979, the place was basically falling apart. He didn't rush in to fix it up. Instead, he let it sit for years while he stayed with his aunt in Barnstable. When he finally moved in, he didn't "renovate" it in the modern sense. He preserved its decay.
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The nickname "Elephant House" came from the gray, crackled appearance of the exterior shingles, which Gorey thought looked like elephant skin. He loved the "genteel decay" of the property. Inside, the floors actually sagged under the weight of his 25,000 books. Think about that for a second. Twenty-five thousand. You couldn't walk through a room without squeezing past stacks of literature, art, and weird things he found at local flea markets.
Today, the museum tries to keep that vibe alive. It’s small—just 14 rooms—and they limit how many people can be inside at once. It’s not about the crowd; it’s about the intimacy.
What You'll Actually See Inside
You won't find every single one of those books anymore—most were removed to make room for visitors—but the "clutter" remains. It’s a very specific kind of hoarding. Gorey was a "serial fascinationist." He’d go to the flea market every Saturday and come back with:
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- Old farm implements that looked like torture devices (but weren't).
- Gaudy jewelry.
- Stones he liked the shape of.
- Antique glassware.
- Random bits of metal found on the side of the road.
One of the coolest things is his kitchen. It looks almost exactly as he left it. It’s tiny. For a guy who was quite tall, he worked in cramped spaces. His studio is the same way. You can see the small desk where he drew those incredibly detailed, scratchy pen-and-ink illustrations that made him a cult icon.
Why the Gorey House Cape Cod Still Matters in 2026
The museum changes its main exhibit every year. In 2024, they focused on his "moveable books." In 2026, the focus has shifted toward his connection to the Cape’s local history and his deep involvement with the community. People forget he wasn't just an illustrator; he wrote plays that were performed at the Woods Hole Theatre Company. He was part of the local fabric.
He also left his entire estate to animal welfare groups. If you visit, you'll see how much he loved cats. He called them his "people." There's even a story that he wouldn't let his contractors kick the raccoons out of the attic because they "were here first."
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The Scavenger Hunt for "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"
If you bring kids (or if you’re just a fan of the macabre), there is a scavenger hunt hidden throughout the house. You have to find references to the 26 children from his most famous book.
"A is for Amy who fell down the stairs."
"B is for Basil assaulted by bears."
It’s dark, sure, but in the context of the house, it’s strangely playful. It captures his "Edwardian surrealism" perfectly.
Practical Advice for Your Visit
Don't just show up and expect to walk in. Because the house is so small and fragile, reservations are pretty much a necessity, especially during the summer.
Location: 8 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port, MA.
Admission: It’s usually around $8 for adults and $2 for kids. Super affordable.
Season: They are not open year-round. Generally, the season runs from April through December. In the spring, they are usually only open Thursday through Sunday. During the peak summer months (July–October), they add Wednesdays to the schedule.
If you’re hungry after, do what Gorey did. Head over to Jack's Outback. It was his favorite breakfast spot. He’d sit there every day, listening to the local gossip and the owner’s legendary insults. Apparently, Gorey used to stuff extra money into the cash register just to mess up the owner's bookkeeping.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Book your tickets online at least two weeks in advance if you're visiting in July or August.
- Read "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" or "The Unstrung Harp" before you go. It makes the tiny details in the house much more meaningful.
- Check the 2026 theme. The museum rotates exhibits annually, so even if you've been before, the central display will be different.
- Explore the "Captains' Mile." The house is located on a stretch of the Old King’s Highway full of historic homes. Grab a walking tour map at the museum to see the rest of the neighborhood.
- Leave the fur at home. Gorey eventually stopped wearing his famous raccoon coats out of respect for animal rights—so maybe stick to a sweater.
The gorey house cape cod isn't a place for a quick "check-the-box" tourist stop. It’s a place to linger. Look at the peeling paint. Notice the bats carved into the fireplace mantel (a gift from his contractors). It’s a preserved environment that tells you more about the artist’s mind than any biography ever could. By the time you walk out the front door, you’ll realize that "Gorey" isn't just a name; it’s a whole way of seeing the world.