Hammond Castle Museum has partnered with Cape Ann Transportation Authority to expand public transportation to the waterfront museum, which now has a dedicated bus stop along the No. 6 Magnolia route.

The expansion of the bus route, which is free, is to encourage the use of public transportation to the historic museum. The new dedicated CATA bus stop provides service directly to the museum.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their trip based on how they intend to arrive. Guests arriving by public transportation or rideshare are welcome to purchase walk-in admission upon arrival. Advance reservations remain required through Aug. 31 for visitors arriving by personal vehicle.

“Expanding access to the museum has always been an important part of our work and our mission,” Linda Harvey, the museum’s executive director, said. “We are delighted to have the partnership and support of the Cape Ann Transportation Authority. The newly formalized stop offers our guests greater flexibility while helping us preserve a positive visitor experience during our busiest season.”

Cape Ann Transportation Authority Administrator Felicia S. Webb said CATA is excited to expand its long-standing partnership with the museum with the goal of making travel to the museum easier for residents and visitors alike.

“Choosing CATA to travel to Hammond Castle Museum helps reduce traffic congestion in the surrounding neighborhood while providing a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way to visit one of Cape Ann’s most iconic destinations,” Webb said.

For visitors traveling from outside Cape Ann, the MBTA Newburyport/ Rockport commuter rail line is offering free Friday service through the end of August. Riders can board the rail at Boston’s North Station, travel to Gloucester, then connect to the free CATA bus service, which departs from downtown Gloucester, a short walk from the Gloucester rail station stop.

Schedules and route information are available at the MBTA and CATA websites. The museum is open daily, offering guided and self-guided tours, starting at 9 a.m. with the last entrance at 2:45 p.m.

Incorporated as a museum in 1930, the castle served as the residence and laboratory of John Hays Hammond Jr., known as “The Father of Radio Control,” and a prolific inventor.

“As a STEAM-inspired organization, Hammond Castle Museum combines its historic significance as a house museum and lapidarium, highlighting works of stone and marble, with daily tours, exhibitions and educational and cultural events throughout the year,” according to the museum.

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