Tracing its founding roots to 1799 with the East India Marine Society, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is a cultural gem and the oldest continually operating museum in America. Connolly Brothers has played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in maintaining the museum since before World War II and through four generations of the Connolly family.

Connolly's most recent work for the PEM includes the exterior and partial interior renovation of Plummer Hall, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The project included the installation of a new fire protection system as well as historic restoration work which required the utmost care. Earlier, Connolly redeveloped a 140,000 square-foot building to serve as PEM's Collection Center and Phillips Library and Reading Room in Rowley, Mass.

Reflecting on countless projects involving Connolly at the museum over the last eight decades, PEM Director of Facilities and Security Robert Monk says, “Institutions like ours have to approach construction projects differently than most commercial operations, and Connolly has been a terrific partner, not only on the construction itself, but in working with us on estimates, scheduling, planning, budgeting, and management."