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  • Bourne Historical Society | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Bourne Historical Society Website: http://www.bournehistoricalsociety.org/ Address: 30 Keene St, Bourne, Massachusetts 02532 Phone: 508-759-8167 Email: bournehistoricalsociety@comcast.net The society was incorporated as a non-profit organization December 29, 1921, for the purpose of acquiring the site of the first trade house built in 1627, by Plymouth Colony, located on the south bank of the Manomet (Monument) River, which is now part of the Cape Cod Canal. The Pilgrims traded with the Natives and the Dutch from New Amsterdam (New York City), thus having a source of income by which their debt to the London backers of their expedition to the New World could be repaid. To stimulate interest, a historical exhibition was held and donations were received, enabling the Society to purchase the lot of land on which two cellar holes were located, marking the site of the trade house. In 1926, President Percival Lombard and Vice President Nathan Bourne Hartford uncovered the complete foundations and many interesting relics. Additional lots were purchased, bringing the total to about 12 acres. The structure existing today is a replica erected on the original foundation. With the signing of the first private commercial contract in English-speaking North America, Aptucxet became the first private commercial enterprise using a local currency known as wampum, and launched what is now the world’s leading economic force: the American Free Enterprise System. Wampum is a polished fragment of a hard-shell clam usually containing a purple color, and shaped in a cylindrical form. The local Native Americans called these clams quahogs (pronounced kwo-hogs), and making the wampum required a great amount of effort and skill. The Jonathan Bourne Historic Center is now open to the public by appointment. Please call (508) 759-8167 or email BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net prior to arrival. Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Complex is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10am - 4pm Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend. Special rates are available for students and pre-arranged group tours 508-759-9487. We have a turnaround for buses to drop visitors off at the Trading Post, with a parking area near the Trading Post Gift Shop. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 30 Keene Street, Bourne, MA, USA

  • Atlantic White Shark Conservancy- Provincetown | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Atlantic White Shark Conservancy- Provincetown Website: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Provincetown Shark Center Address: 16 MacMillan Pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts 02657 Phone: 508-348-5901 Email: info@atlanticwhiteshark.org Awareness inspires conservation: AWSC's second outreach facility, Shark Center Provincetown, is the perfect place to be inspired by great white sharks. With a focus on research, education, and public safety, visitors of all ages can explore hands-on, interactive exhibits and dive into the world of our local apex predators. The Shark Center caters to all shark-enthusiasts - making a visit the perfect activity for kids - rainy days included! Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Fri. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sun. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM 16 MacMillan Pier, Provincetown, MA, USA

  • Massachusetts Air and Space Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Massachusetts Air and Space Museum Website: https://www.massairspace.org/ Address: 438 Main Street, Hyannis, MA, USA, 02601 Phone: 508-827-6300 Email: media@massairspace.org This endeavor began in January 2007 when several experienced members of Massachusetts aviation/space organizations came together and started the initiative to form The Massachusetts Air and Space Museum. Since that time, the group has grown into a nonprofit tax-exempt organization to achieve this goal. Contributions from the founding members plus a number of private and corporate donations and grants have enabled the Museum to raise over a quarter million dollars. We have established an Advisory Committee of prominent individuals who we believe will add the necessary leadership and experience to assist in meeting our initial goals. Coincident to this effort, a general Museum membership category has been established for the purpose of enlisting additional volunteers, as well as raising funds. All donations are welcome and are tax-deductible as provided by law. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Fri. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sun. Closed 438 Main Street, Hyannis, MA, USA

  • Highfield Hall and Gardens | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Highfield Hall and Gardens Website: https://highfieldhallandgardens.org/ Address: 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, Massachusetts 02541 Phone: 508-495-1878 Email: info@highfieldhall.org Highfield Hall & Gardens is the magnificently restored 1878 estate of the Beebe family, now transformed into a vibrant center of cultural and community life on Cape Cod. This 19th century historic estate offers programs for all ages, nestled in the serene setting of Beebe Woods. They invite all to walk their grounds, view the lovely gardens, and tour the fully restored home of the Beebe family. Exhibits are shown throughout the year, please check their website for the latest exhibit and program schedule. Highfield Hall & Gardens is now open year-round with modified hours throughout the year. Please check their website for current hours of operation. Highfield Hall & Gardens and Beebe Woods are accessible daily from dawn to dusk, year-round. DATES & TIMES February 13, 2025 – May 17, 2025 Wednesday – Friday; 10 am – 4 pm Saturday; 10 am – 2 pm May 20, 2025 – October 31, 2025 Tuesday – Friday; 10 am – 4 pm Saturday & Sunday; 10 am – 2 pm Business office hours: Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM. Admission: $12.00 Adults | $8.00 Seniors | Free for children under 17, active and retired military, Card to Culture & Blue Star Families Highfield is handicap accessible, and ADA compliant. The permanent exhibition, The Highfield Story, tells the dramatic history of Highfield Hall and traces its journey from private family enclave, to abandoned edifice, to the pride of the community. Plan to stay awhile to also view their changing art exhibitions, visit the gardens, take a walk through Beebe Woods. Highfield Hall & Gardens remains open and available year-round for cultural programs, corporate meetings, and private events. Click here to inquire about hosting a private function at Highfield Hall & Gardens. Group Tours & Estate Walks: They host estate walks throughout the season weather permitting. Please check their website for scheduled Estate Walks. These walks are free with paid admission. Private Estate walks are available year-round for group tours of 5 people or more for a fee of $12 per person. Please check their calendar to plan your visit, they have special events and private functions throughout the year. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA, USA

  • Caleb Nickerson Homestead in Chatham | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Caleb Nickerson Homestead in Chatham Website: http://cnh.nickersonassoc.com/ Address: 1107 Orleans Rd, Chatham, Massachusetts 02633 Phone: (508) 945-6086 Email: wmnick1107@gmail.com William Nickerson was the founder of Chatham, then called Monomoit, Monomoy and other various spellings, on Cape Cod. The 1827 Caleb Nickerson House Museum is owned by the Nickerson Family Association, inc., founded in 1897 in Chatham by William Emery Nickerson. The Caleb House was built in the Stage Harbor area of Chatham and was moved in 2003 to the Nickerson Family Association property in Chathamport that also includes the homestead site of the first English settlers of Chatham, William & Anne (Busby) Nickerson. The Caleb Nickerson House Museum is a "working" museum of life on Cape Cod in the early 19th century. Experience Colonial life in an antique full cape, featuring a beehive oven, period woodwork and a Colonial kitchen vegetable and herb garden. Stop by and check the progress on the construction of our post and beam outhouse and see what is growing and ready to pick in Caleb’s kitchen garden. Hours The museum, adjacent to the Nickerson Family Association Genealogy Center, is open on Wednesday mornings during the late spring to early fall and by appointment. Grounds Please enjoy a walking tour of our campus during daylight hours. You can take selfies outside the picturesque Caleb Nickerson Homestead, a circa-1829 antique Cape with three hearths and a working beehive oven. Peep into the reproduction post-and-beam outhouse built by our period carpenter. See what is growing and ready to harvest in the heirloom dooryard and kitchen gardens managed by our master gardener. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 1107 Orleans Rd, Chatham, MA, USA

  • Eastham Historical Society | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Eastham Historical Society Website: https://www.easthamhistoricalsociety.org/ Address: 25 Schoolhouse Road, Eastham, Massachusetts 02642 Phone: (508) 255-0788 Email: easthamhistorical@verizon.net The Eastham Historical Society maintains museums at the 1741 Swift-Daley complex located at 2375 State Highway in Eastham and at the 1869 Schoolhouse Museum, located at 25 Schoolhouse Road. In addition, they operate the Ranlett Tool Museum, Dill Beach Camp and The Olde Gift Shop. In 1859, the Swift-Daley house was occupied by Nathaniel Swift, who with his brother Gustavus of North Eastham, soon moved to Chicago and founded the Swift meat packing empire. The 1869 Schoolhouse Museum is located at 25 Schoolhouse Road at the intersection with Nauset Road across from the National Seashore Visitor Center. It is housed in a one-room schoolhouse built in 1869. The original and remaining one of the three schoolhouses consolidated on that site in 1906, it served the town until 1936 when the last pupils moved to a newer building. The old building stood abandoned until 1963 when the newly-formed Eastham Historical Society looked about for a place to house the town’s historical treasures. The school building, then well on its way to decrepitude, was purchased, restored, and became a museum. In 2008 a new museum addition was opened. The museum displays objects from the various facets of the town’s history including farming, shipwrecks, the Life Saving Service, Native American artifacts, the school and daily life in town. The schoolroom, now a children’s “hands on” museum complete with its original schoolmaster’s desk, is furnished to replicate how it looked in earlier days. Children of all ages are encouraged to sit at the desks, look at the books and “play school.” 1869 School House & Museum ( 25 Schoolhouse Rd ) Open by appointment. Contact 1869schoolhousemuseum@gmail.com All Museums within Swift-Daley Complex ( 2375 State Highway / Route 6 ) Closed for the season. ( Note: The Eastham Historical Society Archives, located at 25 Schoolhouse Rd, are available year-round on Tuesdays 1-4pm, and by appointment. Email easthamarchives@gmail.com ) Tool Time Tuesdays: Open by appointment. Contact 1869schoolhousemuseum@gmail.com 25 School House Road, Eastham, MA, USA

  • Dennis Historical Society | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Dennis Historical Society Website: https://www.dennishistoricalsociety.org/ Address: PO Box 607, Dennis, Massachusetts 02660 Phone: 508-258-0468 Email: info@dennishistoricalsociety.org The Dennis Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to preserve, promote, and present the history of Dennis – bringing Dennis history to life. In partnership with the Town of Dennis, we support and operate three town-owned museums: The Jericho Historical Center , housed in an 1801 full-cape farmhouse, contains 19th century furnishings, textiles, paintings and keepsakes. The Barn Museum on the site contains a general store, a salt works model, a carriage that raced at Riverside Trotting Park, farming tools & equipment from the 1800's, and a Cranberry exhibit which tells the story of cranberry cultivation, an industry that began in Dennis in 1816. The Josiah Dennis Manse , the 1689 home of the town’s first minister. Docents in period costume aid visitors through the air conditioned, barrier-free home, offering insight into life on Cape Cod in the 1700s. Also on this site is the recently renovated West Schoolhouse, built in 1745 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The West Dennis Graded School , the only one surviving of the town’s original five graded school buildings. It now houses a replica of an 1860’s schoolroom. The building is also home to the Dennis Maritime Museum, with displays related to the town’s extensive seagoing history, highlighting local sea captains, their ships, their tales and their navigational tools. At each museum, docents aid visitors through the museums and offer details about the what, why, and how of life at that time and place. The Society also operates: The Pauline Wixon Derick DHS Library on the 2nd floor of the West Dennis Library with the Society’s archives, maritime collections, local diaries, early deeds, photographs, and genealogical information. It is open year-round, but with limited open hours. ·The DHS website , which includes an online, searchable digital archive of historic information and photos related to Dennis history, as well as an online bookstore The Receiving Tomb in the Dennis Village Cemetery . Constructed in 1875, it temporarily housed the bodies of those who died during the winter months when the ground was too frozen to allow burial. Now, you can visit this free and self-guided educational museum when the "Open" flag hangs just outside the front doors to see and read the information on pre-twentieth century burial practices in Dennis. ·Occasional Cemetery Tours in the several Dennis village cemeteries, with a costumed docent regaling visitors with tales of the deceased. Our museums are mostly seasonal (generally late June through early September), with special events at each location during the summer season and a few additional Christmas-season openings. Group tours of any size can be arranged at any of our museums outside of our normal operating hours for a nominal fee; please contact us at info@dennishistoricalsociety.org to schedule. Visit their website for additional information including museum location details, opening dates and times, and schedules of special events. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 260 Main St, Dennis, South Dennis, MA, USA

  • Ongoing Mondays | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Events Public Clay Open Studio Ongoing Mondays, 6-9pm. $75 initial session (includes clay), $30 per session thereafter. Come and practice your clay skills! If you have taken at least 3 clay classes here at the Center or are an experienced potter, you are welcome to practice during our Public Open Studio hours. Rates are $75 for your first session and includes 25lbs of clay (glaze and firing incl) and $30 per session thereafter. You may purchase additional clay for $50 per bag from the Center. Bring an apron and wear close-toed shoes.Tools are available, but feel free to bring your own. If you have not taken clay classes at the Center before, please call Christine Ernst at 508-394-7100 ext 116 before you register. Guidelines: no outside clay or glaze is allowed no production work all work must fit on a 16" x 16" drying board you must check in with the Studio Monitor to review studio best practices upon your first visit Date and Time: Ongoing Mondays Cost: $30-$75 Place: Cultural Center of Cape Cod 307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA, USA Website

  • Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum Website: https://www.hsoy.org/captain-bangs-hallet-house-museum Address: 11 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts 02675 Phone: 508-362-3021 Email: info@hsoy.org The Captain Bangs Hallet House on Historic Route 6A is a crown jewel of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth (HSOY), whose mission is "to preserve, promote, and present the history of Yarmouth, Massachusetts." Today, this sea captain’s home, regularly open to visitors, provides an intimate glance into 19th century family life. The parlors are arranged as if Captain Hallet was just returning from his voyage to China, likely 16 to 18 months duration. His gifts of silk fabric, toys, porcelain, lacquered pieces and tea are on display as well as costumes from the period. Knowledgeable docents lead guided tours of the museum and relate lively stories of Yarmouth captains’ hair-raising adventures at sea. This year, visitors can enjoy viewing items from HSOY’s textile collection including several dresses from the 19th century. In addition to the Bangs Hallet House, you can enjoy 50 acres of nature trails (open year-round, dawn-dusk ) on our property. Make sure to view the historic Kelly Chapel and famous weeping beech tree as well. Museum Hours: July 7 - October 13, Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, 11am-3pm. Guided tours at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, & 2:00 pm. Last entry at 2:15 pm. Museum Admission: $10 for adults; Free to members of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, youth 17 and under, Yarmouth residents (with ID), veterans, Massachusetts educators (with ID), and active duty US Military families through the Blue Star Museum program (see more details on our hsoy.org). Reduced admission ($5 for adults) is also available through the Card to Culture program (see details at hsoy.org). Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM Sat. 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM Sun. 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM 11 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth, Yarmouth Port, MA, USA

  • Zion Union Heritage Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Zion Union Heritage Museum Website: http://www.zuhmi.org/ Address: 276 North Street, Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601 Phone: 508-790-9466 Email: zuhmi@comcast.net The Zion Union Heritage Museum actively collects artifacts that relate to the arts, sciences, religions, local history, politics, sports and history of African-Americans and Cape Verdeans on Cape Cod. The Cape and Islands enjoy a rich history created by people of color from the region. Many journeyed from across the ocean, and once here, continued journeys of another kind. We see the extraordinary roles and contributions of people of color spanning the eras of the slave trade, abolitionism, and more recently, the civil rights movement. People of color have been the backbone of the whaling and cranberry industries over the centuries. African-Americans, Cape Verdeans, and other people of color helped shape the Cape Cod of today. Hours: Mon. 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM Tue. 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM Wed. 09:00 AM - 05:00 AM Thu. Closed Fri. 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sat. 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sun. Closed 276 North Street, Hyannis, MA, USA

  • Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center Website: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/cape-cod-canal/ Address: 60 Ed Moffitt Drive, Sandwich, Massachusetts 02563 Phone: 508-833-9678 Email: samantha.a.gray@usace.army.mil Currently closed for the season until May 1, 2026 Before the Cape Cod Canal, two rivers flowed though this valley. To the southwest flowing into Buzzards Bay was the Manomet River, later called the Monument River. To the northeast, flowing into Cape Cod Bay, was the Scusset River. As the bird flies, little more than a mile of land no more than 33 feet above sea level separated these rivers. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center offers excellent insight into the rich history, fascinating features, and vigilant operation of the Cape Cod Canal. Inside you will discover a museum that is fun, fascinating, family friendly and free. Interactive exhibits offer something for visitors of all ages. Come on by and… Board a retired 40-foot US Army Corps of Engineers patrol boat. Scan live radar and camera images to locate vessels in the waterway. Captain a virtual boat ride through the canal. Investigate what’s inside many of the ships that transit the canal Discover wildlife that live in or around the canal View films about canal history, wildflowers and wildlife Participate in various free interpretive programs Or… just relax and soak in the waterfront views from the rocking chairs on our front deck. Army Corps staff and volunteers staff the Center, and provide information about the canal and its recreational opportunities. A small bookstore is also offered. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 60 Ed Moffitt Drive, Sandwich, MA, USA

  • Aptucxet Museum Complex | Cape Cod Museum Trail

    Museum Directory Aptucxet Museum Complex Website: Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Address: 6 Aptucxet Road Bourne, Massachusetts 02532 Phone: (508) 759-8167 Email: BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net Description: The Museums at Aptucxet is a 12-acre campus on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, MA consisting of buildings and gardens that collectively tell the story of local history from the 1600's through today. The main museum building is the Aptucxet Trading Post , a replica of the Pilgrim Trading Post built by Plymouth Colony in 1627 to trade with the local Wampanoag people and traveling Dutch traders. The property also includes the 19th-century Gray Gables Railroad Station , which served President Grover Cleveland during his summer holidays and the Joseph Jefferson Windmill, which was originally an art studio for the actor Joseph Jefferson and has recently served as an Art Gallery and studio for local artists. On site, visitors will also find an artisan shop, a replica of 19th-century saltworks, a Colonial Herb Garden, A Three Sisters Garden and a Wildflower Garden, picnic tables, walking trails, and unmatched views of the Canal. Events change monthly. Did you know? The Aptucxet Trading Post represents the first free enterprise in America. It was at Aptucxet that the Pilgrims built their first trading house as a way station to acquire Native American-made "wampum" (a type of shell bead) and supply it to Plymouth Colony, which traded it for animal furs - like currency - with Native Americans in the North. Aptucxet Trading Post was destroyed in 1635 during one of the worst hurricanes on record. Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Complex is open Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend. Open by appointment for private tours and school groups year round. Contact BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net or call 508-759-8167 for more information. The Bourne Historical Society, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization. The charge for admission to the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum and its grounds are: Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Fri. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sun. Closed Special rates are available for students and pre-arranged group tours 508-759-8167. We have a turnaround for buses to drop visitors off at the Trading Post, with a parking area near the Trading Post Gift Shop. 6 Aptucxet Road, Bourne, Massachusetts 02532, USA

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