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- Centerville Historical Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Centerville Historical Museum Website: http://centervillehistoricalmuseum.org/ Address: 513 Main Street, Centerville, Massachusetts 02632 Phone: (508) 775-0331 Email: chsm@centervillehistoricalmuseum.org One of the most beautiful of the seven villages in the Town of Barnstable, Centerville’s roots go back to the 17th century, when it was called "Chequaquet", meaning “pleasant harbor,” or "village by the sea" by the local Wampanoag Indians. The area of land that Chequaquet occupied was part of a much larger tract purchased in 1648 from the Wampanoags by Myles Standish for two brass kettles and some fencing. The early 18th century settlers first built their homes around Lake Wequaquet and took advantage of its fertile soil, fresh water and fish. In the early 19th century Chequaquet experienced dramatic expansion and growth. The first post office was established in 1834 and the village’s name was changed to 'Centreville.' The village was aptly named for its central location in the Town of Barnstable; as such, it held an important position in the town, serving as a crossroads and a meeting place. Did you know? Centerville’s Russell Marston went to sea as a cabin boy. He eventually became a sea captain and then opened the Marston's Restaurants in Boston, employing 600 and serving 10,000 people daily. The Centerville Historical Museum, founded in 1952, is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Centerville and Cape Cod. The fourteen-room museum includes an 1840 house and contains an outstanding collection of historic costumes, maritime and military artifacts, quilts, Crowell birds, 18th and 19th century decorative arts, paintings, tools, and children's toys and dolls. The museum provides ongoing programs for all ages. The Third Grade History Program, family days, field trips, walking tours of Main Street, living history days, lectures, and an old fashioned Christmas Stroll are all part of our regular program of events that highlight the museum's collection. Open February through December. Permanent Exhibits on Display: Maritime gallery Colonial Revival kitchen Mid-19th century period rooms Glass collection including Sandwich glass Elmer Crowell carved birds Historic clothing and quilt collection Military artifacts, uniforms and weaponry 19th century school room Historic children's toys and vintage dolls Watch two videos: What’s Underneath Exhibit 2020 video link The Waist Exhibit 2020 video link Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM Wed. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM Thu. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM Fri. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM Sat. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM Sun. Closed 513 Main Street, Centerville, MA, USA
- Edward Gorey House | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Edward Gorey House Website: https://edwardgoreyhouse.org/ Address: 8 Strawberry Ln, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts 02675 Phone: (508) 362-3909 Email: edwardgoreyhouse@gmail.com The Edward Gorey House celebrates and preserves the life and works of Edward Gorey, an American author, illustrator, playwright, set and costume designer. In honor of his legacy, The House, owned and lived in by Gorey himself, displays his diverse and extraordinary talents and reflects his distinct personality. The House also honors Gorey's passion and concern for animals, raising awareness about local and national animal welfare issues. As a dedicated commemoration to Gorey, the House strives to educate and inspire its visitors, offering a unique introduction to Edward Gorey, the artist and person. 2024 Season Info: Among his many other accolades—author, illustrator, set designer, costume designer, printmaker, playwright, and puppeteer—Edward Gorey is, at his core, a Book Artist. The House’s 2024 Exhibit Exquisite Corpse: Edward Gorey's Moveable Books presents Gorey immersed in, and gleefully subverting, the physical realm of The Book. Manipulating folds, pagination, and expectation, Gorey allows endless visual and narrative possibilities to quite literally unfold. This show promises to be a treat for both lovers of books and those who enjoy disassembling them. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Thu. 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Fri. 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat. 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sun. 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM 8 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port, 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
- Historical Society of Santuit & Cotuit | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Historical Society of Santuit & Cotuit Website: https://www.cotuithistoricalsociety.org/ Address: 1148 Main Street, Cotuit, Massachusetts 02635 Phone: 508-428-0461 Email: Info@CotuitHistoricalSociety.org Santuit/Cotuit ice was harvested from Eagle, Lewis and No Bottom Ponds and sold to townspeople to preserve their food. During the months of January and February it was a common sight to see ice blocks 10-12 inches thick harvested and stored in large and small ice houses. Our grounds hold the Dottridge Homestead, the Cotuit Museum and attached Fire Museum, The Cotuit Archives. the Rothwell Ice House. Cotuit Museum Shop and Historical Kitchen Gardens. The buildings are open weekends from Memorial Day through Christmas. The archives are available for research, and the Homestead and museums are available for private tours by appointment. Back in the 1950s, Mrs. Nita Crawford inherited the Samuel Dottridge Homestead and used it as the laundry for her historic hotel, The Pines. After there was no longer a need for the house, she embarked on an ambitious project to reconstruct the Samuel Dottridge Homestead on the corner of Main Street and Shell Lane to its original condition and make it the headquarters for HSSC. She asked her neighbors, friends, and local residents to search their attics, cellars, barns, and storerooms for anything that was used between 1800-1850. Dinner and dessert parties with formal invitations were among the many ways Mrs. Crawford raised enough funds to fully reconstruct the Homestead to an authentic dwelling of that time period. On June 13, 1964, 10 years after the Historical Society of Santuit & Cotuit was established, the doors to the Homestead were open to the public for the first time. Sixty years later, the Homestead has remained the headquarters of HSSC, growing to include a museum featuring Cotuit and Cape Cod history, the Cotuit Fire Museum, and a reproduction of a 19th century ice house. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sun. 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM 1148 Main Street, Cotuit, MA, USA
- Hoxie House | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Hoxie House Website: https://www.sandwichmass.org/419/Museums Address: 18 Water Street, Sandwich, Massachusetts 02563 Phone: 508-888-1173 The Hoxie House - one of the oldest, if not oldest, homes on the Cape - reflects life in the town of Sandwich in the 17th-century. This saltbox is named after a whaling captain who owned the house in the mid-1800s. The Hoxie House is a first-period house restored and furnished to reflect early colonial construction with many interesting features such as gun stock posts, pumpkin-pine Maine beams, and wide floorboards. Hours: Mon. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Tue. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Wed. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Thu. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Fri. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Sat. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Sun. Closed 18 Water Street, Sandwich, MA, USA
- Ongoing Tuesdays, 4 PM-7 PM | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Events Tuesday's Tool Time Plan a visit to the restored Chester Ranlett Tool Museum - located behind the Swift-Daley House. On display are hundreds of tools, many of them unusual and unique to this area. A forge on the premises operates at the whim of the blacksmith. In addition to visiting hours the same as the Swift-Daley House, look for special Tuesday Tool Times - Tuesdays 4:00 - 7:00 PM. Learn More Date and Time: Ongoing Tuesdays, 4 PM-7 PM Cost: Free Place: Eastham Historical Society 25 School House Road, Eastham, MA, USA Website
- June 19, 6 PM-8 PM | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Events PAINT NIGHT! Paint the Collection with Michael Giaquinto PAINT NIGHT! Paint the Collection with Michael Giaquinto Friday, June 19, 2026, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Join us for Paint Night! Each month highlights a different artwork from our Permanent Collection. Led by Michael Giaquinto, this unique museum experience inspires curiosity, creativity, and connection. About This month: "Crow's Pond Inlet", n.d., Debbie Hearle, Oil on board, 15.5" x 21.5" x 3.25" framed . Gift of the Artist. Discover your creativity during an inspiring and enjoyable evening of artmaking. Guided by instructor Michael Giaquinto , you’ll draw inspiration from the Museum’s rich Permanent Collection and transform it into your own original artwork. Each month features a different piece from the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s collection, giving participants the opportunity to see these remarkable works up close and learn their stories. All materials — including acrylic paints, canvases, brushes, palette knives, and easels — are provided. “Exhibiting and stewarding the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s outstanding Permanent Collection of over 2,000 artworks is integral to our mission. We are committed to the cultural enrichment of our community today and tomorrow, telling the story of Cape Cod through the lens of visual art.” Benton Jones, Director of Art Paint the Collection! welcomes artists of all levels — from seasoned painters to those picking up a brush for the very first time. Middle and high school students are welcome to participate when registered with a participating parent or guardian. Michael Giaquinto was the Exhibitions Curator at the Cape Cod Museum of Art (CCMoA) for 17 years (2003–2020), curating over 200 exhibitions. He studied fine art at Montserrat College of Art and art history at North Carolina State University. From 1991 to 2000, he was Chief Art Preparator at NC State’s Gregg Museum of Art & Design. After moving to Cape Cod, he taught art to high school students at St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis. Giaquinto teaches various art mediums to adults and children at many cultural institutions. His work has been shown in museums and galleries across the region and is included in private, corporate, and museum collections. In 2023, he received the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s Muse Artist Award and held a solo exhibition at CCMoA in 2025. Cancellation policy: CCMoA must be notified 1 week prior for a refund. Date and Time: June 19, 6 PM-8 PM Cost: $45-$55 Place: Cape Cod Museum of Art 60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA, USA Website
- John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Website: https://jfkhyannismuseum.org/ Address: 397 Main St, Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601 Phone: 508-790-3077 Email: jennifer@jfkhyannismuseum.org The Cape Cod National Seashore legislation was introduced by Kennedy when he was a U.S. Senator. He signed it into law when he was President. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum preserves and promotes the legacy of President Kennedy, his family, and their deep connection to Cape Cod. It features multimedia exhibits designed to open a window on the days JFK spent on Cape Cod; days relaxing with family, days as President of the United Sates when the Cape provided a time to relax and be reinvigorated and days spent sailing on the ocean to which he was so constantly drawn. Admissions - Tickets need to be purchased online. Members: Free Active Military with ID: Free Seniors (65+): $12 Retired Military: $12 Adults (18-64): $14 Youths (6-17): $8 Children 5 and Under: Free Students with ID: $8 Card to Culture: Free NARM Member: Free with NARM ID Last ticket sold 45 minutes before Museum closing. The Museum changes it hours seasonally. We do not have control over the accuracy of other publications and websites that choose to display our hours. Hours: Mon. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Tue. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Wed. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Thu. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Fri. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sat. 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sun. Closed 397 Main Street, Hyannis, MA, USA
- 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
- Historical Society of Old Yarmouth | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Historical Society of Old Yarmouth Website: http://www.hsoy.org/ Address: 229 Old King's Highway (Route 6A), Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts 02675 Phone: 508-362-3021 Email: info@hsoy.org "TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND PRESENT THE HISTORY OF YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS." The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth was founded in 1953 with the mission of preserving and developing community interest in the history of Yarmouth. Led by Caroline Siebens and Ann Maxtone-Graham the Society soon grew to more than 500 members who work to collect the objects and documents that convey Yarmouth’s past and promote the preservation of historical sites in the town. In 1958, Guido Perera, a descendant of early Yarmouth settler Anthony Thacher, gave the Society an historic family house on Yarmouth Port’s Common, as well as 50 acres of adjoining woodlands. This generous gift is now the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum and the Nature Trails. The Museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is today the only furnished sea captain's home on Cape Cod regularly open to the public. WHERE WE ARE NOW: The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth continues to actively carry out the mission by collecting Yarmouth’s past and sharing that past with the local community as well as with visitors from around the world. The Society, led by a Board of Trustees, has two part-time staff members and a number of active and enthusiastic volunteers. Our operations include the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum and 18th century kitchen, the Nature Trails, Kelley Chapel, the Turtle Wetu (a replica Wampanoag dwelling), and our administrative headquarters at the relocated and reconstructed Gorham Cobbler Shop (behind the Post Office on 6A). Our Archival Collections are now located there in a climate controlled archival storage facility. Each year we sponsor lectures, school programs, exhibitions, walking tours, concerts, holiday events, and other social and educational opportunities for the community. We also have an active publishing program designed to encourage historical scholarship about Yarmouth and make it available to all. WHERE WE'RE HEADED: Future plans for the Society include developing new space for permanent and changing exhibits and expanding our presence in the villages of South and West Yarmouth, both rich in historical importance. The Society is also working to better present and expand The Captains' Mile, the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum and its surrounding historic sites, as well as the beautiful grounds and Nature Trails that contain so many outstanding botanical specimens. DIRECTIONS: To the Historical Society’s Administrative Office & Archives: Located in the old B.T. Gorham Cobbler’s Shop at 229 Old King's Highway (Route 6A) in Yarmouth Port, on the lane adjacent to and slightly behind the Yarmouth Port Post Office. Please park next to our building, not in the post office lot. The Administrative Office is open Tuesdays from 11 AM – 4:30 PM and Thursdays from 10 AM – 3:30 PM or by appointment. To the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum: Located on Strawberry Lane Common, just off Route 6A in Yarmouth Port. From Route 6 take Exit 72 (Old Exit 7). Right on Willow Street to Route 6A. Right on 6A about a mile, just past the Yarmouth Port Post Office. Turn right onto Strawberry Lane (the Common). The Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum is the second house on the right, #11. Parking is along the Common fence. The Captain Bangs Hallet House Museums is open 1-4 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays from June 16 – October 8, 2023. Guided tours offered at 1:00, 2:00, & 3:00 PM. Last entry at 3:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. 11:00 AM - 04:30 PM Wed. Closed Thu. 10:00 AM - 03:30 PM Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 229 Old King's Highway, Yarmouth Port, MA, USA
- Nye Museum | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Nye Museum Website: http://www.nyemuseum.org/ Address: 85 Old County Rd, East Sandwich, Massachusetts 02537 Phone: 508-888-4213 Email: info@nyefamily.org Enjoy a relaxing afternoon and learn about early American history at the Nye Museum. Located just off Route 6A near the East Sandwich Post Office, the museum offers free tours of the Benjamin Nye Homestead, a historical landmark first established in 1678. Visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours of the Nye Mill Museum and to walk along the Old Fish Hatchery Trail, which includes an audio guide detailing the history of the property. Stop by the Visitors Center at the Grange Hall, open Tuesday through Saturday 11AM – 4PM throughout the Fall season. Our gift shop includes page-turning history books, educational toys for kids, and seasonal quilts. All purchases made at the gift shop benefit the museum’s mission. The museum and its organizers are dedicated to promoting and preserving the Benjamin Nye Homestead, chronicling the property’s historical significance, and fostering community engagement through historical education and events. Serene, inviting, and brimming with local history, the Nye Museum will transport you back to colonial times. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 85 Old County Road, East Sandwich, MA, USA
- Jericho Historical Center and the 1801 Captain Baker House & Barn | Cape Cod Museum Trail
Museum Directory Jericho Historical Center and the 1801 Captain Baker House & Barn Website: https://www.dennishistoricalsociety.org/museums/jericho-historical-center Address: 90 Old Main Street, Dennis, Massachusetts 02670 Phone: 508.398.6736 The Jericho Historical Center is housed in an 1801 full-cape farmhouse built by Captain Theophilus Baker and occupied by the Baker family until 1955. It contains 19th century furnishings, textiles, paintings and keepsakes. Exhibits in the Barn Museum on the site focus on farming. Tools and equipment from the 1800s are displayed, as well as remains of the salt works industry and a carriage that raced at Riverside Trotting Park. The General Store is a reminder of the important role such gathering places played in the community's economic and social life. Of special interest is the cranberry exhibit which tells the 200-vear-old story of cranberry cultivation; an industry that began in Dennis in 1816! The house was refurbished in 1955 by Elizabeth Reynard and Virginia Gildersleeve, who named the property “Jericho” because when they bought it “the walls were tumbling down.” They donated the property to the Town of Dennis in 1962, triggering formation of the Dennis Historical Society to maintain and display the town’s historical artifacts. With funding from the Community Preservation Act, the house and barn were partially renovated in 2022-2024. Jericho is open seasonally (generally July and August), with occasional Fall and 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. Hours: Mon. Closed Tue. Closed Wed. Closed Thu. Closed Fri. Closed Sat. Closed Sun. Closed 90 Old Main Street, Dennis, West Dennis, MA, USA


