 Discover Eastham!
A narrow strip of rural country with marshes, ponds, bogs and forests, Eastham is bordered on the east by miles of the majestic Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by Cape Cod Bay. Oceanside or Bayside, salt air breezes and spectacular white sandy beaches bring swimmers, sun bathers, boaters, windsurfers and beachcombers to their shores. Discover windmills, museums, historical sites, and miles of walking trails through woods, fields, and marshes in this classic Cape Cod town where the Outer Cape begins.
EASTHAM HISTORY
Occupying one of the first pages in American history, Eastham’s First Encounter Beach was the site of the first meeting between the Pilgrims and the American Indians. In 1620, a small band of Pilgrims from the Mayflower was led by Miles Standish on a hunting expedition. The Indians, recalling kidnappings by early English slave traders, sent a warning of arrows, which was answered by musket fire, before each party fled.
The town was settled in 1644 by Pilgrims who were dissatisfied with poor quality of the lands granted to them in Plymouth. Their descendants still live in the area; three of the original passengers of the Mayflower are buried in the Old Cove Cemetery. Check out some of the mailboxes and street signs.
Once home to whaling, fishing, salt works, and asparagus farming, Eastham is now best known for its beaches and conservation areas. It is the Gateway to the National Seashore Park which protects 27,000+ acres of the Outer Cape and one third of the town, Many characteristics of the town remain much as they were when Thoreau wrote his masterpiece, ‘Cape Cod’, over one hundred years ago.
PILGRIMS
The Pilgrims had planned to sail to Virginia, but ended up settling in Plymouth. Why?
In part because they were almost out of beer.
In England they were unaccustomed to drinking the water, so it stands to reason that they would be very wary of drinking the water on this side of the ocean. Boiled during the brewing process, the Pilgrims drank beer because it was free of deadly microbes, and therefore was safer.
An entry in Pilgrim William Bradford’s diary mentions that there was little food and less beer; this precluded further exploration and kept the Pilgrims in Plymouth.
CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy signed a bill to create the Cape Cod National Seashore. Comprised of approximately 27,000 acres, from Chatham to Provincetown, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers visitors approximately 40 miles of the finest seashore on the Atlantic coast. Since its establishment, the work of the natural National Seashore has involved the conservation and preservation of the magnificent natural surroundings of the Cape, as well as the maintenance of various natural and historical sites for the enjoyment of visitors.
The Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham offers exhibits on Cape Cod human and natural history, as well as beaches, biking and hiking trails, historic landmarks, scenic overlooks and guided tours, programs and activities.
BEACHES AND SHORES
Beach chairs, towels and umbrellas; shovels, pails and sandcastles; swimmers, waders and surfers; beach combers, fishermen and bird watchers; sunrises and sunsets. Whether Bayside or Oceanside, take advantage of Eastham’s many beautiful beaches.
On the Ocean savor the drama of the waves and refreshing sea breezes as you swim, surf, or simply relax on the beach.
Coast Guard (National Seashore)(Doane Road)
Life Guard and Handicapped Accessible
Nauset Light Beach (National Seashore) (Ocean View Dr.) Lifeguard
On the Bay you’ll find miles of sand flats for walking and sandcastle building, as well as shallow tide pools to fascinate young and old alike. The warmer waters and gentler waves are perfect for children.
Boat Meadow (Boat Meadow Road)
Campground (Shurtleff Road) Handicapped Accessible
Cooks Brook (Steele Road) Handicapped Accessible
First Encounter (Samoset Road) Handicapped Accessible
Herring Brook Landing (Cole Road) Handicapped Accessible
Kingsbury Beach (Kingsbury Beach Rd.)
Rock Harbor Beach (Dyer Prince Road)
South Sunken Meadow (S. Sunken Meadow Road) Handicapped Accessible
Thumpertown (Thumpertown Road)
Fresh Water Beaches
Great Pond (Great Pond Road) Lifeguard Handicapped Accessible
Herring Pond (Herring Brook Road) Handicapped Accessible
Wiley Park (Herring Brook Road) Lifeguard Handicapped Accessible
BOATING
Whether you prefer a kayak, canoe, rowboat, sailboat, powerboat or cat boat, take some time to explore the Cape’s ponds, bays, coves and marshes. Cape Cod Bay and Town Cove invite exploration in larger boats, with Town Cove offering access to the open ocean. Several boat ramps are located around town; remember to be aware of the tides for launching and maneuvering your boat.
Off Chatham, you’re bound to see Harbor Seals and Gray Seals, either in the water, on the sandbars, or sunbathing on exposed rocks. For guided seal tours, contact the Massachusetts Audobon’s Wellfleet Bay Sancturary or the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
FISHING
Whether fishing from shore or boat, trolling, casting, using fly rods, live bait, plugs or flies, try your hand at saltwater and freshwater fishing.
No license is required for saltwater fishing.
Permits are required for fresh water fishing; licenses may be obtained at Blackbreard’s Bait & Tackle located on Brackett Road (next to Ben & Jerry’s).
Rock Harbor’s docks service the Cape Cod Bay commercial shellfishing fleets, pleasure boats and charter fishing trips for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, cod and more. Visit the booth at the harbor for four or eight hour sportfishing reservations.
Shellfishing is a wonderful way to enjoy and explore the Cape’s saltwater shores. Soft-shelled clams, quahogs, razor clams, and mussels are all waiting to be discovered beneath the sand.
Salt Pond is stocked with quahogs, littlenecks and steamers, and in the fall, oysters. A license is required and may be purchased at the office of the Natural Resources Department. The equipment you will need is available at sports, bait and hardware stores.
BIKE TRAILS
Miles of paved trails, through woods and fields, by cranberry bogs, freshwater ponds, and saltwater marshes, make up the thirty mile-long path known as the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Following the bed of the former Penn Central Railroad, it winds through the towns of Dennis, Chatham, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. In addition, don’t miss the Nauset Bike Trail for magnificent vistas of the salt marsh and Ocean.
Information is available at town visitor centers.
Note: Massachusetts law requires all children aged sixteen and under to wear a helmet.
WALKING / HIKING
Year-round, walkers and hikers take advantage of Eastham’s beaches as well as the Cape Cod Rail Trail (for walkers/hikers, as well as bikers). Other self-guided tour venues include:
Fort Hill Trail: 1.5 miles, spectacular views of Nauset Marsh, Nauset Spit and the Atlantic
Red Maple Swamp Trail: .25 mile walk amid unusual Cape Cod landscape
Nauset Marsh Trail: .5 mile loop skirts Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh and returns through transitional forest and fields.
MA Audobon Society Wildlife Sanctuary: in Eastham and Wellfleet has five unique walking trails, all starting at the Nature Center, and crossing through forests, meadows and marshes, including a boardwalk out to Cape Cod Bay.
SCENIC ROUTE 6A
One of this country’s most scenic byways, Route 6A meanders some 34 miles from Bourne to Orleans. Originally a Native American trail, it became an extension of the King’s Highway of the Plymouth Colony as Colonial settlements grew and commerce increased.
In early times, Route 6A was the site of stately homes built by wealthy merchants and sea captains. Many have been preserved and beautifully restored, and still grace the route today. Along with them you’ll pass historic sites, interesting shops and restaurants, grand old inns, and breathtaking salt marshes.
Loaded with yesteryear charm, you’ll enjoy discovering Route 6A.
WHALES AND SEALS
Destination: Stellwagen Bank. Situated just north of Cape Cod, this is a major feeding ground for whales. They migrate there in spring and continue to feed on abundant plankton for months. Do make plans for a tour out of Provincetown, the whale watching capital of the Eastern seaboard. Along with several whale species, you may also see dolphins, porpoises and seals.
Generally spotted in the waters off Chatham, seals have repopulated the waters of the Cape in recent years. You may see Harbor Seals sunbathing on exposed rocks, Harbor and Gray Seals hauled out on the sandbars off Chatham, or fishing in the ocean surf and in protected coves. Guided seal tours may be arranged through the Massachusetts Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and private operators.
BIRD WATCHING
One of the richest ornithological heritages in the country, spend some time at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham, where wonderful bird watching opportunities await bird enthusiasts.
You will also find excellent bird watching at Chatham Light where gulls, terns and sea ducks can be seen in numbers, generally with the aid of a telescope.
During the winter, the Chatham Fish Pier is a good spot to view gulls and sea ducks.
Before or after your outings, stop in at the Bird Watcher’s General Store on Rt. 6A in Orleans. Whether its birding equipment, reference books, bird art, bird feeders, or items for children, this is the place to shop.
THEATER
Take in performances at the Academy of the Performing Arts and The Stages Theatre Company in Orleans. Or venture into other neighboring towns for shows at the Cape Rep Theatre in Brewster, Monomoy Theatre and Chatham Drama Guild in Chatham, Harwich Junior Theatre in Harwich, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre (WHAT) in Wellfleet, and the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. Check local newspapers for specific information.
HISTORIC SITES
Eastham Windmill: The only Cape Cod Windmill still on a working site, the Eastham Windmill is a mock mill of the English/French style. It was most likely built in Plymouth in the early 1680s, was moved to Truro before the American Revolution in the 1770s, later to Eastham by Salt Pond in 1793, and then to its present site in 1808. It is located on Windmill Green across from Town Hall.
Three Sisters of Nauset Lighthouses: In 1938 three small brick towers made up the Nauset Beach Light Station. When the Atlantic was about to claim them in 1892, three new wooden towers were commissioned. In 1911 two were abandoned, leaving only the center tower, “The Beacon,” until 1923. Today they have been reunited, restored and preserved by the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Nauset Light replaced “the Beacon” in 1923. Threatened by erosion in the 1990s, Eastham residents formed the Nauset Light Preservation Society to save and restore the lighthouse and oil house. Today, lighthouse, oil house and the 1875 lighthouse keeper’s home stand together.
Old Coast Guard Station: From early Pilgrim times, the Outer Beach was known as a notorious “graveyard” of ships. In 1871 the United States Congress appropriated funds for 9 life saving stations along the outer shores. One of them, the Nauset Station, was rebuilt in 1937 and stands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean today.
MUSEUMS
Old Schoolhouse Museum, located on Nauset Road opposite Cape Cod National Seashore’s Salt Pond Visitor center, was a one-room schoolhouse. Built in 1869, it served the town until 1936.
In other towns, check out the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster and the Railroad Museum in Chatham.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Cape Cod, including Orleans, is a mecca for painters, carvers, sculptors, potters, photographers, jewelry makers and other arts and craftspeople. Their work may be found in shops and galleries, as well as at outdoor shows, fairs and festivals. Consult local newspapers and information booths for information.
SPORTS
Swim, surf, sail, canoe, kayak, fish, hike, bike, try your hand at miniature golf—you can do it all in Eastham. Tennis enthusiasts will find courts at Eldredge Field and at the Middle and Elementary Schools in Orleans. For baseball lovers, the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Orleans Cardinals host games under the lights, also at Eldredge Park in Orleans. Visit capecodbaseball.org online for game information. Ice skate at the Charles Moore Arena, on O’Connor Road in Orleans. Golfers will enjoy playing at the Captain’s Course and Ocean Edge in Brewster, Chatham Seaside Links, Chequesset in Wellfleet, or Cranberry Valley in Harwich. For other courses, refer to the Yellow Pages in the phone directory.
RESTAURANTS
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a quick pick-me-up, area establishments offer something for everyone, most especially fresh, local seafood. Have fun exploring them. Bon appetit!
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