Eastham today is a town three miles wide from bay to ocean and six miles long with two villages, Eastham and North Eastham. The Salt Pond Visitors’ Center in Eastham welcomes visitors, preparing them for what they will experience in the Cape Cod National Seashore.
History of Eastham
One of the four original settlements on Cape Cod, Eastham is where a Pilgrim troupe led by Myles Standish met Nauset Native Americans for the first time. Eastham is home to the Cape’s oldest working historical windmill, built in Plymouth in 1680 and ultimately moved to Eastham in 1793. Each fall, the historic windmill serves as the centerpiece to the town's Eastham Windmill Weekend tradition.
Things To Do in Eastham
Along the National Seashore are two of the Cape’s most beloved hiking spots – Fort Hill Trail and Red Maple Swamp Trail. Fort Hill crosses open fields with views of Nauset Marsh and is a popular destination for birders. Red Maple Swamp Trail features an elevated boardwalk over Red Maple Swamp, and its surrounding woodlands are at a glorious peak in fall.
Accessible right from the Salt Pond Visitor Center, the Cape Cod Rail Trail and Nauset Bike Trail are great ways to experience Eastham’s natural beauty. The Nauset Bike Trail is the shorter of the two and connects to several scenic hiking trails, as well as to Coast Guard Beach.
The town’s whaling industry roots can be explored at Eastham’s Captain Edward Penniman House, a French Second Empire style house built in 1868 and once owned by one of the Cape’s most famous sea captains. More of the town’s history can be discovered at the Eastham 1869 Schoolhouse Museum, a one-room schoolhouse used by the town until 1905. Exhibits include shipwreck treasures, Native American artifacts, a 13-foot jawbone from a 65-foot finback whale, U.S. Life Saving records and memorabilia from the school itself.
Learn More About Eastham with Demakis Family Real Estate!
If you’re looking to become one of the town’s newest homeowners, contact Demakis Family Real Estate’s nearby Mattapoisett office for more information. You can also create an account to save your searches and receive updates when homes you may be interested in hit the market!
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