Kathy Schrock's Guide to Eastham (Cape Cod) MA

KATHY SCHROCK'S GUIDE TO EASTHAM

"A Cape Cod Sketchbook Revisited", a ThinkQuest Junior Entry

Eastham, in southeastern Massachusetts, was settled by the Pilgrims in 1644, incorporated as "Nausett" in 1646, and was ultimately named Eastham in 1651. It is a town of 5400 year-round residents (2000), with a population swelling to over 20,000 during the summer months.

With its beautiful bayside and ocean beaches, miles of bicycle and walking trails, a historic schoolhouse, and the Cape's oldest wind-driven windmill, Eastham is the ideal place for the fisherman, beach-goer, birder, photographer, bicyclist, and vacationer.

Included within the boundaries of Eastham is the Salt Pond Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor's Center. With its many programs, tours, and a small museum, it is usually among the first stops for visitors to the Cape.

The ocean beaches in Eastham, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach, as well as the land bordering them, were incorporated into the Cape Cod National Seashore, under the auspices of the National Park Service, on August 7, 1961. The National Park Service also is the caretaker and runs tours through the Penniman House, a partially restored whaling captain's house built in 1868, and the Three Sisters Lighthouses, a set of three small wooden lighthouses which functioned as a trio when they were active.

Need something to read? Want a video? Need to look something up, surf the Net, or just want to browse? Try a visit to the Eastham Public Library which was established in 1878 by a Town Meeting vote to appropriate $175 for a library. Today you will find over 30,000 items in a collection that includes books, videotapes, books on tape, Internet access, and a new homework center for students. Search the card catalog from home from the CLAMS site.

Starting in 2002, the Library will keep the same hours year-round. It is open from 10am-4pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 10am-8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Directions to sites in Eastham

Click on photos to see enlarged view
Map of sites

The Penniman House is located approximately 1.4 miles past the Orleans rotary on Route 6 eastbound as you head towards Provincetown. Follow the signs for Fort Hill which will be on your right. Penniman House will be on your right.

The Eastham Information Booth is open seasonally and is located approximately 1.5 miles past the Orleans rotary on Route 6 eastbound. It will be on your right.

The Eastham Windmill was built about 1688 and moved to Eastham in 1793. It is located approximately 2.4 miles past the Orleans rotary on Route 6 eastbound as you head towards Provincetown.At the first traffic light, it will be on your left.

The Eastham Public Library is found by turning left at the Eastham Windmill (as you're coming from Orleans) onto Samoset Road. The Library is located about 1/2 mile down on your right.

The Salt Pond Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor's Center is located 2.8 miles past the Orleans rotary on Route 6 eastbound as you head towards Provincetown. At the second traffic light, it will be on your right.

The Eastham Schoolhouse Museum, the home of the Eastham Historical Society, was built in 1869 and served the town until 1936. It is located directly across the street from the entrance to the Visitor's Center at the corner of Nauset and Schoolhouse Roads.

Coast Guard Beach may be found by turning right at the second traffic light (2.8 miles east on Route 6 from Orleans rotary at Visitor's Center) and following Nauset Road (turns into Doane Road) for approximately 2 miles. Coast Guard Beach will be on your right.

Nauset Light Beach may be found by bearing left at Coast Guard Beach, continuing along Ocean View Drive for one mile, and arriving at Nauset Light Beach on your right.The history of the Nauset Beach Light Station may be found here. Nauset Light has recently been moved back from the edge of the cliff! Read all about it at the Nauset Light Preservation Society site!

The Three Sisters Lighthouses may be located by turning left onto Cable Road when reaching Nauset Light Beach. The three lighthouses will be found in a wooded area 1/2 mile down on your right. More information about the Three Sisters Lighthouses may be found at this Cape Cod Lighthouse site.

Historical Photographs of Old Eastham

Other Eastham and Cape Cod Information Sources

Eastham Organizations

Eastham Historical Society
Nauset Light Preservation Society
Eastham Chamber of Commerce

Town, State and Government Sites

Eastham Home Page...the official Eastham Town Hall page
Eastham Elementary School ...the elementary school's Web site
Eastham Public Library...the official library site for the town of Eastham
CLAMS : Cape Library Card Catalogs...the Cape's online library catalog access
Commonwealth Communities : Eastham...official state site full of statistical data
Cape Cod Commission Information Center...access to information about the Commission
Cape Cod National Seashore...official National Park Service information page

Weather and Tides

Cape Cod Tide Charts...find out the tides for many places on the Cape
Cape Traffic Reports...the current traffic flow to and from the Cape
Eastham Weather Report...current weather conditions from the Weather Channel
Eastham Weather Report...current weather conditions from the Weather Underground

Transportation Schedules

Steamship Authority Ferry Schedule
Hy-Line Ferry Schedule
P & B Bus Schedule
Cape Air
Island Airlines

Information Guides for Eastham and Cape Cod

Eastham Virtual Tour...a brief overview of the sights of Eastham
Allcapecod.com... the premier source of current Cape Cod information
SearchCapeCod.com...a searchable directory of Cape Cod-related sites
CapeCodTravel.com...chock full of info about events and happenings on the Cape
Insider's Guide...online version of a popular tourist guide to Cape Cod
The Cape Codder Online...an additional source of local Cape Cod news
Cape Cod Online...online news and information from the Cape Cod Times newspaper