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Cape Cod National Seashore facts for kids

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Cape Cod National Seashore
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
A circular logo depicting a sand dune topped with beach grass next to the ocean, with a white sea bird flying overhead.
Official logo
Cape Cod National Seashore.png
Location Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA
Nearest city Barnstable, Massachusetts
Area 43,607.14 acres (176.4718 km2)
Established August 7, 1961
Visitors 3,968,672 (in 2022)
Governing body National Park Service
Website Cape Cod National Seashore

The Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS) is a huge protected area on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. It covers about 43,607 acres, which is like 68 square miles!

This special place was created on August 7, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy. He signed a law that he had helped create when he was a Senator. The Seashore has beautiful ponds, thick woods, and amazing beaches along the Atlantic Ocean.

It includes almost 40 miles of coastline on the eastern side of Cape Cod. You can find parts of it in towns like Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Chatham. The National Park Service takes care of this whole area.

Cool Places to Explore

The Cape Cod National Seashore has many interesting spots to visit. You can learn about history or just have fun outdoors.

Historic Sites to See

  • Marconi Station: This is where the very first two-way radio message crossed the Atlantic Ocean! Imagine sending a message all the way to Europe without wires.
  • Highlands Center for the Arts: This place used to be an Air Force base, but now it's a center for arts and culture.
  • Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars: This is a historic area with small, simple shacks built right in the sand dunes. People have lived in them for a long time, enjoying the quiet beach environment.
  • Doane Rock: This is a giant rock left behind by glaciers from the Ice Age. It's a cool reminder of how the land was formed thousands of years ago.

Stay at a Youth Hostel

A former United States Coast Guard station in Truro is now a youth hostel. It has 42 beds and is run by Hostelling International USA. It's a fun and affordable place for young people to stay.

Bike Trails for Adventure

If you love biking, you're in luck! The Seashore has several paved bike trails that are great for exploring:

  • Nauset Bike Trail: You can find this trail in Eastham.
  • Head of the Meadow Trail: This trail is located in Truro.
  • Province Lands Trails: These trails are in Provincetown and offer amazing views.

Beautiful Beaches to Visit

The coastline has many fantastic beaches with public facilities available during certain times of the year. Two of the most famous are:

  • Race Point Beach: Located in Provincetown.
  • Coast Guard Beach: Found in Eastham.

Both of these beaches have often been named among the "top beaches in the US"! They are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or just enjoying the ocean.

Protecting Our Natural World

The National Park Service and other groups work hard to protect and restore the natural beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore. This helps keep the area healthy for animals, plants, and people.

Restoring the Herring River

The Herring River estuary is a special area where a river meets the ocean. For a long time, dikes and drains built in 1909 changed how the river flowed. Now, there's a big project to remove these old structures. This will help the river return to its natural state, which is much better for the environment and the wildlife that live there.

Protecting Land for Everyone

In 2010, a place called the North of Highland Campground was protected forever. This means it can't be built on and will stay natural. Groups like The Trust for Public Land and the Association to Preserve Cape Cod worked together to get money from a special fund called the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This fund helps buy and protect important lands.

In 2011, the Biddle Property was added to the Seashore. This land used to belong to Francis Biddle, who was an important judge after World War II. The Trust for Public Land bought the property using money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and then gave it to the National Park Service to protect.

Cleaning Up the Seashore

As part of these efforts, some old, unsafe buildings that aren't important to history will be removed from the Seashore. The land where they stood will be restored to its natural condition. A law called the Great American Outdoors Act has provided over $8 million to help with this project, which started in 2023. These efforts make sure the Cape Cod National Seashore stays a beautiful and healthy place for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.

Gallery

  • CCNS Sign

    An entrance to the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, Massachusetts

  • Ccnatsea

    Cape Cod National Seashore

  • Nauset-light-cape-cod

    Nauset Light

  • Highland-light-cape-cod

    View from Highland Light

  • Marconi-beach-cape-cod

    Marconi Beach

  • Race point sunset

    Late July Sunset at Race Point Beach

  • Salt Pond Visitor Center, Cape Cod National Seashore, Eastham MA

    Salt Pond Visitor Center

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