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National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Map of Massachusetts highlighting Barnstable County
Location of Barnstable County in Massachusetts

Barnstable County in Massachusetts is home to many special places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list is like a national scrapbook of important buildings, areas, and objects that tell us about America's past. These places are recognized because they are important to history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

There are over 200 historic spots in Barnstable County on this list! Three of these are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks. These are places that are super important to the history of the entire United States. Some of these historic places are in the towns of Barnstable and Harwich, and you can find more details about them in their own lists. This article will tell you about some of the other cool historic places across the rest of Barnstable County.

Historic Buildings and Homes

Many old houses and buildings in Barnstable County have been saved because they are important to history. These places often show us how people lived and worked a long time ago.

Old Houses with Stories

  • The Ahearn House and Summer House in Wellfleet is a beautiful old home with a summer house, listed in 1984. It gives us a peek into how people enjoyed their summers in the past.
  • The Avant House in Mashpee, listed in 1998, is another example of a historic home that has been preserved.
  • The George I. Briggs House in Bourne, built in the 1830s, is a great example of Greek Revival style architecture. Imagine, a blacksmith on this property even shod the horses of President Grover Cleveland back in the 1880s!
  • The Louis Brandeis House in Chatham is a National Historic Landmark. This was the summer home of Justice Louis Brandeis, a very important judge in American history. It was listed in 1972.
  • The Thomas Bray Farm in Yarmouth, listed in 1988, shows us what old farms in the area looked like.
  • The Dillingham House in Brewster, listed in 1976, is another historic home that tells a story of early life on Cape Cod.
  • The Josiah Dennis House in Dennis, listed in 1974, is now a museum where you can learn about the town's history.
  • The John Newcomb House in Wellfleet, listed in 1988, is famous because it was known as Henry David Thoreau's "House of the Wellfleet Oysterman." Thoreau was a famous writer and philosopher.
  • The Benjamin Nye Homestead in Sandwich, listed in 1992, is now a historic house museum. It's a great place to visit and see how people lived centuries ago.
  • The Wing Fort House in East Sandwich, listed in 1976, is one of the oldest houses in Massachusetts and has a long family history.

Public and Community Buildings

  • The Old Bourne High School building in Bourne, listed in 2013, was once a school and later a junior high. It's cool to see how school buildings have changed over time.
  • The Jonathan Bourne Public Library building, also in Bourne and listed in 2013, now serves as the Jonathan Bourne Historical Center. It's a place where local history is kept alive.
  • The Bourne Town Hall and the Bournedale Village School are other important public buildings in Bourne, both listed in 2013. They show the history of local government and education.
  • The Center Methodist Church in Provincetown, built in 1860, was once the largest Methodist church in the world! It later became an art museum and is now the Provincetown Public Library. It was listed in 1975.
  • The Eldredge Public Library in Chatham, listed in 1992, is a beautiful building that has served the community for many years.
  • The Forestdale School in Sandwich, listed in 1997, is another example of an old school building that is now a historic site.
  • The Jacob Sears Memorial Library in Dennis, listed in 2009, is a lovely building that shows the importance of libraries in communities.
  • The Old Provincetown Public Library building, listed in 1975, housed the library before it moved to the former Center Methodist Church.
  • The Union Hall in Truro, listed in 1997, is actually Truro's town hall. It's where local decisions are made.
  • The US Post Office-Provincetown Main, listed in 1987, is a historic building where people have sent and received mail for many years.
  • The West Dennis Graded School in Dennis, listed in 2000, and the West Schoolhouse in Dennis, listed in 1975, are more examples of old school buildings.
  • The Woods Hole School in Falmouth, listed in 1982, is another historic school building.

Lighthouses and Maritime History

Cape Cod is famous for its lighthouses, which helped guide ships safely to shore. Many of these lighthouses are on the National Register.

  • The Beacon in Eastham, listed in 1987, is one of the "Three Sisters of Nauset." These three lighthouses were once separate but have since been reunited.
  • The Chatham Light Station in Chatham, listed in 1987, is an active lighthouse that still helps guide boats today.
  • The Cleveland Ledge Light Station in Falmouth, listed in 1987, is a unique lighthouse located in the Cape Cod Canal.
  • The Long Point Light Station in Provincetown, listed in 1987, is at the very tip of Cape Cod.
  • The Monomoy Point Lighthouse in Chatham, listed in 1979, is on Monomoy Island, a beautiful and wild place.
  • The Nauset Beach Light in Eastham, listed in 1987, is another iconic Cape Cod lighthouse.
  • The Nobska Point Light Station in Falmouth, listed in 1987, offers amazing views of the ocean.
  • The Race Point Light Station in Provincetown, listed in 1987, is a remote and beautiful lighthouse on Race Point Beach.
  • The Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights) in Eastham, listed in 1987, are two of the three famous lighthouses that were once separated but are now together.
  • The Wing's Neck Light in Bourne, listed in 1987, is another important lighthouse in the area.
  • The Wood End Light Lookout Station in Provincetown, listed in 1987, is near the end of Cape Cod.

Historic Districts and Areas

Historic districts are areas with many buildings or sites that share a common history or architectural style.

  • The Atwood–Higgins Historic District in Wellfleet, listed in 1976 and expanded in 2010, is a historic area that grew from just the Atwood House.
  • The Brewster Old King's Highway Historic District in Brewster, listed in 1996, covers parts of a very old road, showing how the area developed.
  • The Collins Cottages Historic District in Eastham, listed in 1999, is a collection of historic cottages.
  • The Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District in Provincetown, listed in 2012, is a unique area with small, simple shacks built in the dunes. These shacks have been home to artists and writers for many years.
  • The Eastham Center Historic District in Eastham, listed in 1999, includes important buildings and roads in the center of town.
  • The Falmouth Village Green Historic District in Falmouth, listed in 1996, includes the village green and many historic buildings around it.
  • The Fort Hill Rural Historic District in Eastham, listed in 2001, is a beautiful area within the Cape Cod National Seashore.
  • The Jarvesville Historic District in Sandwich, listed in 2010, is an area with many historic buildings near the town landing.
  • The Nauset Archeological District in Eastham, listed in 1993, is a National Historic Landmark District. This area is important because it contains evidence of early Native American life.
  • The North Falmouth Village Historic District in Falmouth, listed in 1998, preserves the historic character of this village.
  • The Northside Historic District in Yarmouth, listed in 1987, includes a section of the historic Route 6A.
  • The Old Town Center Historic District in Eastham, listed in 2001, is another important historic area in Eastham.
  • The Old Village Historic District in Chatham, listed in 2001, is a charming area with many old buildings near the harbor.
  • The Provincetown Historic District in Provincetown, listed in 1989, covers a large part of the town, showing its unique history as a fishing and art community.
  • The South Yarmouth/Bass River Historic District in Yarmouth, listed in 1990, includes historic streets and buildings near the Bass River.
  • The Spring Hill Historic District in Sandwich, listed in 2010, is another area with many historic homes and buildings.
  • The Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District in Brewster, listed in 2000, includes a historic grist mill and other buildings.
  • The Truro Highlands Historic District in Truro, listed in 2011, includes the Highland Light and Highland House, showing the history of this coastal area.
  • The Waquoit Historic District in Falmouth, listed in 2004, preserves the historic feel of this village.
  • The Wellfleet Center Historic District in Wellfleet, listed in 1989, includes the town hall and other important buildings in the heart of Wellfleet.
  • The West Falmouth Village Historic District in Falmouth, listed in 1998, preserves the historic character of this coastal village.
  • The Yarmouth Camp Ground Historic District in Barnstable and Yarmouth, listed in 1990, is a unique area with many small, historic cottages.

Other Interesting Historic Sites

  • The Baxter Mill in West Yarmouth, listed in 1981, is an old mill that shows how people used water power long ago.
  • The Brick Block in Chatham, listed in 1979, is a historic commercial building.
  • The Bridge Road Cemetery in Eastham, listed in 1999, is an old cemetery with historic gravestones.
  • The Chatham Railroad Depot in Chatham, listed in 1978, was once a busy train station.
  • The Chatham Windmill in Chatham, listed in 1978, is a classic Cape Cod landmark.
  • The Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500 in Orleans, listed in 2005, is a historic lifeboat that was involved in a famous rescue.
  • The Cobb Memorial Library in Truro, listed in 2013, is a historic library building.
  • The Cove Burying Ground in Eastham, listed in 1999, is another historic cemetery.
  • The Crowell–Bourne Farm in West Falmouth, listed in 1980, is an old farm that gives us a glimpse into agricultural history.
  • The Dennis Village Cemetery in Dennis, listed in 2005, has many antique markers.
  • The French Cable Hut in North Eastham, listed in 1976, and the French Cable Station in Orleans, listed in 1972, were part of an important system that allowed telegraph messages to be sent across the Atlantic Ocean!
  • The Half Way House in Chatham, listed in 1978, is a historic building with an interesting name.
  • The Hawthorne Class Studio in Provincetown, listed in 1978, was a studio for art classes.
  • The Jedediah Higgins House in North Truro, listed in 1984, is a historic home.
  • The Highland House in Truro, listed in 1975, is a historic building on the Cape Cod National Seashore.
  • The Marconi Wireless Station Site in South Wellfleet, listed in 1975, is where Guglielmo Marconi made history by sending the first wireless telegraph message across the Atlantic in 1903!
  • The Marconi–RCA Wireless Receiving Station in Chatham, listed in 1994, was another important part of early wireless communication.
  • The Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station in Provincetown, listed in 1975, was a station where brave people helped rescue sailors in trouble. It was even moved in 1977 to save it!
  • The Old Higgins Farm Windmill in Brewster, listed in 1975, is another historic windmill.
  • The Old Indian Meeting House in Mashpee, listed in 1998, is a very important place for the Wampanoag people.
  • The Old North Cemetery in Truro, listed in 2013, is a historic burial ground.
  • The PAUL PALMER (Shipwreck and Remains) in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, listed in 2007, is a shipwreck that tells a story of maritime accidents.
  • The Edward Penniman House and Barn in Eastham, listed in 1976, is a historic home and barn.
  • The Pine Grove Cemetery in Truro, listed in 2013, is another historic cemetery.
  • The Pond Hill School in Wellfleet, listed in 1989, is an old school building.
  • The Poor House and Methodist Cemetery in Falmouth, listed in 1998, tells a story about how communities cared for those in need.
  • The Port Royal House in Chatham, listed in 1982, is a historic house.
  • The Samuel Smith Tavern Site in Wellfleet, listed in 1977, is where a 17th-century tavern once stood. You can visit the site on the Great Island Trail.
  • The Taylor–Bray Farm in Yarmouth, listed in 1993, is another historic farm.
  • The Teaticket School in Falmouth, listed in 2002, is a historic school building.
  • The Josiah Tobey House in Falmouth, listed in 1994, is a historic home.
  • The Town Boundary Marker in Sandwich and Barnstable, listed in 1987, marks the old town line. There are a few of these historic markers.
  • The Town Hall Square Historic District in Sandwich, listed in 1975, is an important area around the town hall.
  • The Townsend House in Wellfleet, listed in 1998, is another historic home.

These are just some of the many amazing historic places in Barnstable County. Each one helps us understand the rich history of Massachusetts and the United States!

Images for kids

  • Ahearn House

    Ahearn House

  • Thomas Atwood House

    Atwood House

  • MashpeeMA AvantHouse

    Avant House

  • BAXTER MILL

    Baxter Mill

  • Original Three Sisters of Nauset

    The Beacon

  • BourneMA FormerKoadySchoolGymWing

    Old Bourne High School

  • 1899 Bourne public library Massachusetts

    Jonathan Bourne Public Library

  • Bourne MA Town Hall

    Bourne Town Hall

  • 1897 Bournedale School House, Bournedale MA

    Bournedale Village School

  • Louis Brandeis House, Chatham (Barnstable County, Massachusetts)

    Louis Brandeis House

  • ThomasBrayFarm

    Thomas Bray Farm

  • Bramble Inn, Brewster MA

    Brewster Old King's Highway Historic District

  • Brick Block

    Brick Block

  • Bridge Road Cemetery, Eastham MA

    Bridge Road Cemetery

  • George Briggs House, Bourne, MA

    George I. Briggs House

  • Churchsteeplebeingputback2

    Center Methodist Church

  • Central Fire Station, 399 Main Street, Falmouth, MA

    Central Fire Station

  • Chatham Lighthouse

    Chatham Light Station

  • Chatham Railroad Depot

    Chatham Railroad Depot

  • The Chatham Windmill

    Chatham Windmill

  • Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse MA

    Cleveland Ledge Light Station

  • Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500

    Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500

  • The Cobb Memorial Library Truro, Ma

    Cobb Memorial Library

  • Entranceway To Collins Cottages

    Collins Cottages Historic District

  • Cove Burying Ground

    Cove Burying Ground

  • Bourne Farm, West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA

    Crowell–Bourne Farm

  • Antique Markers

    Dennis Village Cemetery

  • Josiah Dennis House

    Josiah Dennis House

  • The Dillingham House Main St. Brewster, Ma

    Dillingham House

  • Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District

    Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District

  • Eastham Windmill

    Eastham Center Historic District

  • ChathamMAlibrary

    Eldredge Public Library

  • Falmouth Pumping Station, Falmouth, MA

    Falmouth Pumping Station

  • Village Green Inn, Falmouth MA

    Falmouth Village Green Historic District

  • First Congregational Parish Truro, Ma

    First Congregational Parish Historic District

  • 1stUniversalist Church Provincetown

    First Universalist Church

  • Greenville School, Forestdale MA

    Forestdale School

  • View from Fort Hill, Eastham MA

    Fort Hill Rural Historic District

  • French Cable Hut

    French Cable Hut

  • French Cable Museum, Orleans MA

    French Cable Station

  • The Half Way House

    Half Way House

  • Hatch House, Wellfleet, Massachusetts

    Ruth and Robert Hatch Jr. House

  • HABS Jedediah Higgins House

    Jedediah Higgins House

  • Highland House, North Truro MA

    Highland House

  • Highland Lighthouse 2

    Highland Light Station

  • 40 Way 112, Wellfleet MA

    Hinckley's Corner Historic District

  • John and Mary Waterman Jarves House 02

    John and Mary Waterman Jarves House

  • Jarvesville Historic District

    Jarvesville Historic District

  • Mercelia Evelyn Eldridge Kelley House, Chatham, Massachusetts

    Mercelia Evelyn Eldridge Kelley House

  • PeterKugelHouse

    Peter Kugel House

  • CapeCodeNHS KuhnHouse

    Samuel and Minette Kuhn House

  • Lawrence Academy, 20 Academy Lane, Falmouth, MA

    Lawrence Academy

  • 1909 long pt postcard

    Long Point Light Station

  • Marconi site

    Marconi Wireless Station Site

  • Marconi-RCA Wireless Receiving Station

    Marconi–RCA Wireless Receiving Station

  • Monomoy Lighthouse MA

    Monomoy Point Lighthouse

  • ChamplainNausetHarbor

    Nauset Archeological District

  • Nauset Light W

    Nauset Beach Light

  • WellfleetMA JohnNewcombHouse HABS

    John Newcomb House

  • Nickerson Mansion, East Brewster MA

    Nickerson Mansion

  • NobskaLight

    Nobska Point Light Station

  • Capt. James Nye House, North Falmouth MA

    North Falmouth Village Historic District

  • The New Church, 1870, Yarmouth Port, MA

    Northside Historic District

  • Benjamin Nye House, Sandwich, Massachusetts, circa 1880

    Benjamin Nye Homestead

  • Elnathan Nye House, North Falmouth MA

    Elnathan Nye House

  • FalmouthMA OakGroveCemetery3

    Oak Grove Cemetery

  • Old Harbor Life Saving Station

    Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station

  • Old Higgins Farm Windmill, West Brewster MA

    Old Higgins Farm Windmill

  • Old Indian Meetinghouse

    Old Indian Meeting House

  • Other Old North Cemetery Truro, Ma

    Old North Cemetery

  • Colorful Intersection in the

    Old Town Center Historic District

  • In The Old Village Historic District

    Old Village Historic District

  • Corner of Paine Hollow Road and Pleasant Point Road, Wellfleet MA

    Paine Hollow Road South Historic District

  • PaulPalmerSteamWinchRemnants

    PAUL PALMER (Shipwreck and Remains)

  • Capt Edward Penniman House

    Edward Penniman House and Barn

  • Pine Grove Cemetery Truro, Ma

    Pine Grove Cemetery

  • Pond Hill School Wellfleet

    Pond Hill School

  • Falmouth Poor House, 744 Main Street, Falmouth MA

    Poor House and Methodist Cemetery

  • Port Royal House, Chatham, Massachusetts

    Port Royal House

  • Provincetown Cape cod Massachusetts

    Provincetown Historic District

  • PtownoldLibrary withnewowner

    Old Provincetown Public Library building

  • Race Point Lighthouse, Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1911 postcard

    Race Point Light Station

  • Rowell House

    Rowell House

  • The Saunders Paine House

    Saunders–Paine House

  • The Farm House

    Sea Call Farm

  • Jacob Sears Memorial Library - full view

    Jacob Sears Memorial Library

  • SirnaStudio

    Anthony and Allison Sirna Studio

  • SmithTavernExcavation

    Samuel Smith Tavern Site

  • South Yarmouth-Bass River Historic District - historic home

    South Yarmouth/Bass River Historic District

  • Spring Hill Historic District 01

    Spring Hill Historic District

  • Stony Brook Grist Mill, West Brewster MA

    Stony Brook–Factory Village Historic District

  • Taylor-Bray Farm

    Taylor–Bray Farm

  • Teaticket School, 340 Teaticket Hwy, Falmouth, MA

    Teaticket School

  • Three Sisters Lights

    Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights)

  • Tisza House, Wellfleet MA

    Vera and Laszlo Tisza House

  • FalmouthMA JosiahTobeyHouse

    Josiah Tobey House

  • BarnstableSandwichRaceLaneBoundaryMarker

    Town Boundary Marker

  • Glass Museum in Sandwich, Massachusetts

    Town Hall Square Historic District

  • Town Line Boundary marker between Sandwich and Barnstable MA

    Town Line Boundary Marker (Great Hill Road)

  • BarnstableSandwichHighStreetBoundaryMarker

    Town Line Boundary Marker (410 High Street)

  • Townsend House, Wellfleet MA

    Townsend House

  • Highland Light, North Truro MA

    Truro Highlands Historic District

  • Truro Town Hall

    Union Hall

  • Universalist Society Meetinghouse, Orleans MA

    Universalist Society Meetinghouse

  • Ptown post office

    US Post Office-Provincetown Main

  • Waquoit Congregational Church, Waquoit MA

    Waquoit Historic District

  • The Paul and Madeleine Weidlinger House

    Paul and Madeleine Weidlinger House

  • Wellfleet Town Hall, MA

    Wellfleet Center Historic District

  • West Dennis Graded School

    West Dennis Graded School

  • West Falmouth Library and Quaker Carriage Sheds, West Falmouth, MA

    West Falmouth Village Historic District

  • Old West Schoolhouse, Dennis, MA

    West Schoolhouse

  • Wing Fort House 02

    Wing Fort House

  • Wings Neck Light, Buzzard's Bay (Barnstable County, Massachusetts)

    Wing's Neck Light

  • Wood End Lighthouse MA

    Wood End Light Lookout Station

  • Woods Hole School, Woods Hole MA

    Woods Hole School

  • Johnson Hall, Yarmouth Camp Ground, Yarmouth MA

    Yarmouth Camp Ground Historic District

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.