National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape Cod National Seashore facts for kids

The Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts is a special place. It's not just beautiful beaches and dunes. It's also home to many historic sites! These places are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect them for future generations.

There are 25 historic spots in the park. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which means it's extra special! Let's explore some of these amazing places.

Historic Treasures of Cape Cod National Seashore

Exploring Historic Buildings

Many old buildings in the Cape Cod National Seashore tell stories of the past. From lighthouses guiding ships to homes where people lived long ago, each one is a piece of history.

Famous Lighthouses

Lighthouses have always been important for sailors. Cape Cod has some very famous ones.

• Highland Light Station: This is the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod. It has guided ships safely for many years. It's also known as Cape Cod Light.

The historic Highland Light Station.

• Nauset Beach Light: This lighthouse is famous for its red and white stripes. It used to be part of a group of three lighthouses.

Nauset Beach Light, a well-known landmark.

• Race Point Light Station: Located on Race Point Beach, this lighthouse stands alone in a sandy landscape. It's a beautiful spot to visit.

Race Point Light, standing tall by the sea.

• The Beacon (Eastham, Massachusetts): This was one of the original "Three Sisters of Nauset" lighthouses. It helped guide ships near Eastham.

The Beacon, one of the original Three Sisters.

• Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights): These are two more lighthouses that were part of the "Three Sisters" group. They were moved and reunited with The Beacon.

The Three Sisters of Nauset, reunited.

Important Houses and Buildings

Many historic homes and other buildings are preserved here. They show us how people lived and worked in the past.

• Ahearn House and Summer House: These buildings in Wellfleet show how people enjoyed their summers long ago.

The Ahearn House, a historic summer home.

• French Cable Hut: This small hut in North Eastham was once part of a huge communication network. It helped send telegraph messages across the Atlantic Ocean!

The French Cable Hut, a piece of communication history.

• Ruth and Robert Hatch Jr. House: This house in Wellfleet is an example of mid-20th century modern architecture.

The Ruth and Robert Hatch Jr. House.

• Jedediah Higgins House: Located in North Truro, this old house gives us a peek into the lives of early settlers.

The Jedediah Higgins House.

• Highland House (Truro, Massachusetts): This historic house is near the Highland Light. It's now a museum where you can learn about the area's history.

The historic Highland House.

• Peter Kugel House: Another example of modern architecture from the mid-20th century in Wellfleet.

The Peter Kugel House.

• Samuel and Minette Kuhn House: This Wellfleet home also showcases mid-20th century modern design.

The Samuel and Minette Kuhn House.

• John Newcomb House: This house in Wellfleet is sometimes called "Thoreau's House of the Wellfleet Oysterman." It's linked to the famous writer Henry David Thoreau.

The John Newcomb House.

• Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station: This building was once a station for brave rescuers who saved people from shipwrecks. It was moved to Race Point Beach.

The Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station.

• Edward Penniman House and Barn: This large house and barn in Eastham belonged to a wealthy whaling captain. It shows how successful people lived in the 1800s.

The Edward Penniman House and Barn.

• Anthony and Allison Sirna Studio: This studio in Wellfleet is another example of mid-20th century modern architecture.

The Anthony and Allison Sirna Studio.

• Vera and Laszlo Tisza House: This Wellfleet house also represents mid-20th century modern residential architecture.

The Vera and Laszlo Tisza House.

• Paul and Madeleine Weidlinger House: Located in Wellfleet, this house is another example of modern design from the mid-20th century.

The Paul and Madeleine Weidlinger House.

Ancient Sites and Districts

Some historic places are not just single buildings. They are larger areas or even ancient sites that tell us about earlier times.

• Atwood-Higgins Historic District: This area in Wellfleet includes the Thomas Atwood House and other historic buildings. It shows how a community developed over time.

The Thomas Atwood House, part of the Atwood-Higgins Historic District.

• Fort Hill Rural Historic District: This beautiful area in Eastham has historic buildings and stunning views. It shows the history of farming and coastal life.

A view from Fort Hill Rural Historic District.

• Marconi Wireless Station Site (South Wellfleet, Massachusetts): This is where Guglielmo Marconi made history! He sent the first wireless telegraph message from the U.S. to Europe from this spot.

The historic Marconi Wireless Station Site.

• Nauset Archeological District: This area in Eastham is very important for understanding the history of Native Americans on Cape Cod. Archeologists have found many ancient artifacts here.

An old map showing Nauset Harbor, part of the Archeological District.

• Pine Grove Cemetery (Truro, Massachusetts): This historic cemetery in Truro is a quiet place that tells stories of the people who lived in the area long ago.

Pine Grove Cemetery in Truro.

• Samuel Smith Tavern Site: On Great Island in Wellfleet, this is the site of a 17th-century tavern. Archeologists have explored what life was like there hundreds of years ago.

Excavation at the Samuel Smith Tavern Site.

• Truro Highlands Historic District: This district includes the Highland Light, the Highland House, and other buildings. It shows the history of the area around the famous lighthouse.

Highland Light, within the Truro Highlands Historic District.