10 Fact and Fun Filled Cape Cod Museums

Love the beach, the golf, the fishing and all the other outdoor activities the Cape has to offer, but want something a little less physical to fill some of the time on your next Cape Cod vacation? How about a visit to a local museum.

As one of the oldest settled areas in the United States, Cape Cod has a fascinating historical record. And, as such a historically rich area, the Cape also has a number of fun and interesting venues dedicated to displaying the local history.

From natural history to colonial life to presidential leisure, Cape Cod museums offer an enchanting glimpse into many of the people, pastimes and industries that shaped our country. Here are ten history filled cape Cod Museums the entire family will be sure to enjoy. Check a couple out on your next Cape vacation and have a great time learning more about this important piece of the nation’s past.

1. Chatham Railroad Museum – The Chatham railroad museum is a treasury of railroad history. The museum houses everything from model trains to telegraph equipment to a fully restored early 1900′s wooden caboose. Admission is free. Located at Old Chatham Railroad Co. Station, Depot Road, Chatham.
2. Falmouth Museums on the Green – Comprised of two eighteenth century houses the Falmouth Museums on the Green offer visitors a look into 18th century Cape life. Highlights of the houses include colonial furnishings and period kitchens as well as a whaling exhibit and an exhibit on America the Beautiful author and Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates. Located at 55-65 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth.
3. John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum – Cape Cod excursions were a big part of the life of one of Americas most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy. The JFK Hyannis museum chronicles the fun filled days the president spent on the Cape through videos photos and oral histories spanning almost 30 years. Located at Old Town Hall, Hyannis.
4. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History – 17,000 square feet of exhibit space an 80 acre site abutted by 300 acres of conservation land all dedicated to the natural history of Cape Cod. Visitors will find All manner of exhibits dealing with the flora and fauna of the Cape as well as walking trails, nature tours, aquariums and a museum store and library. Located at 869 Route 6A, Brewster.
5. Sandwich Glass Museum – Starting in the early 19th century Sandwich transitioned from an agricultural community to a a center for art glass and glass making. The Sandwich Glass Museum features locally crafted decorative glassware from the 1820′s to the early 1900′s as well as information on the areas glass making history. Located at 129 Main Street, Sandwich.
6. New England Fire and History Museum – This museum not only features all sorts of fire equipment, like historic engines, equipment, memorabilia and a Chicago fire diorama, but also has exhibits like a village blacksmith and apothecary shop. Located on Route 6A, Brewster.
7. Aptucxet Trading post Museum – A recreation of a circa 1600′s trading post on the actual site where pilgrims traded with Dutch settlers and the local Wampanoag Indian tribe. During the summer the sites 17th century herb and wildflower gardens are beautiful in full bloom. Located at 24 Aptucxet Road, Bourne Village
8. Thornton W. Burgess Museum – This museum, dedicated to the author of many beloved children’s stories such as Peter cottontail, is an 18th century home once owned by Burgess’s Aunt Arabella and containing artifacts from the author’s life as well as much of his original works. The grounds also feature a swan and duck pond, herb garden and a gift shop stocked with many books of Burgess’s books. Located at 4 Water Street, Route 130, Burgess.
9. Swift Daily House and Tool Museum – A tool museum featuring hundreds of unusual items sits next to Swift Daley House, a bow-roof house built in 1741. The house contains many artifacts from daily life in colonial times such as clothing, china, furniture and various other household items. Located on Route 6 , Eastham.
10. Centerville Historical Museum – This museum has a little something for everyone. Featuring everything from military artifacts and a civil war display to children’s toys and dolls, from a maritime gallery to a colonial revival kitchen, from a Victorian parlor to a 19th century classroom, the Centerville Historical Museum is an amalgamation of Cape Cod history. Located at 513 Main Street, Barnstable.