National Register Listings in
Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Adams-Crocker-Fish House Ahearn House and Summer House Ames, Josiah A., House Ancient Burying Ground Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Historic District Atwood, Thomas, House Atwood-Higgins Historic District Avant House Baker, Benjamin, Jr., House Baker, Capt. Seth, Jr., House Baker, Nathaniel, House Barnstable County Courthouse Baxter Mill Baxter, Capt. Rodney J., House Baxter, Capt. Sylvester, House Baxter, Charles L., House Baxter, Shubael, House Beacon, The Bearse, Capt. Allen H., House Bearse, Capt. Oliver, House Berry, Captain James, House Blish-Garret House Bourne High School Bourne Town Hall Bourne, Jonathan, Public Library Bournedale Village School Brandeis, Louis, House Bray, Thomas, Farm Brewster Old King's Highway Historic District Brick Block Bridge Road Cemetery Briggs, George I., House Building at 237-239 Main Street Building at 600 Main Street Building at 606 Main Street Building at 614 Main Street Campbell, Collen C., House Canary-Hartnett House Cataumet Schoolhouse Center Methodist Church Centerville Historic District Central Fire Station Chase Library Chase, Lemuel B., House Chatham Light Station Chatham Railroad Depot Chatham Windmill Cleveland Ledge Light Station Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500 Cobb Memorial Library Collins Cottages Historic District Cotuit Historic District Cove Burying Ground Craigville Historic District Crocker, Benomi and Barnabas, House Crocker, Capt. Alexander, House Crocker, Ebenezer, Jr., House Crocker, Lot, House Crosby, Daniel, House Crowell-Bourne Farm Crowell-Smith House Dennis Village Cemetery Dennis, Josiah, House Dillingham House Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District Eastham Center Historic District Eldredge Public Library Falmouth Pumping Station Falmouth Village Green Historic District First Congregational Parish Historic District First Universalist Chruch Forestdale School Fort Hill Rural Historic District French Cable Hut French Cable Station Fuller House Gifford Farm Gleason, Dr. Edward Francis, House Goodspeed House Gray, Capt. Thomas, House Half Way House Hallett, Capt. William, House Hallett, Seth, House Harlow Homestead Harwich Historic District Hawley, Gideon, House Hawthorne Class Studio Higgins, Jedediah, House Highland House Highland Light Station Hinckley Homestead Hinckley's Corner Historic District Hinckley, Capt. Joseph, House Hinckley, Nymphus, House Hinckley, S. Alexander, House Hyannis Port Historic District Hyannis Road Historic District Isham, Herman, House Jarves, John and Mary Waterman, House Jarvesville Historic District Jenkins, John, Homestead Jenkins, Joseph, House Jenkins-Whelden Farmstead Kelley, Mercelia Evelyn Eldridge, House Kennedy Compound Kuhn, Samuel and Minette, House Lawrence Academy Liberty Hall Lincoln House Club Long Point Light Station Lovell, Capt. George, House Lovell, Nehemiah, House Marconi Wireless Station Site Marconi-RCA Wireless Receiving Station Marston, William, House Marstons Mills Hearse House and Cemetery Merrill Estate Methodist Church Mill Way Historic District Monomoy Point Lighthouse Municipal Group Historic District Nauset Beach Light Nickerson Mansion Nobska Point Light Station North Falmouth Village Historic District Northside Historic District Nye, Benjamin, Homestead Nye, Elnathan, House Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station Old Higgins Farm Windmill Old Indian Meeting House Old Jail Old King's Highway Historic District Old North Cemetery Old Town Center Historic District Old Village Historic District Osterville Baptist Church Paine Hollow Road South Historic District Penniman, Edward, House and Barn Phinney, William and Jane, House Pine Grove Cemetery Pleasant-School Street Historic District Pond Hill School Poor House and Methodist Cemetery Port Royal House Provincetown Historic District Provincetown Public Library Race Point Light Station Rhodehouse, Nelson, House Richardson, John, House Robbins, Joseph, House Round House Rowell House Sampson's Folly-Josiah Sampson House Santuit Historic District Santuit Post Office Saunders-Paine House Sea Call Farm Sears, Jacob, Memorial Library Smith, Matthias, House South Harwich Methodist Church South Yarmouth/Bass River Historic District Spring Hill Historic District Stony Brook-Factory Village Historic District Taylor-Bray Farm Teaticket School Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights) Tobey, Josiah, House Town Boundary Marker Town Hall Square Historic District Town Hall Square Historic District Boundary Increase Town Line Boundary Marker Town Line Boundary Marker Townsend House Truro Highlands Historic District U.S. Customshouse Union Hall Universalist Society Meetinghouse US Post Office-Provincetown Main Waquoit Historic District Weeks, Barzillai, House Wellfleet Center Historic District West Barnstable Village-Meetinghouse Way Historic District West Dennis Graded School West Falmouth Village Historic District West Schoolhouse Whitman, Josiah B., House Wianno Club Wianno Historic District Wing Fort House Wing's Neck Light Wood End Light Lookout Station Yarmouth Camp Ground Historic District
The first American lighthouse was built in Boston Harbor in 1716. The lighthouse was destroyed during the American Revolution and rebuilt in 1783.
Massachusetts random facts
Barnstable County, located in southeastern Massachusetts, has a rich and diverse history that spans several centuries. The area was originally inhabited by the Wampanoag Tribe, who had a strong presence in the region for thousands of years before the arrival of European colonizers.

In the early 17th century, settlers from England, including the Pilgrims, established the Plymouth Colony, which encompassed a portion of what is now Barnstable County. This marked the beginning of European settlement in the area. Over time, more colonists arrived and settled in Barnstable, with the town being officially incorporated in 1639.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, agriculture, fishing, and whaling became important industries in Barnstable County. The region's fertile soil supported the growth of crops such as corn, wheat, and barley, while its proximity to the ocean allowed residents to engage in fishing and whaling activities. Shipbuilding also thrived during this period, contributing to the local economy and sustaining the maritime tradition.

In the 20th century, tourism became a significant industry in Barnstable County. Cape Cod and its picturesque beaches, quaint towns, and charming lighthouses attracted visitors from all over the country. As a result, the county experienced significant growth and development, with the population increasing and the economy diversifying to accommodate the tourism industry.

Today, Barnstable County remains a popular tourist destination, offering a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities. It continues to honor its past through the preservation of historic landmarks and the celebration of its cultural heritage, while also embracing innovation and progress in various fields, including technology, healthcare, and education.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

  • 1685 - Barnstable County is established by the Plymouth Colony.
  • 1700s - The county experiences rapid growth due to its favorable location for trade and fishing.
  • 1774 - Barnstable County actively participates in the Revolutionary War against British rule.
  • 1801 - The Cape Cod Canal is opened, connecting Cape Cod to the mainland and boosting trade and transportation in the region.
  • 1830s - The whaling industry becomes a major economic driver in Barnstable County.
  • 1860s - Barnstable County contributes significantly to the Union cause during the American Civil War.
  • 1900s - The tourism industry begins to flourish in Barnstable County, attracting visitors to its scenic coastlines and historic towns.
  • 1914-1918 - Barnstable County sends many soldiers to fight in World War I.
  • 1950s-1960s - Cape Cod experiences population growth and development, leading to increased suburbanization.
  • 2000s - Barnstable County adapts to the challenges of climate change and works to preserve its natural resources.