Exploring the Best Museums and Historical Sites on Cape Cod

Cape Cod wears its history like a well-worn sea captain’s coat—weathered, but stitched together with stories from centuries past. For generations, artists, naturalists, pirates, pilgrims, and lighthouse keepers have left their mark across this sandy peninsula. And today, those echoes of the past are preserved in the many museums and historical landmarks that stretch from Sandwich to Provincetown.



If your idea of a good time includes galleries, artifacts, and standing where history actually happened, Cape Cod is about to win you over. Let’s take a walk—one that spans 400 years.

It’s impossible to explore Cape Cod without running into someone who once made their living on the water—or who at least knows someone who did.

In Hyannis, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum delivers a deep dive into boatbuilding, sea navigation, and life along the coast. You can even witness traditional techniques used in restoring small wooden vessels. If you've ever admired a sailboat slicing through Nantucket Sound, this place explains everything you’d ever want to know.

Not far away in West Yarmouth, the Whydah Pirate Museum provides the kind of high-seas drama we’re used to seeing on the big screen. This isn’t theatrical fluff either—it houses artifacts recovered from the wreck of the Whydah Gally, the only authenticated pirate shipwreck in the world. There’s gold, cannons, and a backstory involving real-life pirates and their run-in with karma.



It’s hands-on, historically rich, and oddly humbling to stand inches from a piece of history dredged up from the Atlantic floor.

Whether you’re 9 or 99, you don’t want to miss this.

Tales from the Sea: Pirates, Shipbuilders & Saltwater Lore

Cape Cod has been around the historical block a few times—starting with the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620—and the reminders are everywhere.

In Provincetown, climb the Pilgrim Monument, a 252-foot granite tower commemorating the spot where the Mayflower Compact was signed. The view from the top is worth the effort, and bragging rights for climbing the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S. is a nice bonus.

Drive over to East Sandwich, and you’ll find the Wing Fort House, which dates to 1641. Still standing and impressively intact, it's the oldest house in New England continuously owned by the same family—until it was passed on for preservation. Touring the creaky floors and peeking at period furnishings offers more than architectural interest; it gives you a feel for the daily lives of those who shaped early America.



If you appreciate history with a twist, Sturgis Library in Barnstable is a must-see. Housed in the former home of a 17th-century reverend, this is the oldest building in the country still functioning as a public library. It’s an ideal stop for anyone who finds the smell of old books oddly intoxicating.

Colonial Footprints You Can Still Walk Through

Where Art Meets the Atlantic

Cape Cod isn’t just saltwater and seafood. It’s also a canvas for creators inspired by shifting light and crashing waves.



Start in Dennis at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, where you'll find an impressive collection of works by regional artists. It's small enough to explore in under an hour, yet there’s enough here to surprise you. With rotating exhibitions, sculpture gardens, and educational programs, this museum champions the kind of creativity that keeps local culture alive and evolving.

This part of the Cape has long been a favorite among painters and sculptors seeking clarity and peace of mind (though summer traffic may test the latter). The museum’s collections capture both the grit and beauty of life near the ocean, and are worth every moment you spend there.

Don’t be fooled by the word “museum”—the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster is as much about getting your boots muddy as it is about reading plaques.



While it still has indoor exhibits, its true strength is outside: 80 acres of trails through salt marshes, forest, and tidal flats. Birdwatchers, geology buffs, and bug-loving kids will all find something to marvel at.

For those who like their knowledge delivered on the move, the museum offers guided walks that unpack centuries of ecological transformation. It's a place where natural history is still unfolding—right beneath your feet.

Science with Sand Between Your Toes

Before GPS, lighthouses played a crucial role in keeping maritime travelers on course. The Nauset Lighthouse in Eastham may be the most photographed lighthouse on the Cape—and for good reason. With its red and white tower and backdrop of sweeping Atlantic surf, it captures the attention (and cameras) of everyone who comes by.



A little farther north in Truro, Highland Lighthouse stands tall as the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod. Built in 1797 and still operational today, it offers tours for those willing to climb its narrow stairwell. The views stretch from sky to sea, and the stories that come with them reach all the way back to whaling days.

Lighthouses like these are more than photo ops—they're symbols of resilience, warnings against arrogance, and monuments to coastal ingenuity.

Beacons from Another Time: Lighthouses of the Outer Cape

Rest Where History Sleeps: Stay at The Inn at the Oaks

After a day spent crisscrossing centuries, there’s nothing better than resting up in a place that keeps with the spirit of history and discovery. EnterThe Inn at the Oaks, located in Eastham, just steps from the Cape Cod National Seashore and minutes from the historic sites on our list.

Built in 1893 by the widow of a sea captain, the inn blends character, comfort, and authenticity. It has the kind of backstory historians dream about—including a barn repurposed into guest rooms and ties to famed naturalist Henry Beston, author of The Outermost House. When the guest registry includes a guy who basically invented modern nature writing, you’re in good company.

With modern comforts, thoughtful details, and proximity to the best things to do on the Cape, our age-old lodging is more than a place to sleep—it’s part of the story.

Ready to explore the past without sacrificing the comforts of the present? Book your stay at The Inn at the Oaks and make your Cape Cod journey one for the history books.