Abby Epplett, Historian

Along with touring Historic New England’s Winslow Crocker House , Edward Gorey House , and sites maintained by Historical Society of Old Yarmouth during my trip to Yarmouth, MA back in September 2023, I also made several quick history stops around the town. Like in other towns, I visited the cemetery, library, churches, and historic houses, along with a unique bookstore.

For my third major stop during my adventure to Yarmouth, MA on Cape Cod in late September 2023, I visited sites run by the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth (HSOY) . Stops included a tour of Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum, a collection of little historical buildings, a massive weeping beech tree, and nature trails.

For my second major stop during my adventure in Yarmouth, MA on Cape Cod in late September 2023, I visited the Edward Gorey House . Located down the street from Historic New England’s Winslow Crocker House , this museum memorializes the life of a illustrator, author, and Broadway costume designer. While the house appears ordinary from the exterior, Edward St. John Gorey used his love of whimsy and the macabre while decorating. Each year, a new exhibit showcases another facet of his life.

At last, I reach the conclusion of my journey to visit all thirty-eight properties owned by Historic New England (HNE) . In late September 2023, I made a special day trip to Yarmouth, MA on Cape Cod to visit several historic sites. My first major history stop was Winslow Crocker House , built in nearby West Barnstable around 1780 by maritime trader Winslow Crocker . I received an especially warm welcome from the excellent guides and celebrated my completion of the HNE passport book. This lovingly renovated home filled with antique furniture was the perfect way to bring this phase of my adventure to a close.

If you’re seeking a combination of exercise and history on the coast of Massachusetts, look no further than the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway in the Bourne Recreation Area. Managed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers New England District , a pair of signs describing the construction and history of the Vertical Life Railroad Bridge line the paved, two-lane path. Walking, biking, rollerblading, and other similar activities are permitted, while the banks near the bridge are a popular spot for fishing.  If you travel on the northwest section of the path, plenty of parking is available at nearby Buzzards Bay Park . A matching parking lot for the southeast section is on the opposite side of the Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge.