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ABOUT CHATHAM, CAPE COD
Chatham, Cape Cod
Attractions
"Chatham is an
authentic, old-fashioned
town that has never
forgotten its sense of
place. Visitors looking for
one of the best towns Cape
Cod has to offer should look
no further than Chatham."
- National Trust for
Historic Preservation
Beloved by fishermen and sea
captains for centuries, the
charming coastal town of
Chatham, Mass., came into
its own as a resort
destination in the 1870s
when wealthy New Englanders
discovered its vistas of sea
and shore.
Chatham has long been
recognized for its exquisite
natural beauty.
Picture-perfect streets are
lined with 18th-century
homes, Cape Cod cottages and
glorious gardens. Anchored
by the historic Chatham
lighthouse, the village
boasts a lively,
architecturally rich Main
Street where merchants cater
to locals and strolling
visitors from around the
world. You won’t find any
chain stores here!
The town celebrates its
sense of place through
well-loved summertime
traditions such as free
Friday night band concerts,
Chatham A's baseball games
and a Fourth of July parade
that is a Norman Rockwell
painting come to life. In
the winter months, Chatham
hosts a performing arts
festival that culminates
with midnight fireworks over
Oyster Pond. Nearly
surrounded by water and
dotted with ice-age "kettle
ponds," Chatham offers a
number of beaches, varied
water sports and a scenic
4.5-mile bike trail.
The Chatham Railroad Museum,
housed in a beautifully
restored 1887 depot,
features a walk-through of a
1918 New York Central
caboose, and there are three
other local museums to
explore as well as a
wildlife refuge.
For these reasons, the
National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the country's
largest private, nonprofit
preservation organization,
named Chatham, Mass. to its
2007 list of America's Dozen
Distinctive Destinations, an
annual list of unique and
lovingly preserved
communities in the United
States. Chatham was selected
from 63 destinations in 27
states that were nominated
by individuals, preservation
organizations and local
communities. |
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