Dennis

Dennis or its Indian name, Nobscussett, was the first settled in 1639 and Thomas Howes had the honor of being the first settler. It wasn’t until 1793 that Dennis broke away from Yarmouth and incorporated. It was named after the town minister, Josiah Dennis. The major industries centered around fishing, whaling and shell fishing where the Shiverick Shipyard supplied their needs. Many sea captains chose to build their homes in Dennis, several of which are preserved today.

The villages that make up Dennis are: Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis and West Dennis. Don’t get confused when you discover West Dennis is indeed west of Dennisport, it is south of South Dennis. East Dennis is north of South Dennis, and Dennis is on the north shore, to the west of East Dennis.

Dennis is a popular destination for travelers. The warm ocean waters along the southern coast of Nantucket Sound are a very popular swimming and sunbathing site. Folks enjoy a drive along 6A along Cape Cod Bay to view the many stately old homes. It is particularly beautiful at Christmas time when many of them display a single candle in all the windows. Probably the biggest attraction in Dennis is the Dennis Playhouse, the oldest Professional Summer Theater in the United States. It is situated on 26 acres where the Cape Cod Center for the Arts, the Cape Cinema, the Cape Cod Museum of Art, the Center Stage Café and the Playhouse are all in that area. The Playhouse was started by Raymond Moore, a visitor from California. His foundation has been in existence for over eighty years. It has discovered and casted countless stars over the years and is now the oldest Professional Summer Theater in the United States.

Dennis is proud that, in 1978, they were designated the All-American Town. The Scargo Tower, atop a 160 foot hill, is another attraction. The tower itself it not a thing of beauty but there is a legend behind it involving an Indian Princess. The tower itself is almost thirty feet tall and stands on the highest point on Cape Cod. On a clear day, from the top of the tower, you can see the Provincetown Monument and the mainland of Massachusetts. Even on a not so clear day, the view is extraordinary.