Eastham

Eastham, or the Indian name Nauset, was the home of the Nauset Indians before the Pilgrims first came in 1620. Miles Standish, with a small group of men, was the first Englishman to see the Indians at what is now called First Encounter Beach. The first settlers came from the Plymouth Colony in 1644 and in 1651, Eastham incorporated.

Though Eastham had many coves, they were not as deep as others on the Cape so shell fishing became their income from the sea. Farming, however, was also a major source of income. There was, during the 19th century, enough grain to allow for export. Cranberries and asparagus were grown in quantities large enough to have a market for them. Oddly enough, Swift and company meatpackers began their company there before moving to Chicago.

Eastham was a draw to artists and writers. Perhaps its desolation attracted them. Early in the 1800s, the Methodist Church established a summer meeting camp ground that, as time went on, attracted hundreds of ministers and audiences. Their meeting spot is now called Millennium Grove.

The Cape Cod National Seashore begins at Eastham where one can still see pristine land. It was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to protect the coast not only from erosion but from developmental growth. Eastham has remained a quiet town with little shops and restaurants. The out-of-doors provides visitors and natives alike with plenty of things to do with leisure time. With a permit, you can still dig your own clams, oysters, etc. if you know where to look. Nauset Light, moved to Eastham in 1923 from Chatham, is still an attraction. In that same area, Three Sisters Lighthouses, recently moved from their eroded pedestals, stand in a field. The oldest wind-driven windmill stands across from City Hall. Built in 1688, it is still in working condition. Asparagus is still grown there as is the popular Eastham Turnip.