Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Eastham is located in the lower "forearm" of Cape Cod, just above Orleans and just south of Wellfleet. Eastham's Nauset Lighthouse, located at the beginning of the 43,604-acre Cape Cod National Seashore, is a tribute to Eastham's original name, Nauset (Nawsett). Eastham is a popular destination because it has a unique blend of upscale hotel chains, old-fashioned Bed & Breakfasts, elaborate vacation homes, and cozy cottages. The resident population is quite small—less than 4,500-possibly due to the rural town's recent history as farmland for asparagus; and after the 1920s, Eastham replaced the asparagus with turnip crops.
Eastham was first settled in 1644 as a better alternative to poor soil in the Colony of Plymouth; and while previously part of the Nauset Indian Territory, it was incorporated as a town in 1651. Since its inception, Eastham has had a laid-back and charming personality. Generations of tourists have been making their ways to this Cape town to immerse themselves in Eastham's cozy style while enjoying a unique beach vacation. First Encounter Beach is one of Eastham's five, and has historical significance as the site where Plymouth Colony's military advisor Myles Standish met the Nauset tribe centuries ago when the Pilgrims arrived. The meeting was peaceful, but the Pilgrims nonetheless continued quickly to Plymouth.

The most popular annual event is certainly Windmill Weekend, immediately following Labor Day on Eastham's Town Green beside the windmill. The community participates in road races, sand arts contests, concerts, arts & crafts events, square dancing, and more! The weekend ends with a parade developed with the year's chosen theme in mind.
Visitors should stop by the one-room 1869 Old Schoolhouse Museum, maintained by the Eastham Historical Society. Other local attractions include the Cape Cod National Seashore Park, the Nauset Light, and the Swift-Daley House built in 1741 and remaining a prime example of home architecture by a ship's carpenter.
Local Eastham legend tells a story of the Three Sisters of Eastham. While the name might mislead listeners into believing it is a tale of witches, these three sisters were the original three lighthouses protecting the Cape's ships during the 1800s. The original 15-foot brick towers were 150 feet apart and successfully guided ships along the coast for decades until erosion destroyed their oceanfront stability, and the sea claimed the towers. Three wooden lighthouses replaced the originals in the early 1890s until 1911, when erosion once again threatened them. By then, expenses would only allow for the maintenance of the middle tower so it alone was transferred to a location further inland. The other two were sold to a local homeowner until 1990, when the National Park Service finally renovated the three towers and brought them together near the Nauset Light Beach parking lot.
Vacation rentals of Eastham are mostly private homes or cottages. Home vacation rental prices range from $1,500 per weekend to $4,800 per week, while cottage rentals range from $500 to $1,350 per week.