About Us

Step Back to Cape Cod of centuries past. Your journey begins with a tour of the historical dwelling built circa 1752 by Chatham sea captain Joseph Atwood, and occupied by his descendants for some five generations. Discover Cape Cod's captivating history, art, and culture at the Chatham Historical Society's Atwood Museum.

Eldredge Public Library was a gift to the people of Chatham from one of its natives, Marcellus Eldredge. The Library was dedicated in formal ceremonies on July 4, 1896, and opened to the public a week later. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Chatham Chamber of Commerce, with its over 360 members, is dedicated to blending the interests of the business community with those of town government as well as Chatham’s year-round and summer residents and many seasonal visitors. A Visitor Information Center is located in the town-owned David T. Bassett House, 2377 Main Street, at the intersection of Routes 28 and 137 in South Chatham. The seasonal Information Booth is located at 533 Main Street, next to Town Hall.

Considered the iconic landmark of the town, hatham Light stands 48 ft tall and 80 ft above sea level overlooking the infamous Chatham Bar. It is one of the few lighthouses in America that still operates 24 hours a day. Chatham Light is an operational lighthouse under the US Coast Guard. Chatham Light was originally a pair of lighthouses, called the “Twin Lights”, and this site was just one of three lighthouse locations in Chatham – the others being the Stage Harbor Light, and the Monomoy Light.

Built by Colonel Benjamin Godfrey in 1797, the Mill remains almost exactly as it was when it was grinding corn for early Chatham residents. The Mill is located near Chase Park, off Shattuck place, just a short walk from the downtown Main Street. It is a prime example of a post-Revolutionary War commercial venture that served the community for more than one-hundred years.

Chatham's Caleb Nickerson Homestead, on the Nickerson Family Association property, was originally built on Stage Neck in 1772 by the great, great grandson of Chatham town founder William Nickerson. In 2003, the house made a journey by land and sea to its present location. This pristine home features three working fireplaces including a beehive oven and original iron cranes, period woodwork and random width wide pine floors.

Built for Guglielmo Marconi in 1914, the 11.3-acre, 10-building Chatham Marconi Maritime Center campus of distinctive structures has been preserved by the Town of Chatham and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Marconi's Wireless Receiving Station was initially part of his visionary global network planned to link America with Europe and Japan. Today, the Operations and Residence Hotel buildings serve respectively as CMMC's museum and Education Center.

The Josiah Mayo House located at 540 Main Street is an excellent example of life on Main Street in the 1800s. It was built between 1818 and 1820 by Josiah Mayo, a Blacksmith by trade, who was Postmaster in Chatham for 40 years, Treasurer for 27 years and Selectman for two years. The house was occupied by members of the family until 1938.It is now the property of the Chatham Conservation Foundation and open for tours during the summer months.

The Chatham Historical Commission is the town regulatory body responsible for hearing applications to demolish historic properties over 75 years of age and for reviewing plans for substantial alteration to historic properties within the Old Village National Register Historic District. The Commission is also charged with researching and preparing inventory forms on all historic structures in Chatham. Its mandates include promoting preservation of Chatham's historic resources and educating the public about the importance of these resources to Chatham's unique sense of place.

The Chatham Railroad Museum is located in the old Chatham Railroad Company station on Depot Road, and has parking space at the door. The building is now over 130 years old and on the original site. A striking example of Victorian-era architecture, the railroad depot was the stepping off – and on – point for riders of the old Chatham Railroad, which served the town with a seven-mile strip of railway for about fifty years from 1887 to 1937.

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge consists of North and South Monomoy Islands, Minimoy Island and a portion of Morris Island. The 7,921-acre refuge stretches approximately nine miles southward into the waters of Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Ninety-four percent of Monomoy's acreage was designated a Wilderness Area in 1970, and it is the only Wilderness Area in southern New England.