Jan. 14th: History of Cape Cod National Seashore

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the Cape Cod National Seashore into law. Photo courtesy of Bill Burke, Cape Cod National Seashore archives.

Saturday, January 14th, 2:00 p.m.
(suggested donation: $5.00 pp)
History of the Cape Cod National Seashore:
55 Years and Counting for a Cape Cod Treasure

Presentation by Bill Burke, Park Historian, Cape Cod National Seashore

Location: Harwich Community Center (#100 Oak St.)

In the 1950s, Cape Codders were split over the proposal to carve a National Seashore out of the 6 towns of the Outer Cape.  Some feared the “clutches of big government” while others welcomed preservation of wild lands.  Explore the Seashore’s innovative “Cape Cod Model” that created a citizen advisory commission, patched together over 1,000 parcels of land, limited eminent domain, and emphasized preservation of both land and cultural heritage. Learn how the Seashore greets millions of visitors a year, serves as a center for science and learning, and still tries to be a refuge from everyday life.