Spring Thaw: Native American History Walk Series
Photo by Charles Burke
Sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust, Brewster Conservation Trust, and Yarmouth Conservation Trust, join 12th generation Cape Codder Todd Kelley and native Wampanoag/Nipmuc Marcus Hendricks for a fascinating series of interpretive walks exploring the history of Cape Cod from the First People and early European settlers to the nature of Cape Cod today. This is an engaging three walk series that follows a progressive storyline about human settlement near freshwater sources and coastal water embayments and will take place at locations within the towns of Harwich, Brewster, and Yarmouth.
Registration & Cost:
$45.00 for the series (if you join one or all three walks, it’s a one-time fee of $45.00)
Advance registration and payment are required. Space is limited.
To register and pay online, click here.
Directions will be emailed with payment/registration confirmation.
Individual Program Descriptions:
Harwich: Saturday, April 29th
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, April 30th)
First People of the Herring River Valley
Learn about the early natural history of Cape Cod through 6,000 years of First People settlement along the Herring River valley. Follow the water of this ancient corridor and you will find the First People. We will consider their early lifeways from 9,000 years ago to the first European encounters up to Verrazano c. 1524.
Brewster: Saturday, May 6th
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, May 7th)
First People of Saquatucket to John Wing and Quaker Path (1659)
Join the First People at Saquatucket where the tidal waters meet the pure freshwater draining down through the Stony Brook valley. Contrast this with the early English settlement by John Wing and John Dillingham c. 1659. Also learn the significance of the simple Quaker Path, which ran from the Dillingham House to Bass River Village, and its relation to the First People at Indian Town, Yarmouth c. 1711.
Yarmouth: Saturday, May 13th
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, May 14th)
Ralph of Nobscusset to Portanimicut (1643) and Indian Town (1711) to Yarmouth Quaker Meeting (1714)
Witness the barrier beach estuary at Nobscusset and come to understand the historic period migration of this community to Portanimicut (South Orleans). Learn more about the communities of Portanimicut and Indian Town and how they became the last native strongholds east of Mashpee. We will also consider the role the formation of Yarmouth Quaker Meeting played in this story.