Barnstable, MA
Barnstable, MA Barnstable was settled in 1638 and incorporated in 1639, making it one of the earliest towns established on Cape Cod. Named for Barnstaple in Devon, England, the town developed along both Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound. Agriculture, fishing, shell fishing, salt production and maritime commerce supported its early communities, while Barnstable Harbor connected local residents with ports throughout New England and beyond.
The Town of Barnstable is composed of seven villages: Barnstable, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville and West Barnstable. Hyannis grew into the town’s largest village and principal commercial, transportation and maritime center, later becoming closely associated with the Kennedy family and their Hyannis Port home. Today, Barnstable’s historic houses, churches, burial grounds, working harbors and coastal landscapes preserve the varied stories of the communities that have shaped the town for nearly four centuries.
Recent Posts
The Public Service Building and 1960s Main Street
Constructed in 1928, the Public Service Building became an important center of civic and commercial activity in downtown Hyannis. Its early tenants included the United States Post Office, New England Telephone and Telegraph, the Cape and Vineyard Electric Company, Barnstable County National Bank, F. W. Woolworth and A. W. Grant. Much of the original construction […]
Veterans Park Beach and Lewis Bay
Veterans Park Beach lies beside the John F. Kennedy Memorial and overlooks Lewis Bay, the waters where Kennedy spent many summers sailing with family and friends. Sailing was an important part of Kennedy family life on Cape Cod and remained one of John F. Kennedy’s favorite activities from childhood through his presidency. Kennedy often sailed […]
Richard Emil Olson Square
Richard Emil Olson Square, located at the intersection of South Street and Old Colony Boulevard, honors a young Hyannis resident who lost his life while serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The simple stone marker preserves his name near the community where he was born and raised. Richard Emil Olson was […]
Peace Corps Memorial
During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to serve abroad and contribute their skills to communities in developing nations. The idea captured the imagination of thousands of young people and became one of the defining programs of his presidency. On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order, […]
Michael K. Aselton Memorial Park
Michael K. Aselton Memorial Park honors a Barnstable police officer who lost his life while serving the community. Patrolman Aselton had been with the Barnstable Police Department for four years when he was killed in the line of duty on March 29, 1983, at the age of 25. Aselton was conducting radar enforcement on Old […]
Kennedy Legacy Trail
The Kennedy Legacy Trail is a self-guided walking route through downtown Hyannis that connects places associated with John F. Kennedy and his family. The 1.6-mile trail contains ten stops, each marked by an informational panel and a circular sidewalk emblem modeled after the nautical signal flags that reflect the family’s strong connection to sailing and […]
John F. Kennedy Memorial
John F. Kennedy Memorial stands in Veterans Memorial Park overlooking Lewis Bay, where Kennedy frequently sailed during the years he spent at Hyannis Port. Its waterfront setting connects his public legacy with the Cape Cod landscape that remained an important part of his private and family life. Commissioned by the citizens of Barnstable, the memorial […]
Korean War Memorial
The Korean War Memorial in Veterans Memorial Park honors the men and women from Cape Cod and the surrounding communities who served during the Korean War. A soldier stands at the center of the memorial, surrounded by the American flag and the flags representing the branches of the United States military. The Korean War began […]
John F. Kennedy Jr., 1963
On November 25, 1963, three-year-old John F. Kennedy Jr. stood outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and saluted as his father’s funeral procession passed. The moment occurred on the young boy’s third birthday and became one of the most poignant images following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The statue was conceived by […]
Hyannis Armory
The Hyannis Armory was built in 1958 for the Massachusetts Army National Guard and originally housed Battery D of the 685th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Only two years after its completion, the modest military building became the setting for an important moment in American presidential history. During the 1960 presidential election, John F. Kennedy and his […]
What Could’ve Been
What Could’ve Been is a maquette, or small-scale model, created by sculptor David Lewis in 2000 for a proposed statue honoring President John F. Kennedy and his son, John F. Kennedy Jr. Sponsored by the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce, the sculpture presents them walking barefoot together, with the president’s arm resting affectionately across his son’s […]
St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis Xavier Church stands on South Street in Hyannis, its white clapboard exterior, columned entrance and restrained design reflecting the traditions of many New England churches. Although it has long served the surrounding Catholic community, it also became closely associated with the Kennedy family during their summers at Hyannis Port. President John F. Kennedy […]
