Falmouth Chamber of Commerce -

Backgrounder

Falmouth’s original name was Succannessett—“place of the black shells”—thus named by native Wampanoags. Falmouth was planned in 1616, settled by a dozen families from
Barnstable in 1660 and was incorporated into a town in 1686. It was renamed
Falmouth, after the English port in Cornwall, in 1690. At one time, of 300 families
domiciled in Falmouth, 148 households were headed by sea captains.

Falmouth’s triangular signature village green, one of its, and the Cape’s, most renowned
landmarks, comprises land set aside as common land in 1749 for the town’s 600
residents. Across the street, the First Congregational Church (circa 1708) bears an
inscription “The living to the Church I call and to the Grave I summon all.” Its bell was forged by Paul Revere.

Falmouth, Barnstable County’s second largest town, comprises 44 square miles,
bordered on the west by Buzzards Bay and by Vineyard Sound to the south. It is,
roughly, at the shoulder of the Cape’s bent arm. More than 68 miles of coastline and 12
miles of sandy, warm-water beaches border Falmouth’s confluence with the ocean. The
Town of Falmouth is a constellation of eight villages: East Falmouth, Falmouth,
Hatchville, North Falmouth, Teaticket (or Davis Straits), Waquoit, West Falmouth and
Woods Hole.

Falmouth is the closest mainland point—and the Cape’s primary gateway—to Martha’s
Vineyard, a mere seven miles off its shore. Daily, scheduled steamship service between
Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs is provided year-round by the Woods
Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority. Seasonal ferry service
between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket is available.

Falmouth’s ideal location make it a perfect holiday “hub” from which to explore many
regional destinations and sights and attractions, such as Plymouth, “America’s
Hometown;” Newport, Rhode Island, “America’s First Resort,” with its opulent summer “cottages;” and colorful Provincetown, ever art-filled and artful, at the Cape’s terminus, are within a one hour’s drive of Falmouth. Several whale watch excursions depart “P’town,” the locals’ appellation for this lively town. Whale watches also depart
Barnstable Harbor and Plymouth. Nearby Hyannis, the “capital” of the Cape, is a lively
“metropolis” and home to the Kennedy Compound, JFK Hyannis Museum and the
Cape’s airport, HYA.

Cape Cod is the New England Mecca for golfers. Falmouth boasts more public golf
courses (six) than any other New England town. The town is also renowned for its
outdoor recreational options. Its deep harbors, open waters and 12 miles of shoreline
offer excellent boating, sailing, windsurfing, deep sea and sport fishing (tuna, bluefish
and the coveted striped bass). Falmouth is also an angler’s paradise for fly fishing.

Falmouth’s nature trails are a delight and, for cyclers, the Shining Sea Bike Path’s
four-mile route from Falmouth to Woods Hole takes cyclists past arresting shoreline
vistas and serene woodlands. Visitors interested in the Cape’s fragile eco-system may
explore inalnd waterways via guided nature canoe and kayak tours, or collect marine
specimens for hands-on learning on oceanographic cruises. Runners, sprinters and
joggers will be pleased to know that Runner’s World magazine has christened Falmouth
“the jewel of the coast.”

Cape Cod Children’s Museum, located in Falmouth, is a hands-on learning center with
numerous interactive exhibits which promise fun, discovery and learning for children of
all ages. History buffs will enjoy the seasonal historic trolley tours, Falmouth Historical
Society Museum and Woods Hole’s Bradley House Museum. Both museums offer
insights into early Cape life to the time when many whaling and sea captains called
Falmouth their homeport.

Each of Falmouth’s eight villages offers a surfeit of unique and diverse shopping, all in
an unhurried, relaxed milieu. And the sheer variety of dining establishments will
enthrall the most discerning gourmand—there’s a perfect spot for each palate and
pocketbook. Visitors will find every manner of lodging—from full service seaside
resorts, family motor inns, hotels and historic bed and breakfasts and country inns.

There is no shortage of events and activities, whatever the time of year—from purely
Falmouth events to pure “hometown Americana.” Spring is ushered in with Falmouth
in Bloom. There are self-guided walks through a ‘sea of daffodils’ at Woods Hole’s
Spohr’s Garden and the June Strawberry Festival to welcome the new whalewatching
season. Falmouth’s Independence Day Celebration on July 4th welcomes summer with
a mammoth fireworks display high over Vineyard Sound. Main Street Falmouth Village
becomes a pedestrian walkway for the Annual Arts & Crafts Fair. Summers, there are
antique shows, Art Trolley Tours, weekly band concerts on the harbor, light opera
productions, an old fashioned county fair and the world-renowned Falmouth Road
Race. Autumn mellows summer’s more frenetic pace and historic Bourne Farm tours
and pumpkin picking day or watching the harvesting of the crimson cranberry bogs in
preparation for the traditional Thanksgiving Day celebration. Autumn is also
seal-watching season. Winter’s holiday season and festivities are inaugurated during the
first weekend in December with Christmas by the Sea Weekend & Parade. There’s an
early evening carol sing at historic Nobska Lighthouse, old fashioned church fairs,
Santa’s arrival in Falmouth Harbor, the lighting ceremony and carol singing on
Falmouth’s historic Village Green, all of which culminates in the celebrated Christmas
Parade on Sunday. New Year’s Eve’s First Night festivites are celebrated across the
Cape.

Traveling to, from and around Falmouth is easy. There is direct bus service from
Boston’s Logan International Airport and South Station to Falmouth. There are
plentiful care rental companies, taxis and local bus service from Woods Hole to
neighboring Hyannis. Summer and fall, a local trolley transits between Falmouth and
Woods Hole.

Falmouth by the Sea is fortunate to have found a balance and sense of place in a
past-paced world. It continues to maintain its charm and historic qualities without
compromising the “creature comforts” today’s visitors demand.

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Michael Patrick Destinations & Communications

396 Main Street, Suite 3, Hyannis, Cape Cod Massachusetts 02601

508-790-0566/Fax 508-790-0565

e-mail: info@mpdcltd.com