July 2 through September 30, 2016
Henry David Thoreau visited Cape Cod in 1849, 1850, and 1853. These trips formed the basis for a series of essays, several of which Thoreau published in magazines. After his death, the essays were gathered together and published as the book “Cape Cod” in 1865.
This video, made by Judy G. Rolfe, gives an overview of the exhibition:
His book is a travel log documenting his trek through towns, fields, farms, and sand dunes, both seaside and bay side. A careful observer of people, plants, local culture and local history, Thoreau gave us a colorful, witty, sometimes scientific view of Cape Cod. He especially focused in on the Outer Cape, before development, dense settlement, and the changes of the early 20th century.
We follow Thoreau’s wanderings. Documenting his footsteps in words, photos, vintage postcards, maps, and memorabilia, we explore the natural and cultivated transition of the Truro and Outer Cape landscape, before, during and after Thoreau.
Come on the journey with us. If you’re fond of sand dunes, lighthouses, windmills, forests, farms, salty locals, wit, shipwrecks, and found objects – this exhibit will bring it all together.
You will learn about:
–Native American land use
–Old farms, new farms
–Highways, roads, and railroads
–Transformation of forests to farms
–Indigenous vs. cultivated trees and plants
–Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse and windmills
