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Forest to Farm: Truro’s Landscape Before and After Thoreau

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.

  • HDT Tin Type 2 Thoreau
  • Horse and cart with family
  • 3 women, 1 on fence
  • gable
  • Horse and hay cart
  • Board 3 Single Road
  • Board 3 hgponds

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

Susan Howe Music & Speaker Series

We are very pleased and excited to announce the establishment of the Truro Historical Society’s Susan Howe Music & Speaker Series established in her honor due to the generosity of the Truro community, her family and her many friends and colleagues. In establishing this series, Susan’s commitment to Truro’s history and culture will live on and provide inspiration to all.

We will strive to develop and bring a program of inspiring authors, artists, historians, and musicians to the museum each season to share their knowledge and talent with the community and visitors to Truro.

Stay tuned for updates on this new inspiring series and thank you again for your support. If you would like to donate in Susan’s memory, please click on the link:  Donate to the Susan Howe Memorial Fund

Josephine and Edward Hopper in Truro – Video by Outer Cape TV

We are very pleased to announce that Lower Cape TV has released a short video about Josephine and Edward Hopper in Truro where Helen McNeil-Ashton, Vice President of Collections at the Truro Historical Society, describes the Hoppers’ relationship within themselves and with Truro. Here’s the link: Josephine and Edward Hopper in Truro

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Cobb Archive

13 Truro Center Road Truro, MA 508.349.0200
9:30 – 12:00 Tuesday and Thursday

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6 Highland Light Road North Truro, MA 02652 508.487.3397
Monday through Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

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