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    • Debbie Merriam: “Indigenous Plants of Cape Cod”
    • “Mayflower Stories of Sadness and Strength”
    • Jane Weissman: The Provincetown Railroad Heritage Trail Walking Tour
    • Jane Weissman: “Riding the Rails from Truro to Provincetown”
    • Curt Martin: The History of Whaling
    • Beth Chapman: Virtual Hopper Tour
    • Jay Vivian: Virtual Tour of Corn Hill
    • “Making Connections in a Disconnected Time” – ZOOM Poetry Reading

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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

Highland House Museum and Cobb Archive Remain Closed to the Public

Highland House Museum and Cobb Archive Remain Closed to the Public

Due to the pandemic, the Highland House Museum will not be opening to the public this season. Please consult our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information about the 2020 season. Thank you!

Vintage Maps for Sale

Vintage Maps for Sale

The Museum has reproductions of vintage maps of Cape Cod and the Outer Cape for sale. Visit our “Vintage Maps” page to see our collection. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Help fund the Wampanoag Exhibition through AmazonSmile!

Help fund the Wampanoag Exhibition through AmazonSmile!

Please consider designating the Truro Historical Society as the recipient of your amazon.com purchases. Your donation will help fund our new permanent Wampanoag exhibition!

What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can choose from over one million organizations to support.

Visit the Cobb Archive

The Cobb Archive is open by appointment, Thursday from 9:30-12 PM.
To schedule an appointment or request information, please contact:
[email protected]

13 Truro Center Road, Truro, MA
508.349.0200

Truro Historical Society Contact Information

Truro Historical Society (THS)
PO Box 486
Truro, MA 02666-0486
[email protected]

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Cobb Archive

13 Truro Center Road Truro, MA 508.349.0200
9:30 – 12:00 Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 - 3:30 Wednesday

Highland House Museum

6 Highland Light Road North Truro, MA 02652 508.487.3397
June 1 to September 29, 2018
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

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