Chatham
Overview
- Beaches - Points
of Interest - Schools - Chamber
of Commerce - Chatham Lodging
Overview
 Chatham is
famous for the original Cape Cod Railroad line. This
history is preserved in the Railroad Museum, housed in a restored 1887
depot on Depot Road. The railroad, first exporting fish and salt to the
mainland, eventually imported summer visitors, marking the roots of a
now tourism-based local economy.
A scenic spot for local color is the Chatham Fish
Pier. This pier is
town-operated for small craft fishermen. Most of the catch is shipped
directly to local restaurants, but fish can still be purchased right
from the docks. To get to the pier, drive east on Main Street to Shore
St. and then turn left. The fishing fleet returns between 3 and 6 PM.
Chatham Light offers the town’s best ocean views. Built originally
in 1808 and then rebuilt in 1878, it stands next to the Coast Guard
Station at North Beach. From here you can survey the break along the
barrier beach just offshore that occurred in 1987. You can also observe
Monomoy Island, a national wildlife refuge and birdwatcher's paradise
separated from the mainland by erosion in 1957.
Every Friday evening in July and August, the town holds band concerts
at Kate Gould Park on Main Street. Hundreds attend regularly to hear
this famous band play.
Other points of interest in Chatham include the Atwood House Museum,
operated by the Chatham Historical
Society, and
the wind-powered 1797 Godfrey grist mill.
Beaches
Points
of Interest
- Monomoy Wilderness Area - Fragile and breathtaking, this
9-mile strip of land is slowly shrinking from coastal erosion and is
protected as a National Wildlife Refuge. Accessible only by boat, it
teems with wildlife including dozens of endangered birds. The area
is designated primarily for observation and research. However, the
Massachusetts Audubon Society does give limited tours. Located
offshore at Shore Road.
- Chatham Light - This lighthouse guides vessels through the
notorious "Chatham fog" that rolls onto the town's
shoreline some mornings. Built in 1808, it originally had a
full-time keeper. Now the light operates automatically, flashing
eight times per minute. Located off Shore Road.
- Chatham Break - Created by pounding storm swells and
hurricanes over the past decade, the Chatham Break is a growing
ocean channel between Nauset Beach and Monomoy Island. Onlookers can
see the channel from telescopes mounted at the
foot of Chatham Light.
- Atwood House Museum and Murals Barn - The Atwood House is
one of the oldest homes in Chatham. It holds more than 2,000
artifacts, including colonial antiques and a seacoast shell
collection from around the world. A section is also dedicated to
local author Joseph C. Lincoln. Located on Stage Harbor Road.
- Godfrey
Grist Mill - This structure in Chase Park
off Grist Mill Dr. still grinds maize into cornmeal on summer days.
Built in 1797, the mill is fragile and can only grind corn at
certain wind velocities. Wind speed must be at least 20 mph in order
to create proper kinetic energy. However, damage can occur if gusts
exceed 25 mph.
- Monomoy Theatre – This building was leased to Ohio
University in 1958 as an educational training site for the Ohio
University Players, a college theater troupe who have performed eight shows
during the summer annually for 41 years. Located on Main Street.
- Railroad Museum - Built in 1887 as the town’s rail depot,
this well preserved building still houses its original ticket and
dispatching offices. Listed in the National Register of Historic
Places, the museum holds outstanding memorabilia of the first
commercial U.S. railroad (est. 1826) plus models, photos and
engineer equipment. Located on Depot Road off Route 28.
- Forest Beach - Gentle waters break ashore as a pine and
oak-filled tree line shades beachgoers on top of a wide cliff. A
great spot for a family beach day. Limited parking.
Located at the end of Forest Beach Road off Route 28.
Schools
- Chatham Elementary School
147 Depot Road, Chatham
- Chatham High School
425 Crowell Road, Chatham
- Chatham Middle School
425 Crowell Road, Chatham
- Rocking Unicorn
1762 Main Street, W. Chatham
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