Learn about early American history at the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum in Bourne
A replica of a the first privately owned business in the new world, the Aptucxet Trading Post in Bourne is a family friendly trip into early America. The Aptucxet Trading Post Museum lands also house the Gray Gables Railroad Station and a replica of an early Cape Cod saltworks.
Visitors to trading post can stroll through gardens featuring flowers, vegetables and herbs used by early American colonists and a restored windmill, which serves as a gift shop.
The story behind the Aptucxet Trading Post
The trading post is the focus of the museum lands. A replica of the site of the first legal business contract in the new world, it is built on the grounds of the original trading post. Some of the hearthstones used in the building are from the original building, which was constructed in 1627.
At first glance it would seem unusual for Aptucxet, Cape Cod’s first trading post to be built so far inland but pirates were a serious threat at the time so positioning close to either Cape Cod Bay or Nantucket Sound was risky. The area chosen had the advantage of easy access to both sides of Cape Cod via the Manamet and Scussett Rivers.
Gray Gables Railroad Station moves to Aptucxet Museum
The trading post grounds are also home to Gray Gables Railroad Station, originally built for President Grover Cleveland. In 1976 the Bourne Historical Society, which runs the Aptucxet Museum, moved the train station from its original site in Gray Gables village where Cleveland had his summer home.
See pictures of Gray Gables, the salt works and more in the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum slide show below.
The salt works at Aptucxet Trading Post Museum
Salt was an important part of Cape Cod life and being able to produce salt locally removed one more hold the British had on the early American settlers. The working replica at the Aptucxet Trading Post shows how solar evaporation was used to produce salt for fish curing and other uses.
Visitors take a guided tour of the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum and are then free wander the grounds at leisure. There is parking at the site or visitors can get to the museum when walking or biking the Cape Cod Canal Trail.
The Aptucxet Trading Post Museum
Aptucxet Road Bourne MA
Phone: 508-759-8167 email: BourneHistoricalSociety@comcast.net
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm Sunday 2 – 5 pm mid-May to mid-October
Other historic sights and museums on Cape Cod:
Comments
There's a wealth of history on the Cape. Thanks for keeping us up on new places to visit.
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