Portal:Cape Cod and the Islands
The Cape Cod and the Islands PortalCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. Today it is co-extensive with Barnstable County, and is defined by the towns along the Cape Cod Canal, and those to the east on the peninsula all the way to Provincetown. Several small islands right off Cape Cod, including Monomoy Island, Monomoscoy Island, Popponesset Island, and Seconsett Island, are also in Barnstable County, being part of municipalities with land on the Cape. The Cape's historic and maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. Cape Cod was formed as the recessional moraine of a glacier, resulting in a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1914, the Cape Cod Canal was cut through the base or isthmus of the peninsula, forming what may be loosely described as an island. The Cape Cod Commission refers to the resultant landmass as an island; as does the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in regards to disaster preparedness.[1] Cape Cod is one of the biggest barrier islands in the world, shielding much of the Massachusetts coastline from North Atlantic storm waves. This protection erodes the Cape's shoreline at the expense of cliffs, while protecting towns from Fairhaven to Marshfield. Road vehicles from the mainland cross over the Cape Cod Canal via the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge. The two bridges are parallel some four miles apart, with the Bourne Bridge to the west, and the Sagamore to the east. In addition, the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge carries railway freight as well as passenger services. The Islands is the collective name for the set of large islands south of Cape Cod in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Massachusetts: Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands, and a small number of minor islands. The Islands are the location of numerous beach resorts, celebrity second homes, and preserved buildings dating back to the whaling era. Selected articlePlymouth Colony (sometimes New Plymouth) was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. At its height, Plymouth Colony occupied most of the southeastern portion of the modern state of Massachusetts. Founded by a group of separatists and anglicans, who together later came to be known as the Pilgrim Fathers, Plymouth Colony was, along with Jamestown, Virginia, one of the earliest successful colonies to be founded by the English in North America and the first sizable permanent English settlement in the New England region. Aided by Squanto, a Native American of the Patuxet people, the colony was able to establish a treaty with Chief Massasoit which helped to ensure the colony's success. Ultimately, the colony was annexed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. Despite the colony's relatively short history, Plymouth holds a special role in American history. Many of the people and events surrounding Plymouth Colony have become part of American folklore, including the North American tradition known as Thanksgiving and the monument known as Plymouth Rock. Selected location
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County. Bourne was first settled in 1640 as a part of the town of Sandwich. It was officially incorporated in 1884 as the last town to be incorporated in Barnstable County. It was named for Jonathan Bourne Sr., whose father, Richard Bourne, served in the Massachusetts General Court at the time of settlement, as well as helping to found the settlement in Mashpee. The town lies at the northeast corner of Buzzards Bay, and is the site of Aptucxet Trading Post, the nation's oldest store. It was founded by the Pilgrims in 1627 at a site halfway between the two rivers which divided the Cape from the rest of the state. It was out of this location that the Cape Cod Canal was formed, in order to save time and lives by eliminating the need to sail around the hazardous eastern shores of Cape Cod. Because of the canal, Bourne is now considered the "first" town on the Cape, as all three bridges (the Bourne, Sagamore and the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge) are located within the town. All of Bourne is on Cape Cod, with Buttermilk bay forming the western edge of the peninsula (cape) and the Bourndale Road forming the northern boundary to the cape.
Bourne is also the site of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a maritime college located at the southern mouth of the canal on the western shore. Otis Air National Guard Base, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, and Camp Edwards are partially located in the town. The United States Air Force Space Command system PAVE PAWS northeast radar is located within Bourne's borders inside of Otis Air National Guard Base. Bourne is home to an archaeological curiosity known as the "Bourne Stone", a stone featuring markings whose origin and significance have not been conclusively established. Did you know
Selected pictureGrange Hall in West Tisbury Selected biographyClarence Ransom Edwards (January 1, 1859 – February 14, 1931) was an American general, known as the first Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, and for commanding the 26th Division in World War I. He was born in Ohio and accepted an appointment to West Point where, in 1883, he graduated last in his class. He was commander of the Guard for President Garfields tomb at Fort Porter and while there got married. He fought in the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I. While commanding the 26th Infantry Division in World War I he was disliked by his superiors and was relieved of his command by General Pershing for allowing his troops to fraternize with the enemy. He returned to the United States and was assigned to various posts until he retired from the Army after 40 years service in 1922. After retirement he worked as the president of the grocery business his dad started. He died in 1931, after his daughter and wife and all three are buried together at Arlington National Cemetery. Region facts
Featured contentAs of 22 October 2015, there are 13 featured and 17 good articles within WikiProject Cape Cod and the Islands scope. This makes up 0.02% of the articles on Wikipedia, 0.17% of all featured articles and lists, and 0.07% of all good articles. Including non-article pages, such as talk pages, redirects, categories, etcetera, there are 2,648 pages in the project. Featured articles and lists by WikiProjectPortal:Cape Cod and the Islands/Featured content/Articles Portal:Cape Cod and the Islands/Featured content/Lists CategoriesRelated portalsWikiProjectsThings to do
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- ^ Cape Cod Commission. "Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)". Retrieved May 17, 2020. Check date values in:
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