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Discovering Falmouth

Nobska Lighthouse in Falmouth was erected in 1829.

Falmouth By The Sea...
Miles of graceful shoreline, splendid 18th and 19th century architecture, acres of conservation land and The Shining Sea Bikeway are just a few of the many reasons to spend a day--or many days--in Falmouth.

In 1660 about a dozen Europeans separated from the Plymouth Colony to form a new settlement on land purchased from the native Wampanoags. They called their new home, Succanesset Plantation, an Indian word meaning "place where the black wampum is found."

Today Falmouth is comprised of 13 villages, each worthy of exploration. (See our Walking & Biking Trails feature). The walking or trolley tours listed at right will lead you to some of our favorite spots, including Falmouth's "Walking Main Street," historic houses and churches on the Village Green (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and Falmouth Heights, an early summer resort area, still graced with lovely cottages, inns and panoramic ocean views.

A scenic drive or bike ride will also take you to the charming seaside village of Woods Hole. More than a century ago, whaling ships were built, then embarked here. The old Candle House (1836) is a reminder of the prosperous whaling era. Today, the Marine Biological Laboratory (1888), the National Marine Fisheries Service (1885) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1930) make this somewhat sleepy little village an internationally recognized Ocean Science Research Center.