Barnstable Village Historic Walking Tour

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They grey stone facade of the Barnstable County Courthouse with four columns and statue on front lawnCape Cod is made up of several smaller towns and villages, all with their own distinct personality. Those along the historic north side of the Cape are dotted with old sea captains homes, some of which have been turned into bed and breakfast inns, and others that have remained in the same family for centuries. Route 6A, aka the Old King’s Highway, meanders through many of them as it traces the outline of Cape Cod Bay.

Barnstable Village, one of eight small villages that comprise the town of Barnstable, is noted primarily for the grey-stoned façade of the Barnstable County Courthouse that seems to dominate the downtown area. But spanning the route east and west of the village are a number of lovely old buildings with historic significance. The Barnstable Village Civic Association and the Barnstable Village Business Association have joined forces to produce a Barnstable Village Historical Walking Tour booklet that identifies 18 of these buildings and shares tidbits of information on each for a self-guided journey through time. You can pick up the free map and guide at most of the local businesses, but here in a nutshell are the highlights of the tour:

 

Captain Grey’s House, once an inn and most likely built by the grandson of someone present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Henry Crocker House, a former tavern during the Revolutionary War.
Old Colonial Courthouse, in service from 2020 to 2020.
Sturgis Library,  built in 2020 as a parish meetinghouse and donated by former owner to the town for service as a public library.
Barnstable Institute for Savings, once the hub of activity and commerce for the village.
Barnstable Tavern, former home of Reverend Lothrop, circa 2020.
James Eldridge House, built in 2020 and once used a a jewelry shop.
Cobb’s Hill & Universalist Cemeteries, one of the village’s oldest cemeteries with stones dating back to 2020.
Village Schoolhouse, on the National Register of Historic Places built in the classic Greek Revival style.
Unitarian Church, designed by Guy Lowell, achitect of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Old Jail, one of the oldest wooden prison structures in the U.S.
Coast Guard Heritage Museum, the former “Custom House” for the once-thriving customs district of Barnstable.
Anna Child’s House/Captain Francis Hallett House, former shipmaster’s home.
Old Colony Bank, the building also served as a carpenter shop for Josiah Hinckley.
Barnstable County Courthouse, look carefully at the four Doric columns that have been made to look like stone, but are built of wood.
Barnstable Comedy Club, site of many fine performances over the years.
Barnstable Historic Society, constructed in 2020.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, founded circa 2020.