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Contact: Sue Moynihan, 508-957-0738
WELLFLEET, Mass – Frost will soon be on the pumpkin, salt marsh grasses are turning russet, and hardwood trees are showing off a kaleidoscope of colors, signifying the transition to late fall and the scaling back of some seashore operations.
The Province Lands Visitor Center operation in Provincetown has closed for the season. Over the next few months, rehabilitation work will be occurring at the center, including a new roof, exterior and interior repairs, and installation of new carpeting. During construction, outdoor observation decks may be closed for public safety.
Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham continues its daily operation, with staff and volunteers assisting visitors with maps, brochures, and orientation information at the building entrance between 9 am and 4:30 pm. The America’s National Parks store at Salt Pond is open Tuesdays through Sundays but will close for a short time in December.
Two special programs are being offered in November. On November 12 at 5 pm, in honor of Veterans Day, the national seashore and partner Payomet Performing Arts Center are co-sponsoring Remembrances of the North Truro Air Force Radar Station. This 90-minute event at Wellfleet’s Preservation Hall will feature a showing of Rebecca M. Alvin's documentary film, Out of Service: A Cold War Memory. Alvin will introduce her film and answer questions. Special guests will include airmen who were stationed there and family members who grew up as part of the Air Force Station family. Come learn more about this important piece of Truro, Cape Cod, and national history. The event is free, but registration is required due to limited space. Masks are required. More: Tickets | Remembrances of the North Truro Air Force Radar Station | Payomet
On Saturday, November 20 from 1 to 3 pm, the seashore will host a program with Earl “Chiefy” Mills Jr., a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. 2021 marks 400 years since the First Thanksgiving. This 1621 event was symbolic for the colonists and had meaning for the First People who had been living in the region for thousands of years. During this outdoor talk and walk in the Fort Hill area, Mr. Mills will describe life for his people before European contact, how life changed following contact, and what is happening culturally, politically, and economically for the tribe today. Reservations are required and may be made up to one week in advance by calling Salt Pond Visitor Center at (508) 255-3421, ext. 9. Participation is limited and masks are required where social distance can’t be maintained. This program is free and co-sponsored with Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the park’s philanthropic partner since 1987.
Restrooms are available through the winter at Province Lands and Salt Pond visitor centers, and vault toilets are available at Hemenway Landing in Eastham, Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, and Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. Leashed pets are welcome on seashore beaches and on the Nauset, Head of the Meadow, and Province Lands bike trails during the winter months. Pets are not permitted on seashore walking trails, except for a short segment at the beginning of the Great Island Trail in Wellfleet. Bikes are not allowed on walking trails or on beaches.
Several construction projects are underway this fall. The Nauset Bicycle Trail is being rehabilitated to repair safety issues on the section between Salt Pond Visitor Center and Doane Picnic Area. This segment of the trail is closed. The trail between Doane and Coast Guard Beach is open. Work should conclude in late November. Root-impacted sidewalks at Salt Pond Visitor Center are being repaired under the same contract. Construction work on the new bathhouse at Nauset Light Beach has resumed, and parking remains limited. The major rehabilitation of Highland Lighthouse is headed toward completion this winter. Other construction projects getting underway over the next several months include new roofs, chimney repairs, installation of new septic systems, rehabilitation of the Atwood-Higgins House, and interior repairs and conservation treatment at the Captain Penniman House. Seashore partners are carrying out significant historic preservation work, including painting and repairs to Nauset Light by the Nauset Light Preservation Society, and completion of the major rehabilitation of the Highland House Museum by the Truro Historical Society.
For more information about Cape Cod National Seashore visit www.nps.gov/caco.
Last updated: November 3, 2021