National Register of Historic Places

French Cable Station

Orleans, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Listed
April 10, 1972
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
72000121

About this property

The French Cable Station is a historic telegraph station on the southeast corner of Cove Road and MA 28 in Orleans, Massachusetts. It was built in 1891 by the French Cable Company, which was installing numerous cables in Cape Cod throughout the late 19th century. By 1898 the station was the terminus of a 3,200-mile-long (5,100 km) trans-Atlantic telegraph cable called "Le Direct." When France surrendered to Nazi Germany in 1940, it was taken over by the federal government for security reasons, but wasn't returned to the company until 1952. The company resumed operations until 1959. After being purchased by ten prominent Orleans citizens in 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places the same year. The building now serves as the French Cable Station Museum, featuring displays of Atlantic undersea telegraphic cables, instruments, maps, and memorabilia.

Location

Orleans, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
41.78787, -69.98737

Categories

ENGINEERINGCOMMUNICATIONS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about French Cable Station

This page lists French Cable Station. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your French Cable Station report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Sea Call Farm
Civil War
0.4 mi
Universalist Society Meetinghouse
Industrial
0.6 mi
Collins Cottages Historic District
Listed
0.9 mi
Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500
Modern
1.4 mi
Cove Burying Ground
Listed
1.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was French Cable Station listed on the National Register?

French Cable Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1972.

What type of historic resource is French Cable Station?

French Cable Station is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for French Cable Station?

The period of significance for French Cable Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near French Cable Station?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near French Cable Station will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Barnstable County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Barnstable County.

Explore BarnstableCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near French Cable Station will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report