National Register of Historic Places

Hyannis Port Historic District

Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 10, 1987
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
87000259

About this property

The Hyannis Port Historic District encompasses the historic heart of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, an area that was intensively developed as a summer resort community beginning in the later decades of the 19th century. The district is about 100 acres (40 ha) in size, and extends from nearly Scudder Avenue in the west to Ocean Avenue in the east. It is bounded on the south by Nantucket Sound, and on the north by Grayton, Edge Hill, and Ocean Avenues. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Until the late 19th century, Hyannis Port was a modest agricultural and seafaring village. The Hyannis Land Company was formed in 1871-72 and engaged in a major resort development push, which was one of the largest such efforts on the Cape. The company purchase most of the oceanfront property between Dunbar's Point and Craigville, and platted out parcels. They built several hotels, staged events to promote the area, and built summer resort houses for vacationers from as far off as Indianapolis and Chicago. The company was not financially sound, however, and went bankrupt in 1879. The area was not fully developed until the first decades of the 20th century. The district does have a few 18th-century houses, but most of its houses are in the styles popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The most famous residents of Hyannis Port, however, are the Kennedy family, whose compound is a National Historic Landmark. Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy purchased the compound's main house in 1926.

Location

Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
41.63143, -70.30378

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Kennedy Compound
Listed
0.1 mi
Chase, Lemuel B., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Crocker, Lot, House
Industrial
0.9 mi
Crocker, Capt. Alexander, House
Industrial
0.9 mi
Campbell, Collen C., House
Industrial
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hyannis Port Historic District listed on the National Register?

Hyannis Port Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Hyannis Port Historic District?

Hyannis Port Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hyannis Port Historic District?

The period of significance for Hyannis Port Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Hyannis Port Historic District?

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