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Discover the Caleb Nickerson Homestead: Chatham’s Living History Gem

,Tucked away at 1107 Orleans Road in North Chatham, the Caleb Nickerson Homestead is a remarkable living‑history museum that brings early 19th‑century Cape Cod life into vivid focus. Owned by the Nickerson Family Association, this lovingly restored 1829 Cape-style house stands on grounds where Chatham’s first English settlers, William and Anne Nickerson, called home in 1664.

Step Back in Time in an Antique Cape

Built by Caleb Nickerson—descendant of Chatham’s founders—around 1829 near Stage Harbor, the house was moved to its current location in 2003 to preserve its heritage. Now a rare example of early 19th‑century Cape Cod architecture, it features three working fireplaces, including a traditional beehive oven, hand-hewn pine flooring, and preserved period woodwork.

As a “working museum,” it showcases colonial arts and crafts that members of the Nickerson family practiced. You’ll see demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, weaving, and garden harvests right in the heirloom kitchen garden tended by skilled gardeners.

What You’ll See & Do

Guided Tours

Available June to October, with extended hours in July and August, the homestead offers docent-led tours each Wednesday through Friday (exact hours vary by month). Tour admission is free and donations are welcome.

Expanded Archaeological Display

Nearby on the NFA campus is the excavated site of William and Anne’s c. 1664 homestead, with artifacts from the dig on view for 2025. Visitors can explore interpretive displays of pottery shards, metalwork, and colonial-era bricks found at the original settlement site.

Living Gardens & Heritage Structures

Stroll the grounds by daylight anytime year-round. Admire the heirloom dooryard and vegetable garden, check out the reproduction post‑and‑beam outhouse built by period carpenters, and pause at signage explaining Native American presence and Squanto’s historical connection to Chatham.

Hands-On History & Community Events

From hands-on workshops in hearthside cooking or floral arranging to seasonal open houses and Colonial‑sized garden plantings, the homestead regularly hosts immersive events. A historic barn raising and textile demonstrations bring local heritage to life—check the 2025 schedule when planning your visit.

Volunteers—even first timers—can get involved as docents, gardeners, or archaeology assistants. For those who enjoy hands-on learning, it’s a rewarding way to live history in motion.

Why Visit the Caleb Nickerson Homestead?

  • Absolutely free admission, with tours led by engaging docents in period costume.

  • Authentic colonial experience complete with an heirloom vegetable garden and working hearth.

  • Expanded archaeological displays now include relics from Chatham’s first English homestead built in 1664.

  • Beautiful historic setting, ideal for photography or quiet reflection among gardens and hydrangeas.

  • Community events like barn-raising, cooking clubs, and fiber art demos connect you with local tradition.

Plan Your Visit

  • Location: 1107 Orleans Rd (Route 28), North Chatham, MA 02650.

  • Tour Season: Wednesdays–Fridays, June through October (with longer hours in July & August); only Wednesdays in June and September; closing day is October 8, 2025. Hours run roughly 10 a.m.–1 p.m. to 4 p.m., depending on the month.

  • Accessibility: Free admission, walkable grounds, and access to interpretive sites. Donations welcome.

How It Fits Into Local History

The Homestead stands beside the William and Anne Nickerson original homestead site, marked and open for self-guided exploration. That plot lies just steps from the Caleb house and symbolizes Chatham’s colonial roots dating back more than 350 years. Today, the Nickerson Family Association also houses a Genealogy Research Center tracing over 350,000 Nickerson descendants—all connected through this Chatham campus.

Final Thoughts

If you’re seeking a genuine taste of Cape Cod’s early days, the Caleb Nickerson Homestead delivers. It’s more than a building—it’s a window into a simpler time. From cozy hearth fires and herb gardens to real colonial artifacts and community spirit, a visit here paints a portrait of history in motion. Whether you’re a local, a summer visitor, or a history buff, drop by, say hello, and see why Chatham’s heritage community call this house home.

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