The town of Mashpee was originally an Indian village. Many areas were settled as towns throughout Massachusetts beginning in the 17th century, but it was different in Mashpee. It was an area set aside by the Plymouth Colony as a home for the Indians displaced by the new towns being built on their ancestral lands. Mashpee was at first designated a Plantation but finally was incorporated as a Town in 1870.

Now the town of Mashpee is administered on a daily basis by an elected Board of Selectmen and an Executive Secretary, whose duties and fiscal responsibilities are determined by the old fashioned New England town meeting form of government. The last decade has seen tremendous growth and Mashpee has become one of the fastest growing areas in the state. The population is over 10,000 year-round and increases to over 30,000 during the summer. Along with attracting vacationers, Mashpee is a great place to call home.

MASHPEE'S NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE

Indian Meeting House - Built in 1684 on Santuit Pond, the Meeting House was moved to its present site on Rte. 28, and is the oldest church building on Cape Cod. The Mashpee tribe still uses this site for worship, meetings & social activities. Memorials & religious services are held there in the summer, some with Indian services indigenous to its history.
Annual Indian Pow Wow - At one time, mainly chiefs participated in the Pow Wow to discuss problems and perform religious ceremonies; in the early 1800's, this purpose was expanded. The Pow Wow now involves tribes invited from all over the nation, as well as the local Wampanoag tribe, who gather together to celebrate their heritage in full regalia.The celebration, which takes place the Fourth of July weekend, includes dances, handicrafts, demonstrations, craft booths and refreshments. There is a group supper on Saturday night and a Cape Cod clambake on Sunday. Tribal Council - 477-0208.
Late 1700's Cemetary/Old Indian Burial Ground - A tiny plot by the side of the road, this cemetary offers a fine example of headstones of the period. Many are inscribed with philisophical or witty sayings, and are carved with scenes and symbols.
Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum - Located on Rte. 130, this building was erected in the early 19th century by an ancestor of Richard Bourne, a missionary and minister to the Wampanoag Indians. There is a diorama of the Wampanoag home life, showing a reconstruction of the type of wigwam they lived in. For more information, call 477-1536.

WHERE TO SHOP

Deer Crossing - Quaint 2 level mall with eateries & shops - West of the Mashpee Rotary on Rte. 28 towards Falmouth.
Mashpee Commons - A type of "Main Street" at the Mashpee Rotary. Set up like an old fashioned village, there are over 50 shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, 6 restaurants, 6 movie theatres and free summertime outdoor entertainment.
Dick & Ellie's Flea Market - Across from the Commons, this outdoor market has anything and everything at bargain prices.
John's Pond Center - On Rte. 151, it has places to eat.
Merry Meadows Byway - On Rte. 28, 1 mile east of the Mashpee Rotary, shops & eateries.
Cape Cod Mall - On Rte. 132 in Hyannis, this mall has all the stores, movies & places to eat you could possibly want or need.
Quaker Meeting House Road - Located in Sandwich, there are grocery stores, eateries, pharmacy, video store, etc.

ON THE WATER - BEACHES

Mashpee-Wakeby Pond - located right at Camp Farley.
South Cape Beach - located at the end of Great Oak Road from Great Neck Road off the Mashpee Rotary
Sandy Neck Beach - Located in Sandwich off Rte. 6A
Craigville Beach - located in Centerville off Rte. 28

WHERE TO DINE - RESTAURANTS
(Those with a * also have dancing and/or entertainment)
*Bobby Byrne's Restaurant & Pub - Mashpee Commons
Cefalo's Cafe - Rte. 130, Mashpee
Cherrystone's Restaurant - Rte. 151, Mashpee
Finally Dino's - Rte. 151, Mashpee
Gone Tomatoes - Mashpee Commons
Inside Scoop - Mashpee Commons
The Italian Market - Deer Crossing, Mashpee
99 Restaurant-Pub - Great Neck Road, Mashpee
Oyster's Too - Rte. 28, East Falmouth
Picnic Box - Mashpee Rotary
Pizza Prima - Rte. 28, Merry Meadows Byway
*Pufferbellies - Iyanough Road, Hyannis
*Sandwich Tavern - Rte. 130, Sandwich
The Tea Shoppe - Mashpee Commons
*Wayside Pub - Rte. 130, Forestdale
Zuni Cafe - Mashpee Commons

CHURCHES - HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Mashpee Baptist Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church
First Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ
Christ the King (Roman Catholic)

CONSERVATION - Walking Trails

John's Pond Park - The 329 acre freshwater pond is surrounded by a 258 acre Town conservation area of active cranberry bogs, 17 acre Moody Pond and over 4 miles of walking trails and bog roads. Access from Hooppole Road. Picnic tables and grills. Beach supervised by lifeguards.
Mashpee River Woodlands - More than 8 miles of maintained trails and wood roads through 391 acres of conservation land along the Mashpee River. With cool, pine forests, salt and fresh water marshes and abandoned cranberry bogs, this area is popular for fishing, canoeing and bird watching. Parking off Quinaquisset Ave., Mashpee Neck Road and at the end of River Road off Great Neck Road South.
Mashpee Pine Barrens - Over 300 acres of rare pine barrens, Atlantic White Cedar swamps, shrub swamps and mixed forests. Access to the 3.8 miles of trails and sand roads via the dirt road off Great Neck Road South opposite Old Dock Lane.
Lowell Holly Reservation - Located on a peninsula between Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds with over 2 miles of shoreline and stands of American Beech, holly, white pines and rhododendrons. Includes 1.5 miles of walking trails, picnic tables and small swimming beach.
South Cape Beach State Park - In addition to its 3.5 miles of ocean and bay beaches, sand dunes, coastal ponds and salt marshes, the park maintains the .8 mile Great Flat Pond Trail, extending through coastal forests and marshes. Also, over 3 miles of sand roads for hiking.

Did you know? Cape Cod is separated from the mainland by the world's widest sea-level canal. Completed in 1914, the 480 foot wide Cape Cod Canal runs 17.4 miles at a depth of 34 feet.
Climate - July/August temperature 72.7 F, Water temp. 70 F

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