Bourne, Coastal town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
Bourne is a coastal town in Barnstable County in southeastern Massachusetts that stretches on both sides of the Cape Cod Canal. The area contains nine distinct villages located along Buzzards Bay and at the base of the Cape Cod peninsula.
The area was originally part of Sandwich but became an independent town in 1884, named after the prosperous whale-oil merchant Jonathan Bourne. The town grew as a trading and port center, especially after the Cape Cod Canal was built in 1914.
The town has deep roots in maritime life, with many residents working or studying in shipping and seafaring professions. The local academy trains future ship captains and marine professionals who shape the community's connection to the sea.
The best time to explore is during the warmer months from May through October when weather is mild and the sea is accessible. The villages are easy to reach and offer plenty of parking, especially if you avoid peak season travel.
Where Native Americans and English settlers once traded around 1626, a museum now stands with a rebuilt trading post from that era. The site shows how the two cultures lived and exchanged goods together.
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