The Historical Society is located in the house built in 1834 by Sylvanus B. Phinney along the historic Ye Olde King's Highway in Barnstable across from the Sturgis Public Library.
The mission of the Barnstable Historical Society is to create and foster an interest in the cultural heritage and maritime history of Barnstable, Massachusetts.
Curators aim to collect, preserve and exhibit artifacts and documents, and to promote historical research and education.
Sturgis Library, the oldest library structure in the United States and one of the oldest houses on the Cape, was built in 1644 for the founder of Barnstable, Reverend John Lothrop.
The original library structure contains "The Lothrop Room." It has a wood beam ceiling and authentic colored wide-board floors. In this room, Reverend Lothrop's bible- the one he used while holding religious services back in the 1600's- is on display.
The Sturgis Library is a historic treasure on Old King's Highway, 6A in Barnstable Village, and has one of the first maritime collections on the East Coast and the Lothrop Genealogy Collection.
The Coast Guard Heritage Museum is located high on a hill at the eastern edge of Barnstable Village in the original 1856 Customs House. Its mission is to preserve the heritage of the U.S. Coast Guard since its founding in 1790.
It traces the history of the Lighthouse Service, the Lightship Service, the Lifesaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service, as well as Coast Guard Life Saving Services on Cape Cod.
Exhibits include Uniforms, Lifesaving Equipment, Lighthouse equipment and Revenue Cutter Service displays.
Adjacent is America's oldest wooden jail and the village blacksmith's shop.