Cape Cod Inventoried Historic Properties
From centuries-old buildings and iconic village centers to cultural landscapes and archaeological sites, Cape Cod’s historic resources are essential to its identity. More than 14,000 historic properties are inventoried on Cape Cod, with approximately 48% of these properties having some protection from development pressures through mechanisms including Preservation Restrictions, being located within one of the more than 20 Local Historic Districts on Cape Cod, or listing on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the majority of inventoried properties (nearly 52%) do not have any such protections. Across Barnstable County, the vast majority of inventoried properties are buildings, but other types of inventoried properties include burial grounds, objects, and structures. While almost all inventoried properties on Cape Cod were constructed after 1800, there is a fairly even distribution of age from 1801 to present day, with the largest percentage of properties being constructed between 1901 and 1950.
The Cape Cod Commission is committed to protecting these valuable assets through a variety of initiatives, including technical assistance to towns, regulatory review of significant developments, and educational programming that promotes awareness and stewardship of historic places.
Download an Excel file of the Historic Buildings Dashboard data.