While the summer months draw crowds of vacationing families to the beaches of Falmouth and Woods Hole Massachusetts, the town is a great getaway location in the off-season as well. Woods Hole has a variety of shops, restaurants, and activities to keep everyone entertained. Families and visitors of all ages will love this area, which is open all year round. Here’s what you can expect from a trip to Falmouth and Woods Hole.
If you enjoy museums, historic sites, and the arts, you should visit Falmouth and Woods Hole. The beautiful Main Street is photogenic and often hosts world-class performances. The town also holds the Woods Hole Film Festival every summer. Visit the Woods Hole Museum to learn about the town’s history and culture. Falmouth and Woods Hole are also on the National Register of Historic Places.
For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Nobska Point Lighthouse provides panoramic views of Vineyard Sound, the Elizabeth Islands, and Martha’s Vineyard. The “keeper’s dwelling” once served as a headquarters for the southeastern New England Coast Guard. The lighthouse was first established in 1829 and is now owned by the town of Falmouth. It was automated in 1985. You can even rent bikes on the property.
The town’s history traces its origins to the early 17th century. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, a Norwegian explorer, cruised along the coast from Cape Cod and the Martha’s Vineyard. He landed on May 31, 1602. Falmouth and Woods Hole were settled in 1659-61, but the town itself wasn’t established until 1701.
Woods Hole is also home to a number of world-renowned scientific institutions. The Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Research Center are located in the town’s harbor. The Woods Hole Inn is conveniently located right across the dock from the main WHOI building. If you love marine life, Woods Hole is the place to stay. It’s a great place to learn about marine biology.
During the first summer, scientists collected large numbers of fish to study their distribution and reproduction. They also studied the species’ rate of growth and their food source. The scientists collected specimens from almost every fish trap and fish pound in the area. They asked permission to do so, as long as the owners allowed them to use the traps. Ultimately, 106 species of fish were collected for the National Museum. Of these, twenty or more were previously unknown to science.
As a creative outlet for independent filmmakers, the Woods Hole Film Festival caters to both novice and experienced filmmakers. The festival includes five programs of short films that consistently attract a wide variety of audiences. One of these, Cecil’s Prayer, was screened during the Cape Cod Sidebar on July 31. Cecil’s Prayer, an improvised jazz bassist, is another film to watch.
The population of Falmouth and Woods Hole Massachusetts was roughly the same as the size of the city of Boston. Males outnumbered females by nine4.7 to one. This area was home to the RMS Titanic, the first ship to be discovered in the ocean. It was rediscovered and mapped in 2010, with the help of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Jean-Louis Michel of the French National Institute of Oceanography.