Whether or not you've ever spent time on Cape Cod, I'm sure visions of white sandy beaches and lighthouses pop into your head. But Cape Cod is so much more than that! How do I know? Well, not only have I been coming here my entire life but I also live here in the summer. So, did you know that there are windmills on Cape Cod? In fact, there are a total of seven historic Cape Cod windmills, one of which I have passed by more times than I can count on Route 6 in Eastham. But this year, I finally stopped by to learn all about it.

My dad, stepmom, a couple of friends, and I were on our way to Chatham one day when we saw the door to the windmill open. I urged my dad to pull over so we could check it out. My dad is a huge history buff so he was more than happy to oblige. The fact that we could now learn about this tremendous piece of Cape Cod history was certainly appealing!

We parked the car and walked across the green towards the windmill. Upon entering the door marked with a plaque that states, "Eastham Windmill 1680," we were greeted by the "Miller." As this windmill is no longer used as a mill, the "Miller" is a volunteer who oversees this landmark and shares information to visitors. Also, just so you know, visiting the Eastham Windmill is free!

Eastham wasn't the original home of this windmill. In fact, it's moved around the Cape a few times. It all began in 1680 when its construction was finished in the town of Plymouth. Its first big move was in the 1770s when it was relocated across Cape Cod Bay to Truro where it was used until 1793. The windmill's second move came in 1793 when it was moved to Eastham, first to where the Salt Pond Visitor Center is currently located and then to its current location in 1808.

This windmill is nearly 350 years old and has survived three major moves, having been disassembled and reassembled each time. To me, that's quite impressive! It's the oldest as well as the last working gristmill on Cape Cod, and if you're wondering, yes, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From architectural plans breaking down each piece of how the mill was built and how it works to old photos from years past on the wall, this windmill serves as a museum of its remarkable past.

Over the centuries, numerous millers have worked here. Local residents would bring corn they grew to the windmill, and that corn would then be ground into cornmeal to be used to bake bread and cakes.

It was fascinating to learn how the windmill worked, from how the sails were adjusted depending on where the wind was blowing to how the corn was ground against the stone after it went through the hopper. While the technology is old compared to today, I find it amazing that this is how it was done hundreds of years ago and how effective it was.

Additionally, the mill always had a cat whose sole responsibility was to catch mice. As you can see from the photo below, the cat had its own space where it would either sleep or lay in wait for a mouse. The illustration with the cat states: "Jason is the windmill cat. He was washed ashore from a shipwreck a long time ago and came to live with the miller. He kept the mice away from the cornmeal and was a faithful companion to the old miller for many years."

Have you ever checked out the Eastham Windmill or any of the other Cape Cod windmills? To learn more about the Eastham Windmill, visit the Eastham Historical Society website. The windmill is open to the public on weekends during the summer, weather permitting. Additionally, you can celebrate the Eastham Windmill during the Windmill Weekend held on Labor Day weekend each year.

Do you know of any other historic sites on Cape Cod that you think we should write about? Use our nomination form to tell us all about it!

Curious to learn more about the history of the Cape? Check out the book The Enduring Shore: A History of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, available on Bookshop.org.