The Bourne Society was incorporated in 1921 for the purpose of acquiring the site of the first trade house built in 1627 on the south bank of the Manomet River. Here, the Pilgrims traded with the Indians and the Dutch from New Amsterdam (New York City). This money was used to repay the debt incurred for their trip to the New World. The structure that you will find here when you visit with your Cape Cod car rental is a replica standing on the original foundation

Explore the village

When you visit with your Cape Cod car rental, you can explore the Historic Bourne Village. The Briggs-McDermott House has been named to the National Register of Historic Places and was restored to reflect the time period of 1840 to 1910, an important time for Bourne. Briggs was instrumental in helping to incorporate Bourne as a town when it separated from Sandwich in 1884. You can also explore the Alonzo Booth Blacksmith Shop (1888) in the Preservation Center. It is one of the few working forges on Cape Cod that represent the commercial and industrial history of the area. In fact, when you visit with your Cape Cod car rental, you may learn that President Grover Cleveland’s horses were shod here. Every day that they are open there are blacksmiths operating the forge. All along Sandwich Road are houses and shops from the mid 1800s.

Other important places to visit

When you visit with your Cape Cod car rental, you will find the Aptucxet Trading Post, a replica on the original foundation. This may have been the earliest remains of a Pilgrim building. There is also Gray Gables Station, which was built for the personal use of President Grover Cleveland during his presidency. Cleveland had a summer home in Bourne, and during his second presidency, Gray Gables was the summer White House, complete with a direct telegraph line to Washington.

A meeting place

The Bourne Stone is a significant place to see with your Cape Cod car rental. It was first used as a doorstep at the Indian Mission (or Meeting House). This church was located near Herring Pond, opposite the Indian burying ground. When the church was no longer used, the stone was moved to the Katherine Parker homestead, which was owned by a Native. The Stone remained here until the house was sold to a white man.

Plan your trip

When you visit with your Cape Cod car rental, the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum is open from May 22 until October 11 Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is $4, $3.50 for seniors, $2 for children, or $10 for a family. If you are here over the Christmas season, they are also open December 4-6 to celebrate Christmas in Old Bourne Village.