Neighboring the Cape Cod Canal, Bourne is the gateway to Cape Cod. It is very convenient to Plymouth and other Southeastern Massachusetts attractions, as well as being close to Falmouth and the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.
The Bourne Conservation Trust maintains several hiking trails including Bourne Sister’s Woodland, Cataumet Greenway, Little Bay and Monks Park. The Cape Cod Canal Service Roads , which runs along both sides of the canal, are wonderful paved stretches for biking, walking, jogging and rollerblading. Watch the boats big and small cruise through the canal.
The first trading center in America was built in 1627 in Bourne at the mouth of the river (which is now the west entrance to the Canal) and was named Aptucxet, meaning “little trap by the river”. A replica of this is still in place on the original foundation and open in the spring, summer and fall.
Bourne was incorporated on April 2, 1884; until that time it was a part of Sandwich.
