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PrintDennis - Art and the Sea
Benefiting from its location with the bay on the Northside and Nantucket Sound on the Southside the townspeople of Dennis have always been sustained by the sea. Without enough land to farm, the earlier settlers took to the sea as captains, boat and ship builders, and salt producers. Even today the beaches, refreshing salt air and seafood dining in the area bring visitors in by the thousands and offer residents an ideal town in which to reside.
The town of Dennis includes five villages: Dennis Port, Dennis Village (or North Dennis), East Dennis, South Dennis and West Dennis. Each village has its own unique feel and history. Historic Route 6A, the Old Kings Highway, crosses through Dennis Village and East Dennis. Over 400 captains called the area home at one time. To the south, Dennis Port and West Dennis benefit from their proximity to the warm waters of Nantucket Sound and the Route 28 corridor, an area that has sprouted many businesses catering to the resident and visitor. Nestled between the north and south is the village of South Dennis, a beautiful and historic area that is reminiscent of many other old New England towns.
One of Dennis’ most notable families, were the Shivericks. The three sons of accomplished sea captain and boatbuilder Asa Shiverick, David, Paul and Asa Junior opened the Shiverick Shipyard at the mouth of Sesuit Creek in the 1830s. They
began building large clipper ships that became known as the fastest of their kind in the world. Nothing is left of this legendary shipyard except a plaque honoring their work which was dedicated in 1924.
The town of Dennis is blessed with an abundance of art and culture. Dennis Village is home to the longest running summer theatre, The Cape Playhouse. On the grounds of this venerable institution reside the Cape Museum of Fine Art and the Cape Cinema. Many art galleries and craft studios can be found in the villages of Dennis and each summer Dennis Village hosts a weekly Art Walk, a self-guided tour of the galleries, museums and artisan studios along Route 6A.
Residents and visitors of Dennis enjoy plentiful opportunities t
o enjoy the great outdoors. Numerous beaches on Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound provide hours of beach fun. The Cape Cod Rail Trail is also accessible in Dennis offering bikers and walkers a safe and scenic pathway through Dennis and surrounding towns.
The rich history of Dennis’ past is displayed at many of the historic sites throughout the town. Notable destinations for the history buff include the 1736 Josiah Dennis Manse Museum at 77 Nobscussett Road, and the 180 Jericho Historical Center on Old Main St., West Dennis. Another spot that was built as a wooden observation tower for tourists back in 1874 and later rebuilt as a stone tower after two fires is the Scargo Tower. From the top of this 30 foot high tower a visitor can get a view down-Cape towards Provincetown and as far west as Plymouth.
