Many visitors of Eastham check out the Fort Hill Overlook and drive right past the Captain Penniman House. Although the two-and-one-half-story house features a unique Second Empire style, few know the history behind it. The Captain Penniman House was constructed in 1868 by (you guessed it) Captain Edward Penniman.

Penniman was born in Eastham in 1831 and began fishing when he turned 11. He fell in love with fishing and at the age of 21, he moved to New Bedford to join the lucrative whale fishing industry. He eventually became a boat captain and by the end of his career in whaling, he had become one of the most successful whale captains in New Bedford.

After his whaling career, Penniman moved back to Eastham where he purchased 12 acres of land and had this home constructed. Today, the property is owned by the National Park Service and the residence is home to the Penniman family’s archives and artifact collection, both of which offer amazing insights into Captain Penniman’s life and the whaling industry in New England.

Tours of the home happen from May to June. Typically at 11 am each Monday and Friday. The grounds of the home are open from sunrise to sunset every day.