Heritage Museums & Gardens

These gardens feature thousands of plant species, including unique rhododendron hybrids as well as multiple museums that are home to amazing historical artifacts.

Experience lovely sights as well as thousands of years of history at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, the oldest town on Cape Cod. Artifacts from the Wampanoag people were unearthed in the late 1960s when construction began for the gardens, and a small collection of them can be seen here on display. Heritage Museums & Gardens boasts 100 acres of gorgeous gardens and winding trails. The gardens are known for their abundant rhododendron blooms every spring – 125 of the 145 hybrid species that were cultivated by a former resident of the estate can be found here today! You can also expect to see tons of brilliant hydrangeas, fragrant herbs, breathtaking daylilies, and adorable “bee hotels” that are home to thousands of our buzzing pollinator friends.

Heritage Museums & Gardens are a fantastic time for the whole family. Kids adore the whimsical Hidden Hollow, a play area located inside a dried-up glacial depression that’s complete with climbing stumps, balancing beams, building blocks, instruments, and sensory areas! You also can’t miss out on the 1908 Looff Carousel that’s housed inside of the American Art & Carousel Gallery and is one of the few of its kind that is left. Other incredible artifacts found on the property include the Old East Mill that was originally built in 1800 and President Taft’s 1909 steam car, located inside the Automobile Museum.

Heritage Museums & Gardens is a hub for nature, history, and artistic appreciation. The organization is always hosting new and exciting exhibits as well as putting on unique events such as Halloween festivals, horticulture workshops, and extraordinary holiday light displays. Heritage Museums & Gardens is a can’t-miss stop while visiting Cape Cod and provides an enriching experience that honors nature and vital history.