Eastham in Barnstable County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
A Whale Bone Welcome
Photographed by Alan M. Perrie, September 11, 2016
1. A Whale Bone Welcome Marker
Inviting guests to step through the massive jawbones of a whale may seem an unusual way to say, Welcome to our home. But for Captain Edward Penniman, there could be no more appropriate greeting. Born in Eastham, Captain Penniman earned his fortune far from home, sailing the seas as a whaling captain. He built this house for his family in 1868, and it remains a lasting reminder not only of his success, but also of a way of life. The whale bones Captain Penniman placed at his entry gate were a proud symbol of the man he was.
Todays bones are the third set in this location. They are the lower jawbones of a 63-foot finback whale that washed ashore in Wellfleet in 1966. Regular coatings of whitewash help to preserve the bones. Whale bone gates can be found around the world in places where whaling was an important way of life.
Captain Penniman used the lower jaw of a sperm whale for his original gate in the 1860s. Sperm whales were among the most prized in the whaling industry. Their oil was an excellent lubricant and a valuable lamp oil.
Erected by Cape Cod National Seashore.
Topics. This historical marker
this page online
Location. 41° 49.117′ N, 69° 57.955′ W. Marker is in Eastham, Massachusetts, in Barnstable County. It is on Fort Hill Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 70 Fort Hill Road, Eastham MA 02642, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Theres No Place Like Home (here, next to this marker); Indian Rock (approx. 0.3 miles away); Port de Mallebarre (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cove Burying Ground (approx. 0.6 miles away); Eastham Town Hall (approx. 0.9 miles away); First Encounter (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bridge Road Cemetery
Photographed by Alan M. Perrie, September 11, 2016
2. The home of Captain Edward Penniman.
Also see . . . Edward Penniman House and Barn. Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Submitted on December 18, 2017, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2017, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 953 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 18, 2017, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
