Program for Sunday, July 11, 2021

Cape Cod’s outer beach has always been known for its shipwrecks. Between 1626 and the mid-20th century, this solitary 40-mile stretch of beach and sandbars saw the demise of over 3,000 vessels. It’s been said that if all the wrecks were raised, one could walk from Provincetown to Chatham without getting his or her feet wet. Join Cape Cod historian Don Wilding, author of the new book, Shipwrecks of Cape Cod: Stories of Tragedy & Triumph, for a look back at some of these disasters, such as the Jason in 1893, the Monomoy Disaster of 1902, and the Castagna in 1914, as well as the heroism of the U.S. Lifesaving Service.

Pre-register for this program at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdeigrD0uGda8YmNcLzLTI9seQGEICW9H

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Meeting platform will open at 9:30 for informal socializing. Program will begin promptly at 10:00.

Since the start of the millennium, Don Wilding has been telling stories of Cape Cod Outer Beach history. An award-winning writer and editor for Massachusetts newspapers since 1985, Don has contributed the “Shore Lore” history column for The Cape Codder newspaper of Orleans, and is the author of two other books: Henry Beston’s Cape Cod: How The Outermost House Inspired a National Seashore and A Brief of History of Eastham: On the Outer Beach of Cape Cod. He is also a tour guide and lecturer, and has taught local history classes for adults on the Outer Cape.