Eastham Windmill

Built in 1680 by Eastham resident Thomas Paine, this windmill began in Plymouth before being moved to Truro in 1770, to Eastham in 1793, and again in 1808 to its present site near the town hall and public library. Recognized as the oldest windmill on Cape Cod, it is one of Eastham’s best-known landmarks. Its importance lies not only in its age but in its long journey, reflecting the reuse and relocation that helped preserve early New England buildings. It anchors Eastham’s historic center, was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, and remains central to community traditions such as Windmill Weekend.

North Eastham, Massachusetts · United States