Edward Penniman House and Barn

Infobox_nrhp | name =Edward Penniman House and Barn
nrhp_type =


caption =
nearest_city= Eastham, Massachusetts
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 49
lat_seconds = 7
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 69
long_minutes = 57
long_seconds = 58
long_direction = W
locmapin = Massachusetts
area =
built =1867
architect=
architecture= Second Empire
added = May 28, 1976
governing_body = National Park Service
refnum=76000155cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Edward Penniman House and Barn is a historic site in Eastham, Massachusetts, located on Fort Hill, which is currently protected by the Cape Cod National Seashore and home to "Indian Rock".

The house was built in 1867 and added to the National Historic Register in 1976.

History

The house was built by Edward Penniman (1831-1913). When Edward Penniman was growing up, it was possible to catch whales directly from the seashore, a practise the Indians perfected using the shallow marsh waters to scare herds of blackfish onto the beaches. Attracted by the profits to be made as a whaler, he ran to sea at age eleven and at 29 he was master of his own whaling ship. He took his wife with him on his travels, and the addition of 3 children to his household did not deter him from trips lasting up to 4 years. His youngest daughter suffered from seasickness and was sent to live with an aunt. It is the family correspondence with this daughter that makes the Penniman house so interesting, as it brings the daily life of a whaling captain into perspective.

On retirement in 1867, Captain Penniman built this unusual house with plans he designed himself, including a modern toilet and bath with hot running water. From the cupola he would watch his extended family play in the surrounding fields, while on the lookout for ships. His daughter took many pictures of impromptu family gatherings, including a picture of her mother in pants.

National Parks Service

The house is now on the Fort Hill Trailcite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/upload/FortHillcolor.pdf|title=Plan Your Visit|date=2008-08-22|work=National Parks "Plan Your Visit to Fort Hill"|publisher=National Park Service] , which is kept up by the National Parks Service.

References

* Fort Hill Trail map and guide [http://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/upload/FortHillcolor.pdf]
* "Teaching with Historic Places" entry for Penniman house [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/112penniman/112penniman.htm]