Overview

The exclusive resort community of Hyannis perhaps derives its greatest measure of fame from the Kennedy clan. As early as 1925, the dynamic family began to make its mark on the village and then the nation, and today, strengthened as it is by tragedy, it's respected, beloved, and treasured by neighbors in Cape Cod. In fact, throughout Barnstable � the town which encompasses Hyannis and six other villages � can be found landmarks and remembrances that acknowledge the Kennedy presence. Notable among them are the JFK Memorial, with its landscaped plaza and plaque, and the JFK Hyannis Museum, which documents via photos and video the late president's life and connection to the area. Cape Cod itself, a perennial favorite with vacationers, is a peninsula that juts 100 miles into the sea. Hyannis lies on the formation's southern coast and looks south towards Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It's also the central village of Barnstable and the largest as well, the hub of air and ferry travel in the region. Resort status only became possible for Hyannis after the railroad reached the area in 1854; prior to that, the town owed its livelihood to farming, shipbuilding, and harvesting salt. The village's name, a variation on the name Iyanno, commemorates the Indian native who, in the late 17th century, deeded the town's land in exchange for two pairs of pants and twenty British pounds. To experience the region's vibrant past, make sure to explore the Donald G. Trayser Museum, whose historic buildings and artifacts recall the colonial era, and take in the Captain Bangs Hallet House, a restored 19th century residence. Additional pastimes include touring the harbor for migrating whales and a glimpse of the Kennedy compound, visiting the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory, and drinking in the abundant local beauty from the Cape Cod Central Railroad's Scenic Fun Train.

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