6. Protecting Cape Cod’s Seashores

President John F. Kennedy loved Cape Cod and it’s unique natural environment. In 1961, he signed legislation establishing an American treasure, the Cape Cod National Seashore, protecting the fragile coastline from Chatham to Provincetown. The 43,500-acre National Seashore has created recreational opportunities for millions of residents and tourists, and became a landmark that defines Cape Cod. The Cape Cod National Seashore area is on the east side of the Cape’s outer arm, about 20 miles from here.

Cape Cod National Seashore

On August 7, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed a bill authorizing the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore. JFK had co-sponsored legislation for a new national park while in the U.S. Senate. He said the goal was "to preserve the natural and historic values of a portion of Cape Cod for the inspiration and enjoyment of people all over the United States." Called the "Cape Cod Model," this was the first time the federal government had created a national park out of land that was primarily in private hands. A controversial issue, there were months of hearings and meetings that eventually balanced private and public interests. After years of negotiations and rounds of legislation, the bill was made law in 1961, and the Cape Cod National Seashore was now protected by the U.S. Government. In his remarks at the signing ceremony of the bill, JFK said "From personal knowledge I realize very well how useful this is going to be for the people of the Cape and Massachusetts and New England and the entire United States." Today the Seashore draws millions of visitors from around the world who enjoy the Great Beach and its unique villages.

Remarks of the President on Signing S. 857, an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore

I would like to make a brief statement. Today, in signing S. 857, an Act to authorize the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore Park, I join the congress and hope that this will be one of a whole series of great seashore parks which will be for the use and benefit of all of our people.

This Act makes it possible for the people of the United States through their government to acquire and preserve the natural and historical values of a portion of Cape Cod for the inspiration and enjoyment of people all over the United States.

This is a wise use of our natural resources, and I am sure that future generations will benefit greatly from the wise action taken by the Members of the Congress who are here today.

I commend the Congress for giving very careful judgement in balancing off public needs in the interests of people who live in this section of the Cape, and I think that they have done an admirable job in serving both interests in this piece of legislation.

I co-sponsored, as a Member of the Senate, a similar bill. It is a very old part of the United States, and I must say that from personal knowledge I realize very well how useful this is going to be for the people of the Cape and Massachusetts and New England and the entire United States.

There are Members of Congress here today from Texas and Colorado and Utah who have seen in their own States the tremendous contribution which these national parks can make. If we are going to double the population in another fifty years or so, we can get some idea of how important preserving this section for all the people will be.

I think we are going to need a good deal more effort like this, particularly in the more highly developed urban areas, where so many millions of people now live, and work out the means of securing the advantages of recreation and leisure which these areas can bring. So I know that the government and the Congress will work together in seeing how they can carry on similar projects in other parts of the country.

This is a matter of great interest to me, and I express my appreciation to the Members of the Congress and to the Chairmen of the Committees, and to those Members of Congress particularly as I said from not only Massachusetts who worked hard on it in a bipartisan spirit but from all sections of the country who strongly supported this legislation.