Programs
Campus Tours at the Museums (May-Oct)
May 24th – October 18th, 2024
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
We also host historical walking tours year round. Click here for the current schedule of historical walking tours.
For special events, see below.

- This event has passed.
Exhibition Opening of From Cape Cod to Normandy: Falmouth’s Role in WWII’s D-Day Invasion
June 6, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
From Cape Cod to Normandy: Falmouth’s Role in World War II’s D-Day Invasion
The Falmouth Historical Society, in collaboration with the Cape Cod Military Museum, is honored to present a compelling new exhibition that explores Falmouth’s vital role in the historic D-Day invasion during World War II. The show opens Thursday, June 6th, 2024, and runs until May 10th, 2025.
With America being violently thrust into WWII, there was a palatable fear gripping America, especially on the East Coast where Nazi U-boats were wreaking havoc on Allied shipping.
The exhibition unfolds against this historical setting, shedding light on the critical training that occurred in Falmouth in preparation for the monumental D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, Normandy, France. Key aspects of this exhibition include the amphibious training and innovations at Washburn Island, the heroic efforts of Woods Hole Coast Guard Cutters in the Rescue Flotilla, and the significant role played by the Ranger training that led to the greatest feat of arms in WWII, Rudder’s Rangers capturing Pointe Du Hoc.
A central figure in Falmouth’s contributions to D-Day was Ralph Ingersoll, a pro-war Newspaper publisher by trade, he volunteered to be stationed at Camp Edwards. Ingersoll, with strategic foresight, developed a plan to trick the Germans that the main attack was to be elsewhere with what has become known as the Phantom Army. They used inflatable rubber tanks, planes and landing craft along with fake unit patches and radio traffic to fool the enemy. Without this trickery D-Day could have ended in failure.
Even the Martha’s Vineyard Ferry the Naushon got into the act. She became the H.M.S. Naushon a British Hospital Ship treating the wounded and ferrying them to England for more treatment.
The exhibition concludes with a poignant reflection on the Falmouth Homefront during this eventful day and tells the tales of Falmouth natives that participated in the most important date in history.
Sponsored by: Thank you to Oak Grove Cemetery of Falmouth, Inc., The Falmouth Raw Bar, and The Wharf Restaurant for becoming sponsors of the From Cape Cod to Normandy exhibition!
Free, please register online:
Register Here