About Us
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation that established the Cape Cod National Seashore. 44,000 acres that includes the untamed shoreline of the Atlantic Coast, dunes that yield to heathland, marshes, woods and ponds were designated as a national park for public use. The beautiful towns of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown with their histories tied to the sea lie within the Seashore. The inclusion of these towns was a departure from the typical National Park model that previously created Parks from publicly owned or donated land.
Since 1987, The Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore (FCCNS), a not-for-profit charitable organization (501 c 3), has supported the National Seashore, which operates under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service by raising funds for specific projects. FCCNS was incorporated in Massachusetts on March 1, 1987 as a tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax exempt as provided by law.
2025 - 2026 Board of Directors
The Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Inc.
Bylaws, adopted February 7, 1987 (amended 7/2024)
Gratitude for our Valued Sustaining Members
Membership provides FCCNS with a sustainable source of funding that supports strategic investments, long-term planning, and timely response to the park’s most urgent priorities. Automatic membership renewal options also help ensure staff time is used efficiently, allowing more of each dollar to be directed toward caring for the Cape Cod National Seashore. We thank all our valued Friends who have joined or renewed their membership for 2025. Special thanks to those who have made general donations and contributed in memory of, in honor of, and to our special funds.
2025 donor and member honor roll
Communicate directly with President David Bernstein by emailing president@fccns.org.
Park Historian Bill Burke’s program “A Promise of the Seashore”, an in-depth look (60 minutes) at the history of the establishment of Cape Cod National Seashore now available in its entirety on YouTube.
“A Promise of the Seashore”