CAPE COD MUSEUMS
CHATHAM WINDMILL
Chatham, Massachusetts 02633
The Chatham Windmill is an historic windmill at Chase Park, Shattuck Place in Chatham, Massachusetts. The mill, built in 1797 by Benjamin Godfrey, was first used to grind corn, and originally stood on Stage Harbor Road. It was moved to its present location in 1955, the year it was given to the town. The methods used in its construction suggest that the builder was from the southeast of England.
Admission is free - Donations to support the mill are always welcome!
Our millers and guides look forward to showing you the inner workings of this historic grist mill and are available to answer your questions.
*Tours may be cancelled due to rain or severe weather conditions. (This is done to protect this centuries-old mill from water damage.)
Did you know?
There were about a dozen windmills located in Chatham from the early 1700s through the 1800s, with about half that number operating at any one time.
The windmill underwent an extensive restoration in 2010-12. Now the mill is fully functional and can grind grain into flour, just as it did in the 18th and 19th centuries. The mill was rededicated May 19, 2012 as part of Chatham's tercentennial celebration. It’s the only windmill on Cape Cod that on special "Grinding Days" is set in motion and grinds corn - just as it did in the 18th and 19th centuries. Click here to view the restoration.
Watch a video of the grinding mill. Click here.