Beloved by fishermen and sea captains for centuries, the charming coastal town of Chatham, Mass., came into its own as a resort destination in the 1870s when wealthy New Englanders discovered its vistas of sea and shore. At the elbow of Cape Cod's bent arm, this comfortably walkable village has maintained its history and seaside flavor. Revered by Native Americans for its rich fishing waters and abundant wildlife and settled by Englishman William Nickerson in 1658, Chatham has long been recognized for its exquisite natural beauty. Picture-perfect streets are lined with 18th-century homes, Cape Cod cottages and glorious gardens. Anchored by the historic Chatham lighthouse, the village boasts a lively, architecturally rich Main Street where merchants cater to locals and strolling visitors from around the world. The town celebrates its sense of place through well-loved summertime traditions such as free Friday night band concerts, Chatham A's baseball games and a Fourth of July parade that is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. In the winter months, Chatham hosts a performing arts festival that culminates with midnight fireworks over Oyster Pond. Nearly surrounded by water and dotted with ice-age "kettle ponds," Chatham offers a number of public beaches, varied water sports and a scenic 4.5-mile bike trail. The Chatham Railroad Museum, housed in a beautifully restored 1887 depot, features a walk-through of a 1918 New York Central caboose, and there are three other local museums to explore as well as a wildlife refuge. Accommodations in Chatham range from quaint inns and bed-and-breakfasts to upscale hotels and resorts such as the grand, oceanfront 1914 Chatham Bars Inn, a member of National Trust Historic Hotels of America.

For these reasons, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, today named Chatham, Mass. to its 2007 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Chatham was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities.

"Chatham is an authentic, old-fashioned town that has never forgotten its sense of place," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Visitors looking for one of the best towns Cape Cod has to offer should look no further than Chatham."

For more information about Chatham, please visit chathaminfo.com