Original Air Date: May 11, 2026
According to Plymouth historian, James Baker, Old Sandwich Road is the oldest unpaved road in continuous use in the United States. This serenely wooded route runs through the heart of The Pinehills, and thanks to collaborative preservation efforts between the Town of Plymouth, Plymouth Antiquarian Society, and The Pinehills, travelling on Old Sandwich Road is like a trip back in time.
Recently, WCVB-5's Chronicle came to Plymouth, and The Pinehills, to explore this remarkable stretch of road intertwined with our local and national history.
By Sangita Chandra PLYMOUTH, Mass.
Old Sandwich Road is a nearly 6-mile route that began as a Wampanoag path and was later used by colonial settlers traveling between Plymouth and Sandwich as early as 1639, according to local historians. More than half of the remaining stretch in Plymouth is still dirt, winding through woods much as it did generations ago.
“You’re not just stepping back into history, you’re actually going through it,” historian Jim Baker
Segment 1 | Plymouth’s Old Sandwich Road remains a living link to history:
Segment 2 | As The Pinehills grows, Old Sandwich Road residents work to preserve Plymouth’s character:
Segment 3 | In Plymouth, Old Sandwich Road tells a story of Wampanoag heritage and conservation:
Segment 4 | A drive down Old Sandwich Road leads to fresh seafood in Sandwich, Mass:
