A Brief History of Wareham: The Gateway to Cape Cod - Hardcoverby Michael J. Vieira (Author), Angela M. Dunham (Introduction by) Wareham, Massachusetts the Gateway to the Cape is a small town steeped in rich history. The Wampanoags, or People of the First Light," first used the area of Wareham as a summer home. Later, this area became part of the colonies' first permanent settlement, Plymouth. Since its incorporation in 1739, Wareham has persevered and flourished through the American Revolution, the War of 1812