Provincetown West End History Tour

The history of the U.S. Coast Guard presence in Provincetown, Massachusetts, centers primarily on Coast Guard Station Provincetown and its predecessor, the United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS), with roots tracing back to the 19th century.

The oldest house in Provincetown, Massachusetts, is the Seth Nickerson House, also known as the "Oldest House," located at 72 Commercial Street in the town's West End. Built around 1746–1750, it is a well-preserved example of a full Cape Cod-style home, characterized by its symmetrical facade with double front windows on either side of a central doorway and windows abutting the eaves, a hallmark of its early construction. The house features a beehive-shaped brick oven at the rear of the main fireplace, a rare feature found only in homes built before 1750, and was reportedly constructed using materials salvaged from shipwrecks, reflecting Provincetown’s maritime heritage.

Captain Jack’s Wharf is a historic and iconic fishing wharf located at 73A Commercial Street in Provincetown’s West End, Massachusetts, extending into Provincetown Harbor. Built in 1897 by Jackson R. “J.R.” Williams, a local trap fisherman, the wharf originally supported fishing operations with shacks for storing and repairing nets and gear. Over time, it transformed into a quirky, colorful collection of 12 condominium cabins, now a popular tourist destination known for its bohemian charm and seaside aesthetic.

Long Point Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located at the very tip of Long Point, a remote peninsula in Provincetown’s West End, Massachusetts, marking the entrance to Provincetown Harbor. Built in 1826 and rebuilt in 1875, this 35.5-foot, square white brick tower with a black lantern is the third lighthouse on the site, replacing earlier structures from 1816 and 1826. It displays a flashing green light every 4 seconds, visible for 8 nautical miles, and has been solar-powered since 1982. Automated in 1956, it includes a keeper’s house (now privately leased) and remains an active navigational aid within the Cape Cod National Seashore.

The Long Point Floaters in Provincetown, Massachusetts, are historic homes originally built in the early 19th century at the Long Point settlement, a fishing village on a remote peninsula at the tip of Cape Cod. Established around 1818, Long Point thrived with about 38 homes, a school, post office, bakery, and saltworks until the 1850s, when overfishing, declining salt prices, and isolation prompted residents to relocate. Rather than abandon their homes, approximately 30–40 families floated their houses across Provincetown Harbor on flat-bottomed scows during low tide, resettling them primarily in the West End and other parts of Provincetown, such as Commercial, Bradford, Atwood, and Point Streets.

Land’s End Inn is a historic, luxurious bed-and-breakfast located at 22 Commercial Street in Provincetown’s West End, Massachusetts, perched atop Gull Hill with panoramic views of Provincetown Harbor and Cape Cod Bay. Built in 1904 as a quirky summer bungalow by Charles Lothrop Higgins, it became an inn in 1926 and has since been meticulously preserved, reflecting Provincetown’s artistic and maritime heritage.

The Red Inn is a historic, upscale inn and restaurant located at 15 Commercial Street in Provincetown’s West End, Massachusetts, directly on Provincetown Harbor with stunning waterfront views. Dating back to 1805, with parts possibly from 1775, it’s one of the town’s oldest buildings, originally built as a residence and later serving as a boarding house and tavern. Restored in 1915 and renovated in 2002, it blends classic Cape Cod charm with modern luxury.

The Provincetown Inn is a historic beachfront hotel located at 1 Commercial Street in Provincetown’s West End, Massachusetts, at the tip of Cape Cod. Dating back to the early 1920s, it sits on land where the Pilgrims reportedly first landed in 1620, marked by its historical significance with full-color murals depicting Provincetown’s past.

Pilgrims’ First Landing Park is a small, historic memorial park commemorating the Mayflower Pilgrims’ first landing on November 11, 1620, before they settled in Plymouth. The park features a plaque installed in 1917 by the Research Club of Provincetown, marking the spot where the Pilgrims first touched American soil.