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Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown and Crowne Pointe Historic Inn

Norman
2004-08-11 14:14:23

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A Little History

Where should we begin when describing Provincetown (usually called P-Town)- a most unique and eccentric town located at the tip of a 70 mile-long stretch of sand jutting out from the coast of Massachusetts?

A town, where almost ninety percent of its land mass is included within the Cape Cod National Seashore, and one with an unusual blend of history, fishing and culture. In fact, once dubbed "hell town" it was inhabited by smugglers, outlaws, pirates, escaped indentured servants, raucous mariners, "filles de joie", heavy drinkers and an assortment of other misfits, who openly had a reputation for flaunting authority.

Rich in history, since the time the Meeshawns, one of the six sub-tribes of the Wampanoag Indian federation first inhabited the area, Provincetown has always had a kind of quirkiness that has seduced individuals from diverse lifestyles to either visit or make Provincetown their home.

A free spirit reigns in P-Town, welcoming all comers representing many faces. If you are into people watching, you will notice gays, lesbians, transvestites, cross-dressers, and drag queens, attracting little or no attention, while they meander along the town's streets. Everyone is made to feel accepted, no matter what his or her sexual orientation may be.

For centuries fishermen have seasonally used its harbor, and incidentally, its harbor is the third deepest natural harbor in the World after Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco. It was the third largest major fishing and whaling port during the 18th century after Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts. As a result, many Portuguese from the Azores, the Canary Islands and Cape Verdes had immigrated here due to the abundance of employment in the whaling industry. Today, you will still find descendants of these families living in Provincetown.

The one hundred and two Pilgrims, who set out from Plymouth England on the 7th of September ...