Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District
Why it's listed
Along more than five miles of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Provincetown and Truro, a scattering of weathered wood shacks sits among shifting sand dunes. This district covers roughly 1,960 acres within Cape Cod National Seashore and includes 18 contributing shacks built between the 1920s and early 1950s, plus the dune landscape itself. The shacks are small, unornamented, shingled buildings, usually a single room, set on piers and altered over time as sand eroded or accreted. Several have been moved back from the shoreline, and their parts are often salvaged or reused. Access is by unmarked sand tracks, which adds to the sense of isolation. The area is recognized as a seasonal retreat used from 1920 to 1991 for recreation, fishing, artistic inspiration and contemplation, with ties to writers and artists such as poet Harry Kemp. The shacks, the dunes and the open views together convey that rustic, maritime and creative heritage. Eleven small modern outbuildings are counted as noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the district as an isolated, informal seasonal retreat used through the twentieth century for recreation, fishing, artistic inspiration and contemplation. Writers and artists, including poet Harry Kemp and others tied to the Provincetown literary and artistic community, are associated with it. The simple, impermanent shacks and the dune landscape together form a distinctive architectural and cultural entity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000132, listed March 15, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Inner Dune, Snail, & High Head Rds., Provincetown |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 15, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000132 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1920-1991 |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Waterside Shelter |
| Areas of significance | Art, Literature, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All shacks are owned and managed by the National Park Service, with maintenance done by longtime dune dwellers and non-profit community groups; some shacks have been rebuilt or moved back from the shoreline. |
| Acreage | 1960 |
| Coordinates | 42.07432, -70.17395 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000132.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15215385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.