Hawthorne Class Studio
Also known as: Morris Davidson School of Art
Why it's listed
Set on a hilly, sandy site of about four acres off Miller Hill Road in Provincetown, this shingled, barn-like studio was built between 1900 and 1907. It measures 50 by 80 feet, has a gambrel roof and a slight second-story overhang, and rests on cement block pilings, with its west end supported by cement pillars over a hill. A 1½-story house nearby was moved from Commercial Street in four pieces to lodge students. The studio is linked to painter Charles W. Hawthorne, who began teaching in his home nearby and moved his growing class into the barn. Hawthorne is recognized as the founder of Provincetown's art community and its leading figure until his death in 1930. From 1930 to 1945 Hans Hofmann taught here and lived in the house during summers. Morris Davidson acquired the property in 1945 and continued the school without changing the building or the character of the classes, giving it roughly seventy years of continuous use as an art school.
Significance in brief: The studio is tied to the noted artist Charles W. Hawthorne, who is recognized as the founder of Provincetown's art community, and it has been used continuously as an art school for about 70 years. It later housed classes taught by Hans Hofmann and then Morris Davidson, and it remains physically unaltered.
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 78000434, listed July 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off Miller Hill Rd., Provincetown |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | July 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000434 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1907 |
| Areas of significance | Art, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as unaltered and still in use as a painting school; the house on the property was moved from Commercial Street to serve students. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.05766, -70.18237 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 78000434.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715524
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.