Highland House
Why it's listed
Highland House, a two-story clapboard and shingled building measuring roughly 32 by 92 feet, was built in 1907 by Isaac M. Small in the Highland Light area of Truro. It replaced an earlier 1835 farmhouse built by James Small, which had taken in summer visitors and has since been moved away. Small continued the guest house tradition, adding several guest cottages, and the complex also included a golf course dating to 1892, described as one of the two oldest in the United States. The building kept original doors, windows, casings, a metal ceiling and a large first-floor dining room. Later changes include a converted north veranda, a kitchen on the east end and a south ell. It operated as a restaurant until at least 1968 and is now a museum run by the Truro Historical Society. The nomination values it as a surviving example of purpose-built accommodation for early Cape Cod summer visitors.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a survivor of a vanished way of life on Cape Cod, an early structure designed for summer visitors before 'summer people' began buying their own land and houses. It was part of a complex that included guest cottages and one of the two oldest golf courses in the United States (1892), and it lies near Highland Light and the Life Saving Station.
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 75000157, listed June 5, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 6 on Cape Cod National Seashore, Truro |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | June 5, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000157 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 (19th and 20th centuries checked) |
| Architect / builder | Isaac M. Small (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum by the Truro Historical Society under a Special Use Permit from the National Park Service; described as structurally sound, in fair condition, and in need of some restoration. It was used as a restaurant as late as 1968. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.04037, -70.06504 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 75000157.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5758850
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.