Provincetown Public Library
Why it's listed
Built by the town in 1874, the Provincetown Public Library at 330 Commercial Street is a two-story frame building topped by a vernacular mansard roof covered in clapboards. It is the only Second Empire style building in town, yet it matches neighboring buildings in height, massing, setback and color. A one-story portico with carvings and dentils shelters the entrance, paired scroll brackets support the cornice, and the windows carry triangular and segmental pediments. Vinyl siding now imitates the original clapboards, and planned restoration would bring back a lost cupola and uncover three blocked windows. Much of the plain plaster-and-painted-wood interior is original because the building has always been a library. Beyond its architecture, the library has served Provincetown's artists and writers, with card holders said to include Eugene O'Neill, John Dos Passos and Tennessee Williams. It also works as a social center and keeper of the town's historical records.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as the only Second Empire style building with a mansard roof in Provincetown. It is also a cultural and educational resource that has served the town's community of artists and writers and preserves the town's historical records.
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 75000248, listed April 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 330 Commercial St., Provincetown |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | April 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a library; restoration planned or in progress, including a replacement cupola and three covered windows. The exterior is covered in vinyl siding imitating the original clapboards. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Provincetown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.05259, -70.18518 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 75000248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7252604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.