Truro Highlands Historic District
Also known as: Highland House Resort
Why it's listed
Perched on an elevated clay bluff above the Atlantic in North Truro, this 85-acre district grew up around the Highland House resort. It lies inside Cape Cod National Seashore and holds eight contributing resources: five early-twentieth-century resort buildings, the Highland Golf Links, Highland Light Road and the Highland Light Station. The Highland House, a two-story shingled wood-frame hotel built in 1907, is the largest building and now houses a museum. Nearby are the Margaret Adams Cottage, used as the golf clubhouse, and a group of three cottages named Rock, Haven and Beacon. The golf course, laid out in 1898, is described as an early American links-style course and an example of the national trend of adding golf to tourist resorts. The Highlands' clay base gave farmers workable soil, made the area the first settled on Truro's ocean side, and supported Cape Cod's first lighthouse. The same clay contributes to erosion along the cliff face.
Significance in brief: The district preserves the Highland House resort complex, including five early-twentieth-century buildings that reflect the tourist accommodations offered there. It also includes the Highland Golf Links, laid out in 1898 and described as an important early American links-style course tied to the trend of resort golf. The Highlands were also the site of Cape Cod's first lighthouse.
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 11000823, listed November 22, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Highland Light Rd., Truro |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | November 22, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000823 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Highland House now serves as a museum and the former Margaret Adams Cottage is the golf clubhouse; the golf links remain in use as a sports facility. Cliff erosion is noted as a major threat to the area. |
| Acreage | 85 |
| Coordinates | 42.03819, -70.06090 (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 11000823.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16902011
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.