Martha's Vineyard Campground
Also known as: Wesleyan Grove
Why it's listed
Martha's Vineyard Campground is a compact district of 306 small cottages and six public buildings on 34 shaded acres in the middle of Oak Bluffs. It began in 1835 as a Methodist camp meeting, first held among nine large tents around a preacher's stand. Over time cottages replaced tents, and the layout of circles, parks and radial avenues around Trinity Park stayed in place. The typical cottage is a narrow gable-front structure of tongue and groove boarding, with Gothic mouldings and ornate bargeboard trim. The 1879 iron Tabernacle, Trinity Methodist Church, Grace Methodist Chapel, the 1859 Association Building and two hotels complete the group. The district was listed for its distinctive cottage architecture, its exceptional preservation, and its role as a model nineteenth century Methodist campground. Its growth also led to the founding of the town of Cottage City in 1880. The Camp-Meeting Association still owns the land and oversees both religious and community life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the campground is significant for its unique cottage architecture, its remarkable state of preservation, and its link to nineteenth century Methodist camp-meeting religious practice. It was one of the largest campgrounds in the country and the best preserved. Its growth also sparked the resort development that led to the town of Cottage City, and its cottages became a model called "Martha's Vineyard Cottages".
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 78000439, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Cottage Park, Quequechan, Clinton, Dukes, County, Siloam, Lake, and Central Aves., Oak Bluffs |
|---|---|
| County | Dukes County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000439 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Tabernacle assembled in 1879 by George Dwight and John Hoyt, galvanized iron dealers from Springfield; forty cottages built by Edgartown carpenters in 1864 |
| Architectural style | Campground cottage (Gothic-detailed) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied. The Camp-Meeting Association still owns the land and governs the campground. The Tabernacle is used for community events. About 50 cottages have been winterized and others altered, but the nineteenth century character remains. |
| Acreage | 34 |
| Within district | Wesleyan Grove |
| Coordinates | 41.45435, -70.56129 (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 78000439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7984050
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.