Provincetown in Barnstable County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
"A grand place to be alone and undisturbed"
Eugene O'Neill, 1919
Photographed by Conrad Ward, July 27, 2024
1. "A grand place to be alone and undisturbed" Marker
This unmarked path leads through the unique landscape of the Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District and on to the Atlantic Ocean. The dune shacks are part of Provincetown and Truro's rich history. The earliest shacks were built as temporary dwellings for the families of surfmen who were stationed at the Peaked Hill Bars Life-Saving Station. Some were built by the fishing community to provide shelter and stow gear. Noted American playwright Eugene O'Neill spent time in a shack in 1919. He later took up residence in the life-saving station after it was decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the decades, artists, writers, and those wishing to experience remote and rustic dune life have been inspired by this landscape and its solitude. The tradition continues. Today the shacks are still occupied by private citizens, and some are used by local non-profit organizations. You are invited to explore and develop your own personal connections to this special place.
Please help protect this fragile environment and history:
Stay on the well-established paths and avoid stepping on plants. This will prevent erosion
this page online
Respect the privacy of people occupying the dune shacks.
There are no trash cans or restrooms for public use. Remove litter and dog waste.
Dogs must be leashed at all times.
For your safety: Walking up steep hills in soft sand is strenuous. Bring plenty of water. The sand can be very hot in the summer. Your base feet (and your dog's paws)_can be easily burned. Cell phone coverage is unreliable.
Photograph by Stephanie Foster, taken during a dune shack residency.
For more information about the dune shacks or residency programs, inquire at the Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Point Road, or visit www.nps.gov/caco.
Erected by Cape Cod National Seashore (National Park Service).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 42° 3.997′ N, 70° 9.763′ W. Marker is in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in Barnstable County. It can be reached from the intersection of grand Army of the Republic Highway (U.S. 6) and Snail Road, on the left when traveling east.
Photographed by Conrad Ward, July 27, 2024
2. "A grand place to be alone and undisturbed" Marker
Regionally, this marker is on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: U.S. Submarine S-4 Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); MacMillan Wharf (approx. 1.6 miles away); #286 Commercial St. (approx. 1.6 miles away); Pilgrim Memorial Stone (approx. 1.6 miles away); Sons of Provincetown (approx. 1.6 miles away); Provincetown AIDS Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Provincetown Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Mayflowers Passengers Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Provincetown.
Also see . . .
1. Cape Cod National Seashore. (Submitted on January 6, 2025.)
2. Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District. National Park Service (Submitted on January 6, 2025.)
3. Dune Shacks of the Peaked Hill Bars Historic District. Traditional Cultural Property Assessment (pdf) (Submitted on January 6, 2025.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
