2010 Population: 2,942 Provincetown grew very slowly during the 18th century and its population fluctuated with the price of fish. Farming was of secondary importance and aside from the fishing industry, there were only some salt works and one mill. After the Revolution, the town boomed and its population rose 276.6% between 1790 and 1830. Despite its relative lack of good farm land, by the middle of the 19th century, Provincetown had developed as the prime maritime, fishing and commercial center of the Cape. The Civil War, which destroyed so much New England business, only provided more markets for Provincetown's fish. Portuguese sailors, picked up by American ships in the Azores and Cape Verde Islands to fill out their crews, came to Provincetown to live and additional Portuguese immigrants had moved to town by the 19th century to work on the whaling boats and coastal fishing vessels. In 1875, there were 25 coastwise and 36 ocean vessels operating in town, more than any community in the state including Boston. Provincetown was a bustling place with all of the ancillary maritime businesses operating, such as ship chandlers, shipwrights, sail makers, caulkers, riggers and blacksmiths. |
Provincetown's Most Unusual Restaurant!
Located in the Heart of Provincetown, Napi's has been an Outer Cape tradition for 49 years!
Whether indulging in a house classic, an innovative original, or keeping it casual with a juicy burger, Napi's chefs create something for everyone.
We’re honored to feature some of the original dishes including the award winning Portuguese Kale Soup, New England Clam Chowder, and some other Mediterranean favorites.
Our dining rooms provide a visual feast of significant local art and craftsmanship.
7 Freeman St., Provincetown, MA
phone: 800-571-6274
map / details
Wandering Cape Cod again Saturday October 12, 2024 |
September is a good time to visit the Cape. The crowds are gone, restaurants are still open, and it's surprisingly still quite warm. The sun lit my days for a week and a half, rain only the last few days, morning fog adding a little mystery to the cemetery across the street. A kind friend invited me to use her house; her family keeps it busy throughout the summer but fall is a quiet time. There always seems to be new places to explore.
I met a friend from Falmouth, who had lived in Yarmouth Port for a while, at Sesuit Harbor Café, with its picnic tables outdoor along the boat-filled harbor, still crowded on a Friday in September, for my first lobster roll of the visit.
Sesuit Harbor Café
Sesuit Beach
My friend told me stories of Yarmouth Port's historic buildings. We drove back to town and hiked the trail there and stood under the sprawling 100-year-old English Weeping Beech tree. I later toured Captain Bang Hallet's House, carefully restored, but only a few rooms were open. My favorite stop was the home of Edward Gorey, whose quirky, macabre drawings, that inspired Tim Burton's films, brought a smile.
Yarmouth Port historic area
Recreated indigenous structure
Captain Bang Hallet's House
Kelly's Chapel
Gorham Cobbler Shop, little free library
Edward Gorey House
Children's corner, Yarmouth Port Public Library
Gray's Beach
Roughly a mile and a half long, the boardwalk at Gray's Beach is built above a marsh, hosting a variety of marine wildlife. One side is marsh, the other beach. At low tide, the marsh looks like a hedge maze with deep muddy lines running through it. At high tide, the maze fills with sea water and the beach just about disappears. A man I met there told me the best time to visit Gray's is when the tide is rushing in and filling the maze. I stopped by a few more times, but never did catch that magical moment.
low tide
high tide
Around town
Corner of Main and Summer Streets
Morning walks to Dennis Pond
Wild turkeys
I took a couple of road trips during this time on the Cape. Coming soon: Around the Cape, Provincetown Again, and Into the Mystic.
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