Artists And Writers Used To Flock To This Tiny Massachusetts Town To Experience Its Remote Dune Shacks

Set in the sand dunes at the tip of Cape Cod are 19 shacks that dot the landscape. These dune shacks of Provincetown once served as part of a life-saving station beginning in 1882 for shipwreck survivors. Between the 1920s and 1950s, the shacks became havens for numerous artists and writers who came here to find solitude as they worked. Today, only 19 dune shacks remain and are still available for overnight guests.

Throughout history, people have flocked to other locations for a getaway. And Cape Cod has been a popular vacation destination since the 19th century.

In 1882, the Peaked Hill Bars area was established between Truro and Provincetown. Here, several life-saving dune shacks were constructed by the Massachusetts Humane Society.

The original purpose of these dunes shacks was to help shipwreck survivors by providing shelter and supplies. Shipwrecks were a real danger around the Cape back then, so they were built out of necessity.

In the 1920s and 1950s, the dune shacks at Peaked Hill Bars became a popular destination for many notable artists and writers.

In fact, E.E. Cummings, Henry David Thoreau, Tennessee Williams, Jackson Pollock, William de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Jack Kerouac have all stayed in one of these shacks. Here, they were able to find both solitude and artistic inspiration.

Today, the Cape Cod National Seashore owns 18 of the 19 remaining dune shacks, none of which have electricity or running water. With its remote location and lack of amenities, it's quite an experience to stay in one!

To get to the dune shacks, you can trek through the dunes on a strenuous hike through the sand, take an overland vehicle, or book a tour with Art's Dune Tours.

Did you know about the dune shacks of Provincetown? Would you ever stay in one? To learn more about the lottery system for your chance to spend the night in a dune shack, visit the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce website.