We spent an afternoon in Provincetown at the tip of the Cape. Fringe artists and writers began making a summer haven in Provincetown a century ago. Today it is the hottest gay and lesbian destination in the Northeast. Year round population is about 3,000 but during the summer it can swell to 19,000 to 60,000. The streets are narrow and the sidewalks are packed with residents and tourists. Houses are crammed side by side down alleyways. Every available square foot is lived in. We even saw a 3-story house with an outdoor spiral staircase leading to a converted attic.
Pilgrim Monument was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landfall of the Pilgrims in 1620 and the signing of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor. At 252 ft it is the tallest granite structure in the United States. You can climb to the top of the tower for a great view of Provincetown. There are 116 steps and 60 ramps to the top.
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| Up, up, up we go! |
Provincetown Harbor...
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| Harbormaster's Office |
On the way home we stopped by Highland Lighthouse. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod. It was moved 450 ft west in 1996 next to a golf course. It was in danger of falling down the cliff due to beach erosion. After an errant golf ball broke a window the windows were replaced with unbreakable ones. The Coast Guard still operates the lighthouse as an aid to navigation.
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| View from the cliff behind the lighthouse |
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