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The life of Provincetown, Massachusetts in the 1940s Through these Stunning Historical Photos

Provincetown is a beautiful town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Originally a fishing and whaling center, it became one of America’s earliest art colonies in the late nineteenth century. Today, Provincetown continues to attract dozens of eclectic art galleries and atmospheric studios as well as cultural events, exhibitions, and festivals throughout the year.

Provincetown’s sandy beaches welcomed the Pilgrims in 1620 when they reached North America on the Mayflower. It took the group two months to cross the Atlantic in search of religious freedom. As they went ashore, the Mayflower Compact was signed, a governing document that would later serve as a model for the Founding Fathers.

Several Portuguese families live in Provincetown, a community deeply rooted in the Town’s fishing industry. Portuguese immigrants were originally sailors, and within decades, the fishing industry would be dominated by them. Soon after the sailors arrived, Portuguese families followed, bringing their food and strong ties to the Catholic Church.

Provincetown Portuguese Festival and Blessing of the Fleet are annual events celebrating Portuguese influence. Provincetown’s bohemian lifestyle attracted painters, playwrights, and poets during World War I. Among the famous residents were the writer Norman Mailer, the playwright Eugene O’Neill, and the abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann, who also opened a summer school there.

Some fascinating historical photos show Provincetown, MA, in the 1940s.

#1 Two young boys sit on the beach and watch as a seaplane lands on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#2 A beach house faces the ocean on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#3 A view down Commercial Street in Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1945.

#4 A waitress at a restaurant leans upon the doorway as she spends a quiet moment on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#5 Two young boys sit on the beach with their dog, with a rowboat anchored in the foreground on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#6 A small girl smiles while walking on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#7 A young girl smiles while sitting on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#8 A lighthouse on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#9 A man and a woman enjoy sailing on the waters off Provincetown on Cape Cod, near Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#10 A lighthouse on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#11 A woman walks ahead to anchor the sailboat on the beach as a man waits to debark on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#12 A lighthouse on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#13 A sailboat sits at anchor on the beach as two men and a woman start to debark on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#14 View of a ferry and other ships on the waters off Provincetown on Cape Cod, near Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#15 Young girl smiles while sitting on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#16 A sailboat approaches a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#17 A beach house faces the ocean on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#18 A couple prepares food while camping on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#19 Boys examine a crab on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#20 A man points out something in the distance to a woman as they sit on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#21 Two men adjust the nets on a lobster trap on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#22 A sailboat approaches a lighthouse on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#23 A woman stands amid the wooden pylons of a pier on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#24 A woman relaxes on a chair on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#25 Boys examine a crab on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#26 Basil O’Connor making Appeal, Provincetown, 1940s

#29 Provincetown Playhouse, 133 Macdougal Street, 1945

#30 A view of a stream in Corn Hill, Massachusetts, 1945.

#31 A site in Provincetown stating that it was the first landing place of the Pilgrims, Massachusetts, 1945.

#32 An exterior view of Corn Hill, Massachusetts, 1945.

#33 A Portuguese crab fisherman preparing one of his traps. Provincetown, Massachusetts, April 1942.

#34 A fisherman and his family gather around a radio in their living room in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

#35 Portuguese fishing boats beached for repairs. Provincetown, Massachusetts, Spring 1942.

#36 Worshipers leaving a church in the Portuguese section of Provincetown, Massachusetts during the Spring of 1942.

#37 Portuguese dory fishermen sit and talk on the deck of the fishing shack where they store their gear, 1940s

#38 Three Men Relaxing in front of Antiques Shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA, Edwin Rosskam for Farm Security Administration, August 1940.

#39 Woman Relaxing on Car at Beach, Provincetown, 1940

#40 Tourists just off the boat from Boston beginning to make use of their two hours in town. Provincetown, Massachusetts, August 1940.

#41 Manuel Zorra, known as the best fisherman on the cape, runs a small boat with a minimum crew because of the bad fishing conditions. Provincetown, Massachusetts, August 1940.

#42 Group of Passengers Seasonal Visitors standing on deck of Steamer from Boston to Provincetown Massachetts, 1940s

#43 African American sit by the side of Lumberyard in Provincetown, 1940s

#44 hree visitors sit or lean on the pier’s railings as a photographer uses a camera on a tripod to take portraits, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#45 Interior of an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#46 Children play and climb a tree, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#47 Bobby, a trained monkey, entertains a group of children gathered around, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#48 A young boy runs on a rocky breakwater on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#49 Employees paint or repair items which will be for sale at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#50 A young girl smiles while holding a white rabbit while visiting, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#51 An employee paints a crib for which will be for sale at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#52 An employee hand paints text onto a cabinet, at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#53 Visitors look at various items at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#54 Visitors look at various items at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#55 A visitor relaxes outside on the grounds of an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#56 A visitor stands at the entrance to an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#57 Interior of an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#58 A visitor relaxes outside on the grounds of an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#59 A young girl looks at a ceramic cat sculpture at an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#60 Interior of an antique shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#61 Visitors disembark from a boat at the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#62 View of the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#63 Visitors disembark from a boat at the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#64 View of sailboats along the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#65 Visitors disembark from a boat at the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#66 View of houses on the shore, with boats in the distance, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#67 Visitors disembark from a boat at the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#68 View of sailboats along the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#69 A man and a woman, partially obscured by brush, have a picnic on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#70 A man and a woman, with two boys, look out onto the ocean from a pier on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#71 A group of painters set up their easels and paint while on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#72 A young boy watches two fishermen head out on a boat on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#73 Two boys play with their dog on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#74 A young boy wearing a sailor’s hat walks past the deck of a seaside house on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#75 Fishing boats docked on a pier on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#76 A man prepares to cook a lobster in a pot set up on an outdoor grill, with a woman seated behind him on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#77 A man wearing a sailor’s hat and denim jeans looks out onto the ocean, with a large group of seagulls on the water on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#78 Two young boys watch as two fishermen head out on a small boat on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#79 A young woman sitting on the pier looks out onto some dockside buildings on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#80 A group of painters set up their easels and paint while on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#81 A young woman sits pensively on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#82 A young boy plays with a rope and his dog on the beach on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#83 View, looking down stairs, at boys playing at the end of a pier on Cape Cod, Provincetown, Massachussetts, 1947.

#84 Three children hold hands as they walk up a street, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#85 View of a painting class with their easels set up on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#86 View of the cemetery, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#87 Exterior view of the Church of St Mary at the Harbor, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#88 A young boy picks a balloon from a bunch sold by a balloon seller, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#89 view of the plants and brushes growing the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#91 ight time view showing the Pilgrim’s Monument, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#92 A young girl builds sand castles on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#93 acing the ocean, a girl sketches or writes in her book while sitting on the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#94 Night time view showing the window of the Provincetown Art Shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#95 Two young children, a boy and a girl, hold hands as they jump and play in the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#96 A young boy looks down to examine finds in the sand on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#97 View of a woman looking into the window of the Attic Antiques shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#98 A man climbs up the mast of a sailboat, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#99 Night time view showing the window of the Provincetown Art Shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#100 view of the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#101 A man climbs up the mast of a sailboat, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#102 A young girl builds sand castles on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#103 View of a woman camping in the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#104 A couple relaxes on the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#105 A seaplane lands on the water, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#106 View of flowers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#107 Night time view as two visitors look intot the window of the Hand Industries shop, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#108 A young boy standing on the beach points towards the sea, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#109 View of houses on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#110 A young boy plays in the sand on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#111 View of the effects of a storm upon housing on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#112 View of the Pilgrim Monument at dusk from across the water, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#113 Night time view of the Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#114 Night time view of the Lobster Pot Restaurant, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#115 Night time view of a street, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#116 View of a young woman who has set up camp in the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#117 A young child plays with a monkey as other children gather around, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#118 A photographer smiles while taking photographs using a tripod camera and a handheld shutter release, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#119 Portrait of a woman wearing a polka dot bathing suit and seated among the plants on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#120 A young child looks back towards an unidentified figure standing next to a boat while on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#121 A young child standing on a beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#122 A young child plays with a hoop on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#123 Five friends gather around for a beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#124 View of boats docked along the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#125 A woman smiles while sitting on the beach as the surf rolls, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#126 A young girl plays in the sand at the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#127 View of a small sailboat docked to a beached raft with beachside houses in the distance, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#128 A woman wearing a polka dot bathing suit and standing among the plants on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#129 A woman tends the fire for a beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#130 View of a woman combing the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#131 View, from beneath the pier, of three boys combing the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#132 A woman takes a photograph of her friend as they visit the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#133 A dog with wet fur, possibly a King Charles spaniel, stands on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#134 A woman runs along the beach amid the surf, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#135 A young child plays with a hoop on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#136 A woman smiles while sitting on the beach as the surf rolls, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#137 A man cleans fish for a beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#138 A woman cleans fish for a beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#139 A woman runs her hand through her hair while sitting with her dog, on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#140 A man cleans fish for a beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#141 Three boys look down to examine something in the water, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#142 A man and a woman sit while another woman tends the fire for their beachside cookout, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#143 A father carries his daughter and walks alongside his son on the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#144 Portrait of a balloon seller smiling, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#145 A woman points out a fishing boat to her son, at the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#146 View showing the Pilgrim’s Monument, at left, taken from beneath the piers, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#147 A young boy holds a girl’s hand as he helps her up the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#148 View showing the Pilgrim’s Monument, at left, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#149 View of the cemetery, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#150 View of buildings along the pier, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#151 Two young children, a boy and a girl, playin the sand dunes of the beach, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#152 A young girl picks a balloon from a bunch sold by a balloon seller, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#153 View of fishermen at the docks, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#154 Visitors walk along the breakwater, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#155 View of fishermen at the docks, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#156 Exterior view, from inside the grounds of the Church of St Mary at the Harbor, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#157 Outside the Town Hall, view of a monument to the Rose Dorothea commemorating her victory at Old Home Week in Boston, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#158 View of people relaxing at the foot of the monument to soldiers who served during the First World War, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#159 A young boy picks a balloon from a bunch sold by a balloon seller, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

#160 Three children, young girls, smile and run down a street, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1948.

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7 Comments

  1. Sadly, history has been lost. The pics entitled Antique shop are not.The pieces in this shop on Peter Hunt Lane were painted by artists.At one time women all over America desired furniture by these artists and shop.The man in pic #55 is not a visitor, he was the owner Peter Hunt. Peter Hunt’s painted furniture was very popular in the 30’s and 40’s, selling at Macy’s and Gimbel’s department stores .Today some of these pieces fetch high prices at auction.

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