It’s hard to imagine now, but the windswept land near Long Point Lighthouse was once a bustling 19th-century fishing village. Even more surprising? Many of the homes built there still exist today, just not where they started. As you stroll the streets around our Provincetown Hotel, you’ll pass charming Cape Cod houses that were floated across the harbor to new foundations. If you’re looking for something uniquely Provincetown, discovering these historic “floater” houses is a memorable way to experience the town’s resilient past.
What Is a Floater House?
In the early 19th century, Long Point, now a remote stretch of sand off the tip of Cape Cod, was a bustling fishing village. It had everything a small community could need: 38 homes, a post office, saltworks powered by windmills, a schoolhouse, a bakery, and nearly 260 residents. However, by the 1850s, overfishing, a declining salt industry, and harsh isolation had made life unsustainable.
Rather than start over, families did something extraordinary: they floated their houses across Provincetown Harbor. At low tide, homes were placed on flat-bottomed scows, then rowed or poled across as the tide came in. Many were resettled in the West End, where they still stand today.
How to Spot a Floater House
Today, dozens of floater houses still grace Provincetown’s streets. You can identify them by blue-and-white plaques installed in the 1970s by Claude Jensen of the Provincetown Historical Association. Each plaque features a house on a boat with Long Point Lighthouse in the background. Exploring them offers a captivating look at the Cape’s architectural ingenuity and resilience.
Create Your Own Self-Guided Floater House Tour
Ready to see history up close? Begin your walk on Commercial Street and keep an eye out for blue-and-white plaques marking each floater house. Here are some highlights to look for:
18 Commercial Street – The Red House
This house, constructed around 1830, is believed to have been the last residence ferried across Provincetown Harbor around 1865. Its distinctive red color was added in the 1930s when it was acquired as an annex by the Red Inn across the road at 15 Commercial Street to house workers and overflow guests.
26 Commercial Street – The Francis Abbott House
Built in the early 1850s on the western edge of Long Point, The Abbott House is recognized for its vernacular Greek Revival architecture, featuring fluted pilasters and an entablature.
34 Commercial Street – The Emery House
Constructed around 1830, this home once stood near the center of the Long Point settlement. The house has been carefully maintained, with architectural features like original wood clapboard siding and a classic full-Cape layout preserved.
43 Commercial Street – Dr. Don’s Landing
Now Dr. Don’s Landing Condominiums, this house was originally built around 1840 for whaling captain John C. Weeks Sr. at the center of Long Point. Harriet Weeks Spear, daughter of Captain Weeks, was born in the house in 1851, back when it was still anchored at Long Point. At age seven, she made the harbor crossing with her home and continued to live there well into her 80s.
45 Commercial Street – Jones Locker Condominium
Originally built around 1840 on Long Point, this house was purchased in 1947, becoming the Jones Locker Beach Apartments. It’s easily spotted thanks to its massive (and seemingly out-of-place) twin dormers.
46 Commercial Street – The Tarrant House
Built around 1820 at the eastern edge of Long Point, this full Cape reflects a transitional style with early Cape simplicity enhanced by decorative detailing added in later years. The ornate trim and balanced façade make it one of the more architecturally rich examples among the floater houses.
47 Commercial Street – The Labrador Landing Condominium
This stately 1835 building, now a condominium, was the only two-story house on Long Point. Originally belonging to John Williams, the home’s imposing size and distinctive shape made it a landmark even in its original location. In 1947, Donald F. Witherstine opened the Shore Studio Gallery here, one of the first and most important commercial galleries in town.
49 Commercial Street – The Prince Freeman House
One of the oldest floater houses, dating to around 1820, was home to Prince Freeman, the first baby born on Long Point. The structure earned its current name as the Twin Bays Studio Apartments because of its dual bay windows and unique twin attic windows.
51 Commercial Street – The Prince Freeman Apartments
Constructed in 1818, this is one of the oldest surviving floater houses. In 1949, Catherine and Edward Dahill opened it as the Prince Freeman Apartments. The structure retains much of its 19th-century Cape Cod character and has long served as a local landmark.
58 Commercial Street – The Twin Door House
This striking 1830s floater house is easy to spot thanks to its unique twin front doors. Though its original Long Point owner is unknown, the home’s design suggests it may have served dual purposes, perhaps as a residence and workshop. After making its way across the harbor, it was carefully settled in the West End, where it continues to reflect the practical ingenuity of early Cape Cod life.
59 Commercial Street – Former Center for Coastal Studies
After making its way across the harbor, this building eventually became the longtime home of the Center for Coastal Studies, a Provincetown-based nonprofit dedicated to marine conservation and education. While the organization has since relocated, its legacy of stewardship and scientific discovery ties beautifully to the building’s ocean-going past.
61 Commercial Street – A Quiet Floater Landmark
Although less documented than its neighbors, the home at 61 Commercial Street is believed to be another historic floater house from Long Point. Its simple lines and classic Cape Cod form are consistent with early 19th-century construction.
329 Commercial Street – Former Long Point Schoolhouse
Believed to have been Long Point’s original schoolhouse, this building once served as the educational hub for the fishing village’s 60 children. After making the journey across Provincetown Harbor in the mid-19th century, it stood at 329 Commercial Street until a fire in 1949 destroyed much of the structure. Though the original is no longer standing, its legacy endures as a reminder of the self-reliant, close-knit community that once thrived on the sandbar.
256 Bradford Street – Former Long Point Post Office
This structure began its life as the village post office on Long Point, handling the daily communications of a remote, windswept settlement. Relocated to Bradford Street during the exodus of the 1850s, it is one of the most recognizable and historically significant floater houses still standing. The building’s enduring presence connects today’s Provincetown to its maritime past, where ingenuity and determination brought entire homes, and their stories across the harbor.
Once you’ve explored the West End, continue your walk to Provincetown’s quiet side streets, where many lesser-known floater homes are tucked among the residential neighborhoods. These include:
Nickerson Street (3, 5, 6)
Pleasant Street (47)
Point Street (1, 3, 5–7, 9)
Soper Street (3, 5)
Winthrop Street (6)
Tips for Your Tour
- Most floater houses are private residences, so please be respectful while exploring.
- Start in the West End and work your way east toward Bradford Street and the town center.
- Track your progress on a printed map or just snap photos of each plaque as you go.
Stay Where History and Comfort Meet
If you’re planning a visit to explore the town’s rich history, enjoy the privacy and comfort of individually appointed suites at the historic Gabriel’s Provincetown Hotel. Located just steps from the harbor and close to all the major historical sites, our property offers the ideal home base for exploring this coastal town’s layered stories, floater homes included.
Stay with us and discover why these blue-plaque homes remain one of Cape Cod’s most enduring and charming landmarks.