Provincetown: From Pilgrim Landing to Gay Resort [Hardcover]

The fascinating history of the coastal townfrom fishing village to gay mecca

How did a sleepy New England fishing village become a gay mecca? In this dynamic history, Karen Christel Krahulik explains why Provincetown, Massachusettsalternately known as Lands End, Cape-tip, Cape-end, and, to some, Queersville, U.S.Ahas meant many things to many people.

Provincetowntells the story of this beguiling coastal town, from its early history as a mid-nineteenth century colonial village to its current stature as a bustling gay tourist destination. It details the many cultures and groupsYankee artists, Portuguese fishermen, touriststhat have comprised and influenced Provincetown, and explains how all of them, in conjunction with larger economic and political forces, come together to create a gay and lesbian mecca.

Through personal stories and historical accounts,Provincetownreveals the fascinating features that have made Provincetown such a textured and colorful destination: its fame as the landfall of the Mayflower Pilgrims, charm as an eccentric artists colony, and allure as a Dionysian playground. It also hints at one of Provincetowns most dramatic economic changes: its turn from fishing village to resort town. From a history of fishing economies to a history of tourism,Provincetown, in the end, is as eclectic and vibrant as the city itself.

An epic history of a landmark village. &Karen Krahuliks Provincetown is the definitive book on the history of that mysterious and magical place. Its a singular accomplishment. Im grateful to her for writing it, as I suspect many others will be for years and years to come. This book performs a service by judiciously compiling the facts of Provincetowns history &8220;Krahulik offers a fascinating and lively account of how Provincetown, Massachusetts, became America's most famous gay resort. The book is both a celebration of the community's embrace of freedom l#%