Honoring Cape Cod’s LGBTQ history 

Cape Cod’s longtime LGBTQ history is deeply intertwined with the region’s artistic and cultural evolution, particularly in Provincetown, which became a haven for LGBTQ individuals in the early 20th century. Drawn by the town’s reputation for inclusiveness and creativity, artists, writers, and performers, including prominent LGBTQ figures like Tennessee Williams and poet Mary Oliver, flourished in the supportive environment.  

By the mid-20th century, Provincetown became a sanctuary for the LGBTQ community, especially during the rise of the gay rights movement. Despite facing social and legal discrimination, the LGBTQ community helped shape the vibrant, inclusive culture that defines Provincetown today. Across the Cape, LGBTQ activism and visibility have grown, contributing to broader acceptance and progress in the region.   

The Cape Cod Commission's Under-Represented Histories Story Map includes stories of Cape Cod's rich LGBTQ history.  Explore the map to learn about Peter Hand and his partner Edward Damiger, who converted an old captain’s house into the town’s first openly gay guesthouse. Read the story of the Ace of Spades, the first lesbian bar in Provincetown, which is allegedly the longest continuously running lesbian bar in the United States. And find out about the Provincetown Museum’s LGBTQ history exhibit which honors the past century of LGBTQ history in the town.  

Bringing underrepresented histories to light has become a top priority in historic preservation because it helps to tell the full story of our history while also working to improve equity and build strong communities. Cape Cod has no shortage of these stories to highlight. Local preservation groups are expanding their historic inventory work to recognize previously overlooked stories, and new museums and exhibits in the region are bringing these stories into focus. 

This StoryMap aims to elevate the research done by others to uncover these stories, compiling them in a map that is accessible and can be incrementally expanded. It presents five themes, each related to an underrepresented group on Cape Cod. You can look at the big picture of all sites on the regional map, or you can select one theme and follow the stories within that theme, or you can choose a single site to explore. The specific sites in each theme were compiled with assistance from people in these communities, and the information comes from historic inventory forms, museum archives, and local and regional research efforts. 

Explore the StoryMap: https://cccom.link/history