Provincetown - From Pilgrim Landing to Gay Resort (Electronic book text)

How did a sleepy New England fishing village become a gay mecca? In this dynamic history, Karen Christel Krahulik explains why Provincetown, MassachusettsOCoalternately known as OC LandOCOs End, OCO OC Cape-tip, OCO OC Cape-end, OCO and, to some, OC Queersville, U.S.AOCOOCohas meant many things to many people. Provincetown tells 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 groupsOCoYankee artists, Portuguese fishermen, touristsOCothat 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, Provincetown reveals 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 artistsOCO colony, and allure as a Dionysian playground. It also hints at one of ProvincetownOCOs 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."