From Eastham through Wellfleet and Truro to Provincetown on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, clusters of cottage colonies line the landscape. Some are in symmetrical rows hugging the roadway. Others are arranged around open courtyards. And some are tucked away off dirt roads among pitch pines and scrub oaks.

These cottage colonies have stories to tell and histories to share. Starting in the late 1800s, they opened the door for entrepreneurs and tourists and transformed the Outer Cape from a predominately marine and farming economy to a bustling hospitality trade. Today, they offer cherished waterfront or near-waterfront time for the weekly vacationer or a small piece of Cape Cod’s square footage for the property owner, now primarily offered as condominiums.

Cottage Colonies continue to be a cherished destination for families and friends. Renewed by the quiet of early mornings, the lull of lapping waves, the vastness of spectacular sunset and moonrise skies, and the comradeship of like-minded soul searchers, people come year after year, generation after generation.

But will these Cottage Colonies survive the threat of erosion, storm, and the bulldozer?

Cottage Colonies – Opening the Door to the Outer Cape goes on a journey following these colonies from the early years through the boom period to the transition from family ownership to condo conversions. The book visits with owners, vacationers, artists, architects, archivists, realtors, and municipal officials revealing trends, connections, and, in some cases, conflicts.