South of the Cape Cod, it lies Martha’s Vineyard overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The island draws tourist from all over the world during summer time for good reasons.
The Gingerbread houses in Oak Bluffs is one the major attractions in the island. The unique style is reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel’s house. They are now a luxurious summer cottages, but with humble origins.
In the 1800s, a group of Methodist gathered to hold religious retreats and organize annual camp meetings. At that time, they used tents to spend the nights in a specific spot in Martha’s Vineyard. With time, the gathering became more permanent and hence the Methodists built cottages to accommodate them year-round. The cluster of 500 cottages was initially known as “Cottage City” but in 1880, the name was changed to Oak Bluffs.
The architecture style of the cottages is known as Carpenter’s Gothic and each cottage decoration mimics a gingerbread house; hence earning its name.
Today, 300 Gingerbread houses remain in the village known as “Oak Bluffs Campground.” Visitors will step back in time in a fairy tale environment. The houses are painted with bright and vivid colors with candy-like pillars ornaments. At the entrance of the campground, visitors can find the “Cottage Museum” which features a prototype cottage furnished with items and artifacts from the 1800s. It is highly recommended to go in summer time, as the sun will make them look brighter and vivid.
In 2005, the site and the houses were granted the “National Historic Landmark” title.
Bring home a mini-cute gingerbread house to your garden! check it out: https://www.newenglandconvenientstore.com/gingerbread-style-birdhouse
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