Wesleyan Grove, Methodist camp meeting ground in Oak Bluffs, United States.
Wesleyan Grove is a historic Methodist camp meeting ground with 315 wooden cottages arranged in circular patterns across 34 acres around a central gathering space with an iron Tabernacle. The tight arrangement of homes creates narrow lanes and green spaces that shape the appearance of the place today.
The Methodist community established this summer gathering place in 1835 with nine tents that gradually became permanent wooden structures by the 1860s. This shift from temporary to fixed buildings reflected the growing need for stable annual meeting points.
The cottages display Victorian wooden details with steep roofs and trim that reflect Methodist values from the nineteenth century. These design choices grew from the practical need to create suitable summer homes for religious gatherings.
The neighborhood is walkable throughout the year, with clear pathways between homes that are easy to navigate. Guided tours are available during summer months to learn more about the architecture and significance of the place.
Each cottage is based on the original dimensions of the tent platforms from the founding era, which explains the snug sizes and compact layouts that persist today. This constraint came from practical beginnings but still shapes the dense, close-knit feeling of the community.
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