Nags Head Beach Cottages Historic District, historic district in Nags Head, North Carolina, United States

Nags Head Beach Cottages Historic District is a row of 41 contributing buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Nags Head, Dare County, North Carolina. The houses are frame cottages covered in wood shingles, and the row includes notable examples of Late Gothic Revival and Queen Anne architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

These houses began appearing in the mid-1800s, built from wood salvaged from shipwrecks that locals collected from the beach. The district expanded slowly over several decades, with building styles changing as new construction methods reached the coastal community.

The district's 41 contributing buildings form a continuous row of wood-shingled beach cottages, and the name "Cottage Row" is still used for the group. The Late Gothic Revival and Queen Anne examples among them show the decorative gables and trim that coastal builders borrowed from styles then current inland. The row was listed on the National Register in 1977.

These houses sit within walking distance of each other along a main road, so you can explore the entire district easily on foot. Taking your time and walking slowly helps you observe the architecture and details of each home.

The oldest house here, Spider Villa, was built in the 1840s and still shows the original construction method using shipwreck wood. The newest houses date to around 1885, showing how building techniques evolved over roughly four decades.