Rockport

Rockport is a town in Massachusetts on the open Atlantic, spread across rocky peninsulas with small coves. The compact center sits around a sheltered harbor, from which narrow streets lead to Bearskin Neck with its wooden shops and restaurants.

European settlers arrived in the 1620s for fishing and later for granite, which was shipped from local quarries to cities across America until the early 1900s. The art colony grew from the 1850s onward, when painters began using the coast as a subject.

The name comes from the granite rocks along the coast that once built the town's prosperity. Today the old warehouses hold craft shops and galleries, while fishermen still mend their nets at the same docks.

Getting here from Boston takes about an hour by car or train, with parking available on the edge of town or near the harbor. In summer the beaches and lanes fill quickly, so visiting early in the morning or on weekdays works best.

A red fishing shack at the harbor edge is considered among painters to be one of the most painted buildings in America. The structure has been rebuilt several times after storms, with the current building a reconstruction from the 1970s.

Location: Essex County

Inception: 1623

Elevation above the sea: 23 m

Part of: North Shore

Website: http://town.rockport.ma.us

GPS coordinates: 42.65556,-70.62083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:28