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Motif No. 1
Rockport, MA
A weathered red fishing shack on a wharf in Rockport harbor, painted and photographed so often that artists nicknamed it Motif No. 1. Come early for soft light, then browse the galleries on Bearskin Neck.
Motif No. 1 is a red fishing shack on Bradley Wharf in Rockport harbor. The original was built around 1884 and destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978; a replica was built soon afterward. The painter Lester Hornby is said to have named it "Motif No. 1" in the early 1930s after seeing his students paint the same scene over and over. It is often called the most painted building in America, and artists such as Aldro Hibbard immortalized it.
John Buckley used the shack as a studio in the 1930s, and in 1945 the town acquired it as a war memorial. The visit takes only a few minutes, so combine it with a walk around the harbor. The light is softer in the morning and evening, and there are probably fewer visitors than during the day.
- Nearest town
- Rockport, MA
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 42.6604, -70.6224
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
© Eric Kilby · CC BY-SA 2.0Halibut Point State Park
© U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domainParker River National Wildlife Refuge
© Byron A. Nash from USA · CC BY 2.0Marblehead Old Town
© Salem State University Archives and Special Collec from Salem, Massachusetts · CC BY 2.0Salem Witch Museum
Campsites nearby
- RV FieldMotorhome stopover16 mi from Motif No. 1Motorhomes
- Pines Camping AreaCampsite16 mi from Motif No. 1
- Hampton Beach State RV ParkMotorhome stopover19 mi from Motif No. 1 · 28 pitchesMotorhomes
- Tidewater CampgroundMotorhome stopover22 mi from Motif No. 1Motorhomes
- Tuxbury Pond RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover23 mi from Motif No. 1MotorhomesWi-Fi
- Tuxbury Pond RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover23 mi from Motif No. 1MotorhomesWi-Fi
All campsites in Massachusetts · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Motif No. 1?
Motif No. 1 is in Rockport, MA, at GPS 42.6604, -70.6224. It is about 4 mi from Gloucester.
Can you camp near Motif No. 1?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camp Pinehurst, about 7 mi away; within 25 mi there are 16 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Motif No. 1?
Places worth a stop nearby: Halibut Point State Park (2 mi), Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (11 mi), Marblehead Old Town (16 mi) and Salem Witch Museum (17 mi).
When is the best time to visit Motif No. 1?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)