# Motif No. 1

> 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…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/motif-no-1-rockport/

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

## 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

- [The World's Most Celebrated Fishing Shack – New England Historical Society](https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/rockports-motif-no-1-the-worlds-most-celebrated-fishing-shack/)
- [Motif Number 1 – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif_Number_1)

## Nearby

- [Halibut Point State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-halibut-point/) – 2 mi
- [Parker River National Wildlife Refuge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/parker-river-plum-island/) – 11 mi
- [Marblehead Old Town](https://camping-spirit.com/places/marblehead-old-town/) – 16 mi
- [Salem Witch Museum](https://camping-spirit.com/places/salem-witch/) – 17 mi

## 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)