www.summerguidecapecod.com
70
In a town defined by wind, tide,
and shifting sand, anniversaries
are more than milestones —
they are markers of endurance.
This year, Art's Dune Tours turns
80, and the Center for Coastal
Studies celebrates 50 years of
service. Together, they tell a
story not just about longevity,
but about stewardship.
Since 1946, Art's Dune Tours has
carried visitors over the rolling
dunes of the Cape, transforming
a simple ride into a shared
narrative about Provincetown's
fragile beauty. What began
with founder Art Costa and a
single vehicle has become a
multigenerational institution.
The tours wind through the
Peaked Hill Bars Historic
District, past the weathered
dune shacks that once sheltered
artists and once sheltered
artists and
writers, and across
landscapes that seem eternal
but are, in truth, constantly
changing. In an era of rapid
development and fleeting
experiences, Art's offers
something increasingly rare: a
deep sense of place grounded
in history, ecology, and
storytelling.
If the dunes represent
Provincetown's soul on land, the
waters beyond are safeguarded
in large part by the Center
for Coastal Studies. Founded
in 1976 by a small group of
scientists, CCS has grown into an
internationally respected marine
research and conservation
organization. Its work in whale
and seal research, marine
debris removal, water quality
monitoring, and education
has shaped both policy and
public awareness. Quietly and
persistently, CCS has helped
