Emerson Inn by the Sea
History
The town of Rockport began inauspiciously as an uninhabited part of nearby Gloucester and was used primarily as a source of timber, especially pine, for shipbuilding. The area was one of the richest fishing grounds in the Northeast and soon became a hub of marine activity. By the beginning of the 19th century, the first granite quarries were developed, and by mid-century, Rockport granite was being shipped throughout the United States.
The Great Depression forced many of the quarries to close, but Rockport’s picturesque harbor, rugged coastline and maritime flavor gave it new life as an artist’s colony. The famed “Motif #1,” an unassuming red shanty set on a pier, became one of the nation’s most iconic images. Visitors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, the inn’s namesake, were drawn by the fresh sea air and rocky beaches, and the town enjoyed great popularity with those seeking an escape from the city.
