Our Mission is to create and nurture community connections.
We imagine and generate year-round opportunities for the community to learn, grow, celebrate and enjoy the Outer Cape, provide experiences for all generations, support economic vitality through the promotion of arts and culture, and protect and preserve the Hall.
Wellfleet Preservation Hall opened in May 2011 after 5 years of intensive fundraising to preserve and re-purpose Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church which had suffered drastically from years of neglect. A small group of Wellfleet residents, headed up by the awe-inspiring and undaunted leadership of Marla Rice, Anne Suggs & Ellen LeBow, imagined bringing new vibrancy and community to Main Street. They envisioned theHall, perfectly located in the center of town, as a versatile space for the intersection of art, culture and community while preserving what had become an iconic and beloved building.
In a few short years, Wellfleet Preservation Hall has come to life, hosting over 600 events a year, engaging many new friends and promoting a lively vibrancy in the center of downtown. We look forward to many more years of fun, engagement and activity at the Hall for everyone that crosses our threshold. Join us for an event or class, offer a program, support our mission or just stop by for tour.
RESTORATION & RENOVATION
The nave, sanctuary and steeple of the original church, have been lovingly restored to the simple charms of the early 20th century. The iconic doors, a creation of the itinerant craftsman and mystic, Jonathan Kendall, renewed to their earlier vibrancy. The original tin ceilings, wood balcony and leaded glass windows were cleaned and repaired. Wainscoting and old flooring have been brought back to life by the skilled workmanship of the late Tom Reinhart and his crew. The slate roof and stucco finishes were repaired. The original cupola, removed and refurbished heralded the commitment to save this hundred year old building. The cupola is now the perch for an exquisite great blue heron sculpted by Del Filardi, exemplifying the drive to blend old with new and artistic expression with skilled craftsmanship. Custom designed crystal chandeliers add a quiet elegance to the upstairs Simone Reagor Hall.
The Lower hall, once home of fledgling community theater has a restored stage, a new sound and lighting system and a warm ambient light spilling in through 100 year old hammered glass. With remnants of the original building interwoven, the addition now boasts a fully accessible reception lobby which includes stunning tile work by Wellfleet resident Ted Thomas, a brand new commercial kitchen, an elevator and 6 new restrooms. Signature wall tiles created by artist, Ellen Lebow, grace the lobby spaces. By design WPH is both spacious and intimate reflecting the artistic aesthetic of the visionaries who stewarded the project.
