Founded by Colonists in 1659, Nantucket is a small town of 3000 people located on the island of the same name. The island is around 15 miles (24 km) long and 3-6 miles (5-10 km) wide. It is 30 miles (48 km) south of the coast of Cape Cod. Reputedly, the settlers bought the island from the Wampanoag Indians inhabitants for 30 English pounds and two beaver hats. Quaker missionaries established a base here in the 18th century and many of the former sea-faring residents practiced that religion. From 1740 to 1830, Nantucket was the center of the world's whaling industry. Just before the American Revolution, its port was home to more than 125 whaling ships. However, the business moved to New Bedford when the larger ships of the 19th century couldn't enter past the sand bar at the harbor's mouth. Today, it is a popular destination with tourists who come to see the sea captain's mansions, lie on its sandy beaches or cycle on one of the many bike paths.
The Whaling Museum in Nantucket features exhibits of whaling equipment, ship models, scrimshaw, portraits, logbooks and the skeleton of a 43-foot (13m) sperm whale. A couple of the larger artifacts on display include an 1849 Fresnel Lens used in Sankaty Light and the restored Nantucket town clock, circa 1881. The Whaling Museum is housed in a restored 1847 candle factory with a rooftop observation deck.
Address: Whaling Museum, 15 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554-3560, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 228-1736, Fax: 1 (508) 228-5618
Hours:
May 13 to October 11: 10am-5pm
Always opened on: President's Day - USA (3rd Monday, February )
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (December 25)
This Hinchman House Natural History Museum houses exhibits on Nantucket's flora and fauna, and promotes environmental education. Interpreters lead visitors on bird watching, wildflower and marine ecology walks.
Tips: Combination tickets with other Maria Mitchell Organization sites are available.
The Maria Mitchell Aquarium showcases the marine life that inhabits Nantucket's salt marshes, harbors and coastline such as mollusks, crustaceans and finfish. There are touch exhibits for children and periodic excursions to local marine environments.
Hours:
June 4 to September 1: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon
Tips: Combination tickets to other Mitchell Organization sites are available. All Aquarium programs require pre-registration.
Guides: Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
The Maria Mitchell Observatory (MMO) was founded in 1908, today it operates two observatories: the Vestal Street Observatory and the Loines Observatory. Features of the observatory include an outdoor scale-model of the solar system, a planar sundial, sunspot observations (when clear), and a permanent astronomy exhibit. Open Nights of telescopic and other observations of the night sky are offered at the Observatory's affiliation ("Loines Observatory") at 59 Milk Street.
Address: Maria Mitchell Observatory, 3 Vestal Street, Nantucket, MA 02554, United States
Phone: 1 (508) 228-9273, Fax: 1 (508) 228-1031
Tips: In summer, the Maria Mitchell Organization offers a combination ticket that gains access to all its sites.
Schedule varies, call for details.
Guides: Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
The Nantucket Life Saving Museum is devoted to the people who braved the seas and dangerous shoals around Nantucket to save the lives of sailors in trouble. The museum houses a collection of marine artifacts and live-saving equipment including a Mass Humane Society surfboat and its horse-drawn carriage, Lyle and Hunt guns and a restored early U.S. Coast Guard beach cart that staff use to demonstrate the beach drills. Among other displays, there are also photos and artifacts from some of Nantucket's early lifesaving stations.
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