Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket welcome guests to historic homes and sites
Macy-Christian House
Liberty Street
Nantucket,
This home shows off a combination of styles. Originally built in the 18th century, this colonial was remodeled in the revival style of the late 19th century. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.
Martha’s Vineyard Museum
School and Cooke Streets
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: 508-627-4441 ext 120
Open: Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekdays by appointment only
The island's largest museum and its only research library dedicated to the history of the Vineyard. The collections include over 30,000 items relating to all aspects of life on Martha’s Vineyard, such as agricultural tools, archaeological material, paintings, prints and sculpture, baskets, coins, costumes, decoys, hunting and fishing and shell fishing tools, ethnographic material brought back from the all over the worlds by Vineyard whalers, armament, guns and swords, furniture and household equipment, medical and scientific tools and equipment, musical instruments, fossils and botanical samples, maritime-related tools, sailor’s artwork such as scrimshaw and inlaid work, ship models, shipwreck salvage materials, Wampanoag tools, woodworking tools, toys, a whaleboat, Nomansland fishing boat, wagon, sleigh, fire engine and an 1854 first order Fresnel Lens used in the Gay Head Aquinnah lighthouse for almost 100 years
South Indian Hill Road
West Tisbury, MA 02568
Phone: 508-627-8687
This Christiantown memorial is the site of an Indian burial ground and the Mayhew Chapel, named after Thomas Mayhew Jr., a missionary. This site is owned by the Wampanoag Tribe and grounds are maintained by Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club. Includes a wildflower sanctuary.
Fee charged.
Mitchell House
1 Vestal Street
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone: 508-228-2896
Open: Mid-June-Labor Day
The Mitchell House (1790) is the birthplace of Maria Mitchell, America’s first woman astronomer. Tour the house with Mitchell House staff and learn about the life of Maria Mitchell, her remarkable family, and Quaker Nantucket in the 19th century. Admission: Adults, $5; children, $4 children; passes to all Maria Mitchell Association museums: Adults, $15; Children, $10.
Nantucket Life Saving Museum
Polpis Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone: 508-228-1885
Open: May, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Memorial Day-Columbus Day, daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
This museum is the recreation of the 1874 life guard station originally at this site. Admission charge.
Old Gaol
Vestal Street
Nantucket, MA
This site is maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. Exhibits feature stocks and other equipment. It was the first prison in the U.S. to allow prisoners to go home at night. Free admission.
Old Mill
Prospect Street
Nantucket, MA
This wind-powered mill was built in 1746 and has been working ever since. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. There is an admission charge. Open seasonally.
The Dr. Daniel Fisher House
99 Main Street
Edgartown, MA
Phone: 508-627-4440
This house was built in 1840 and is an excellent example of Federal-style architecture, the house was beautifully redecorated in 1992.
The Vincent House Museum
off Pease Point Way
Edgartown, MA
Phone: 508-627-8017
The Vincent House (circa 1675) offers its visitors a chance to see a structure built over 300 years ago. It has much of its original brickwork, hardware, and woodwork.
Unitarian Church
11 Orange Street
Nantucket, MA
Built in 1809, this church features a trompe l'oeil interior. Open seasonally. No admission fee.
Whaling Museum
13 Broad Street
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone: 508-228-1736
Open: Open year-round, weekends during the winter
The museum features a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a restored 1847 spermaceti candle factory, exhibition space, and a fully accessible rooftop observation deck. The candle factory, built following Nantucket’s Great Fire in 1846, still has its original whale-oil beam press. In the museum’s Gosnell Hall, visitors will learn about the whale hunt and see the whale skeleton, a rigged whaleboat, a collection of whaling tools, and portraits of whaling captains and their wives. Interpretive talks and audiovisual programs are scheduled daily. The Peter Foulger Gallery showcases changing exhibits, and unique seasonal events. Other galleries throughout the museum’s include its world-famous collection of scrimshaw, Nantucket lightship baskets, the 1850 Fresnel lens from the Sankaty Lighthouse in Siasconset, and the restored 1881 town clock. Admission charge.
1800 House
Mill Street
Nantucket, MA
This 19th century home is open seasonally. There is an admission fee.
African Meeting House
York and Pleasant Streets
Nantucket, MA
Phone: 508-228-4058
This 1827 church later served as a school for African children. No admission charge.
Cottage Museum
1 Trinity Park
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Phone: 508-693-0525
Open: Summer months, daily, Monday-Saturday
Thirty-five acres of brightly painted cottage dating back to mid 1800s; tour a gingerbread home; performances at the tabernacle. Visitors to the Cottage Museum can view the interior of a typical Campground cottage, complete with period furnishings offering a glimpse of life on the Campgrounds in the 1800s. Also on display are vintage photographs, a selection of stereoscopic photos of Cottage City and the Campgrounds, along with other interesting documents relating to the history of the Campground. Admission charge.
First Congregational Church
Centre Street
Nantucket, MA
Visitors to this church are told to climb the tower, for scenic views of the entire island. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.
Flying Horses Carousel
Circuit Avenue
Oak Bluffs, MA
Martha's Vineyard is home to the oldest working carousel in the U.S. The wooden horses have real stirrups. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.
Greater Light
Howard Street
Nantucket, MA
Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association, this is not a lighthouse, but an unusual summer house, remodeled in the 1930's from an 18th century barn. Open seasonally. There is a charge for admission.
Hadwen House
Main Street
Nantucket, MA
Phone: 508-228-3744
Built in 1846, this mansion reflects life among the wealthy on Nantucket. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.
Jethro Coffin House
Sunset Hill
Nantucket, MA
The oldest house on Nantucket is an example of the plan of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee. Maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association.
