Nantucket Museums
African Meeting House
York and Pleasant Streets, 508-228-9833
Built in the 1820s, the African Meeting House on Nantucket is believed to be the nation’s second oldest (still standing) building that was erected by free Africans for their own use. Open July & August and for special programs; included in the Black Heritage Trail.
Civil War Monument
Upper Main Street
This obelisk stands in the center of upper Main Street. It bears a list of the names of 69 Nantucket men who died in the Civil War.
Egan Maritime Foundation
at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street, 508-228-2505
Situated in the historic 1854 Greek Revival-style Coffin School, the Egan Institute is the venue for lectures, concerts, and a special exhibition: “Splash! Boatbuilding on Nantucket” Open daily from 10am to 4pm through Oct. 13. Adults $5, children $3 .
Nantucket Atheneum
corner India & Federal Streets, 508-228-1110
The Nantucket Atheneum Summer Hours (Through Labor Day): Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 9:30am–5pm. Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am–8pm. Closed Sunday. Children’s storytime, call for dates and times.
Nantucket Life Saving Museum
158 Polpis Road, 508-228-1885
Dedicated to the drama of man’s efforts against the relentless sea; includes accounts and photos of rescues, original rescue equipment, actual quarterboards of vessels wrecked around Nantucket. Includes interesting artifacts from the Italian liner, Andrea Doria. Reopening July 1st.
Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum
49 Union Street, 508-228-1177
Dedicated to preserving the Lightship basket’s significance for future generations. Learn about this island craft and why the baskets are treasured. The museum hosts lectures and activities throughout the season and has a gift shop with some exclusive items. Open Tues.–Sat. 10am–4pm until mid-October.
The Pacific Club Main Street
Once the warehouse of merchant William Rotch, this brick building marked with 1772 dominates lower Main. A quarterboard on the building names 3 of Rotch’s Nantucket ships: the Dartmouth and the Beaver—2 of the ships in the Boston Tea Party—and the Bedford, first to fly the American flag in port of London. In 1859, a group of former whaling shipmasters purchased the building, and gathered to play cribbage & tell tales of their days at sea.
South Church (Unitarian Church)
11 Orange Street, 508-228-5466
Built in 1809, this historic church houses the town clock and the 1810 Portuguese bell. The interior of the church is decorated with trompe l’oeil painting.
Star of the Sea
31 Western Avenue, 508-228-0433
Constructed in 1874 as the Surfside Life-Saving Station, the Star of the Sea was the first such structure built on island. The “surfmen” who resided here were responsible for conducting dangerous and heroic rescues of vessels stranded on Nantucket’s shoals. Today, it operates as a Youth Hostel.
The Three Bricks
93, 95, and 97 Main Street
Built between 1836–38, these 3 identical Georgian brick mansions were built by Joseph Starbuck for sons William, Matthew, & George. The houses cost a total of $54,000, a tidy sum 150 years ago, but Starbuck had made millions as a whaling merchant. Referred to now as East Brick, Middle Brick, and West Brick, the homes are privately owned.
MARIA MITCHELL Association Properties
The Maria Mitchell Association properties are opening for the 2008 season on Tuesday, June 10th and will remain open through mid-October. The Vestal Street & Loines Observatories are open year-round. Admission fees are charged, memberships available. Museum passes for access to all sites are available at all locations (except the Loines Observatory Open Nights), and online at www.mmo.org. $10 for Adults, $8 Children
Aquarium
28 Washington Street, 508-228-5387
On the harbor, this quaint structure exhibits Nantucket’s medley of marine life from fresh & salt waters. Opens June 10th, Monday - Saturday 10am-4pm until September 8th. $5 adults, $4 children, members free.
Maria Mitchell Birthplace
1 Vestal Street, 508-228-2896
Off upper Main Street. In season, tour this home in which Maria Mitchell, America’s 1st recognized female astronomer was born. The building & its contents have been preserved and restored to exemplify mid-19th century design. It has the only public roofwalk on Nantucket. Opens June 10th, Mon.–Sat., 10am to 4pm. $5 adults, $4 children Free for members
Hinchman House
7 Milk Street, 508-228-0898
Natural history museum and headquarters for Maria Mitchell Association bird and nature walks, natural science lecture series, and children’s nature classes. Exhibits include Nantucket’s habitats, flora, and fauna. Meet live representatives of island mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Mon.–Sat. 10 am to 4 pm from June 10. $5 adults, $4 children Free for members.
Loines Observatory
59 Milk Street Extension, 508-228-8690
Open nights: lectures and public telescope viewing, weather permitting. $10 adults; $6 children (6–14) and seniors; MMA members, half-price. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at 9pm.
Vestal Street Observatory
3 Vestal Street, 508-228-9273
Guided tours, outdoor solar system model and sunspot observations, world-renowned research. Call for summer hours Tues-Sat 10am-4pm, Tours at 11am. $5 adults, $4 children, Free for members
Nantucket Historical Association Properties
The NHA’s properties are open for the season. A Combination Sites Pass is available for $18 and is good for the 2008 season, allowing one time admission to each of the NHA properties. The NHA Research Library is open year-round for a separate fee. The Museum Shop is open at 11 Broad Street. Walking tours are available Mon.-Sat. at 11:15am and 2:15pm, and on Sunday at 2:15pm. For further information, please call 508-228-1894 or go to www.nha.org.
Hadwen House
96 Main Street
Built by a wealthy whale-oil merchant, this Greek Revival mansion has period furnishings, elegant fireplaces, chandeliers, and winding staircase. Monday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 5pm.
Old Gaol
15 Vestal Street
This jail is representative of the early New England penal institution. Built in 1805, it has rough plank bunks, open privies, and iron-grated windows. Harsh though this sounds, Nantucketers allowed most prisoners to go home at night. Monday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 5pm.
Old Mill
Mill Hill, corner of York and Prospect Streets
Built in 1746, this grist mill is the only survivor of 4 that once stood along the range of hills west of town. View the impressive wooden gear train of original design in operation as the miller grinds corn between mill stones weighing over 1 ton each. Monday- Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 5pm.
Oldest House
Sunset Hill Lane
Still on its original site, this national historic landmark was fully and painstakingly restored in 1990. Built for Jethro and Mary Gardner Coffin, this dwelling is characteristic of the late 17th-century house plan of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Monday- Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 5pm. Every Friday and Saturday from 3 to 4pm there will be a guided tour of the kitchen garden.
Quaker Meeting House
7 Fair Street
Built in the late 1830s, this is the only remaining Quaker meeting house on Nantucket. During the summer months, island Quakers hold open meetings on Sunday mornings in the simple interior on wooden benches, some of which may date back to the 1700s. Open during regular library hours, and on the weekends at 2pm a 20 minute talk on the history of Nantucket’s Religious Society of Friends.
NHA Research Library
7 Fair Street
Housed in the former Fair Street Museum, the new state-of-the-art, climate-controlled research library houses the Nantucket Historical Association’s collection of manuscripts, diaries, and letters; books on whaling, marine history, and exploration; ships’ logs; maps and charts; some 30,000 photographs, and more. $5 user fee; free for NHA members. Open year-round, Mon., Thurs, Fri. from 10 am–4 pm; Tues. 11 am to 4 pm.
The Whaling Museum
13 Broad Street
The newly refurbished Whaling Museum is open daily until October 13th from 10am to 5pm, and until 8pm every first and third Wed. Their “Bones of History” film, “Essex Gam” and Whale Hunt lecture are offered daily. The Peter Foulger Gallery features on- going exhibits and unique seasonal events. The Whaling Museum also includes the fully restored 1847 spermaceti candle factory, with its original whale-oil beam press, the only such artifact in the world, still in its original location.
