Recent Posts

Nathaniel Philbrick and Tim Ehrenberg featured alongside the cover of Philbrick's new book, The Rush.
Nantucket Events

Launch of The Rush

On Tuesday, October 6 Nathaniel Philbrick will launch and present his new book, The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World to his hometown audience here on Nantucket and in collaboration with Nantucket Book Partners. This is a free event, but registering at Nantucketbookpartners. […]

Two people sitting on a green bench overlooking a cobblestone street and historic Nantucket cottages on a foggy day.
An Island Point of View

Islander or Washashore?

I was recently reading a collection of articles called Nantucket Voices by Mary Miles when I came across a passage that made me chuckle. In one essay, an old islander named Bill Broughton, who many will still remember, explains what qualifies somebody as a “real” Nantucketer.

Angler holding a false albacore caught while surfcasting on a Nantucket beach.
Island Fishing

“The Village of the Mad”

Dylan Thomas knew something about communities. The famous Welsh writer laid out this knowledge in his amazingly epic poem, Under Milk Wood in 1954. This poem is perhaps best remembered as a radio performance with a variety of actors, including Thomas as narrator, giving voice to the eclectic cast of characters. Originally titled The Village of the Mad, the rambling, rhythmic story captured a day in the life of the imaginary Welsh village of Llarggub – “Bugger all” backwards.

Turkey vulture soaring through a blue sky with its wings outstretched in a distinctive V shape.
Island Science

Climate Opportunist on the Rise

Turkey vultures are one of my favorite birds. I generally have a soft spot for the disparaged and underappreciated. However, for turkey vultures, my love for them comes down more to how they are perfectly suited for their actions: structure suits function. These beautiful (yeah, I said “beautiful”) birds are highly specialized. Their “naked” head is free of feathers, causing some to malign these majestic creatures for their wrinkly pink heads (the original skin heads). A head free of feathers allows this bird to feed on carrion without pesky feathers getting in the way or becoming contaminated.

Two children painting pumpkins during a fall family activity at Bartlett's Farm on Nantucket.
Nantucket Events

Fall Fun at the Farm

Saturday, September 26 is the last day for Pick- Your-Own farm-grown cherry, beefsteaks, heirloom tomatoes at Bartlett’s Farm (9 am to 2 pm), but it’s not the last day of autumn fun at the farm! Bartlett’s Fall Workshops have just started: every Friday and Saturday through autum from 9 am […]

Portrait of Dr. Lynne Anderson, the Nantucket Historical Association's 2026 Verney Fellow.
Nantucket History & People

Bringing Island Research to Life

To enhance the public’s knowledge and understanding of Nantucket’s heritage, the Nantucket Historical Association offers an annual fellowship, with the selected researcher encouraged to further their study with resources from the Research Library collection. The 2026 E. Geoffrey and Elizabeth Thayer Verney Fellow is Dr. Lynne Anderson, whose research will […]

Featured Articles

The Winners Are…

For the first time ever, both 2026 Photo Contest winners are island residents. Congrats to Shanya Stanley, one of our regular entrants, whose photo of Easy Street Basin is this year’s first place winner and to Kat Enter, whose image of the Lynx at Brant Point took second place. You […]

Featured Articles

Limerick Challenge

This series of limericks first appeared in a June 14, 1924 edition of a Nantucket newspaper. It all began when the Princeton Tiger revived the then well-known limerick printed first below and the Chicago Tribune answered with the second limerick. The New York Exchange went one step further with the […]