Nantucket Official Guide 2014-2015 | Page 22

F I N D YO U R

Nantucket

by June R. Meyers
Despite its diminutive size – a mere 14 miles long by 3 ½ miles wide –
and its remote location twenty-six miles at sea, Nantucket is brimming
with an array of activities and pursuits throughout the year.

©Michael Galvin

As you disembark the ferry on your initial
voyage to Nantucket, you are instantly
transported back to an era when whaling
boats graced the wharves and horse-andcarriages traversed the cobblestone streets.
Steeped in history, this storied island was
formed from a glacial moraine deposited
during the last Ice Age. Originally inhabited
by the Wampanoag Indians, Nantucket was
deeded by the English to Thomas Mayhew
and his son, merchants of Watertown and
Martha’s Vineyard. Islanders pursued the
behemoth sperm whale – discovered to be
the source of the finest quality oil – from
the mid-1700’s to the late 1830’s, when

20 • 2014 Official Guide to Nantucket

Nantucket reigned as the undisputed whaling
capital of the world.
The island has been synonymous with
tourism since the mid-19th century when
kerosene abruptly replaced spermaceti oil as
an illuminant, hastening the demise of the
whaling industry. Ever since, visitors from all
corners of the globe have been lured to this
faraway outpost for its pure air and pristine
waters, their curiosity piqued by Herman
Mellville’s lyrical prose in his enduring classic
Moby-Dick: “Nantucket! Take out your map
and look at it. See what a real corner of the
world it occupies; how it stands there away
off shore…”
One hundred plus years hence, there
is nary a traffic light, neon sign or chain
store to be found on Nantucket, which
boasts a proud history of historic district
and land preservation. With eighty miles
of breathtaking beaches and temperate
weather – owing to its close proximity to
the Gulf Stream – the island is a summer
vacation goer’s paradise. As varied as its
history, however, is the range of activities
and pursuits available to both islanders and
visitors alike.
Whether you’re a history or film buff, a
sports enthusiast, a nature lover, a “foodie”,
a connoisseur of the arts, or simply crave
relaxation in an idyllic setting, you are sure
to discover your very own Nantucket where
you can return again and again. Our island
celebrates individuality and embraces all
lifestyles and cultures, creating a marvelous
medley of people who make Nantucket a
unique and splendid place to live – and visit.