Nantucket Official Guide 2014-2015 | Page 28
NA N T U C K E T ’S
Historical Sites
The Nantucket Historical Association, 15 Broad Street
Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street
The Whaling Museum features a 46-foot
sperm whale skeleton, the newly redesigned
Hadwen & Barney Oil & Candle Factory, and
top-quality exhibition halls. Visitors are treated
to daily screenings of Nantucket, the awardwinning film by Ric Burns. Museum guides
bring the island’s history to life through popular
multimedia presentations and storytelling.
Additional galleries highlight a world-class
collection of scrimshaw, paintings and more!
Check out the museum’s rooftop observation
deck for a one-of-a-kind view of Nantucket
harbor. Open year round. Visit www.nha.org or
call 508-228-1894 for hours and information.
©Jeffrey Allen
The Nantucket Historical Association, founded in 1894 to preserve the island’s remarkable
history, invites you to visit its flagship Whaling Museum, Research Library, and iconic historic
sites. Located throughout Nantucket town, the NHA’s historic sites convey how islanders
lived and worked throughout Nantucket’s transformation from a small 17th century farming
community to the capital of the American whaling industry, and ultimately a 20th century art
and resort colony. Visit www.nha.org for information, hours and admission prices, or call
508-228 -1894.
offered daily from May 24-October 13, 2014.
Visit www.nha.org or call 508-228-1894 for
hours and information.
Oldest House & Kitchen Garden,
16 Sunset Hill
The Jethro Coffin House – known as the “Oldest
House” – was built as a wedding gift for Jethro
Coffin and Mary Gardner in 1686, and is the
sole surviving structure from the island’s 17th
century English settlement. The Kitchen Garden
is a reconstruction of a circa 1700 garden that
features raised beds of vegetables, herbs and
flowers typical of the period. Guided tours are
26 • 2014 Official Guide to Nantucket
©Michael Galvin
©Jeffrey Allen
Old Mill, 50 Prospect Street
The Old Mill, built in 1746, is the oldest
operating windmill in America. Used as a
gristmill until 1892, it is a popular attraction for
visitors, and retains its original handcrafted
wooden gears that harness the wind’s
power to grind corn. Guided tours are offered
daily from May 24-October 13, 2014. Visit
www.nha.org or call 508-228-1894 for hours
and information.