Nantucket Official Guide 2014-2015 | Page 34

BEST ISLAND IN THE WORLD:

Nantucket

b y W i l l i a m P. D e S o u s a - M a u k

Number Eight of America’s Top Ten Most Desirable Islands (TripAdvisor)
National Geographic’s Best Island in the World (The 10 Best of Everything 2012 Edition)
One of America’s Greatest Main Streets (Travel & Leisure May 2012)
Number Three of the Top Ten US Beaches (The Travel Channel 2012)
Number Eight of Top Ten Islands in the U.S. (Condé Nast Traveler 2013)

©Cary Hazlegrove

Number 29 of Top 50 Yachting Towns (Yachting Magazine 2013)

This tiny island off the East Coast is one of
the most prestigious and hallowed addresses
in America.
A crescent-shaped spit of land nearly 30
miles off of Massachusetts’ southeast coast,
Nantucket was Ground Zero for the whaling
trade and the venerable R.H. Macy’s brand.
During the prosperous whaling era – when
Nantucket was indeed the “Whaling Capital
of the World” – it also ranked as the third

largest city in Massachusetts, besting all the
Commonwealth’s other cities except Boston
and Salem.
In addition to the distinction of being
named a National Historic Landmark in
1966, three of the world’s most esteemed
travel publications recently added Nantucket
to a pantheon of destinations including the
finest places in the US and the world to live or
visit. In its The 10 Best of Everything (2012

Nantucket Historical Timeline
1602 - Nantucket was
discovered and charted
by Capt. Bartholomew
Gosnold, an English
mariner.

1690 - Island
inhabitants began to
pursue the right whale
from along shore.

32 • 2014 Official Guide to Nantucket

1746 - A beacon light
suspended between
two poles was erected
on Brant Point.
1797 - The streets of
Town were first named.

1800 – 1840 Nantucket reigned as
the whaling capital
of the world.