Nantucket Whaling Museum and Historical Tours

by Vera Thornton

When: July 1 – September 1, 2008
Where: The Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street

The Nantucket Historical Association, established in 1894, owns 25 properties on the island, and offers walking tours of several. A great way to pass an afternoon and learn some of the history of this famous whaling town. Properties include the 1686 Jethro Coffin House, the oldest house on Nantucket, and the classically beautiful Hadwen House. Tours are given on the hour and half-hour, with the last tour at 4:30 p.m. A garden tour for the Coffin House is given on Fridays and Saturdays at 3:00 p.m.
Tours of the Old Mill, built in 1746 with wood from shipwrecks, are available daily on the hour and half-hour, weather permitting. Millers are still grinding corn here at the oldest working mill in the country.
For the historically curious but independent, self-guided tours are offered daily at the Old Goal and the Fire Hose Cart House. The Old Goal dates back to 1806, when it was constructed to accommodate the criminal element that arrived during the international seaport days. The 19th century Fire Hose Cart House is the only remaining one of several that were built after most of Nantucket was destroyed by fire in 1846, and contains some of the equipment used in that devastating 19th century conflagration.
The new Whaling Museum, which re-opened in June after a two-year renovation, houses the fearsome skeleton of a 46-foot sperm whale, a complete 1847 candle factory, and the 1849 Fresnel lens from Nantucket's Sankaty Lighthouse.

Tickets: Whaling Museum and Historic Sites - $18 - adults, $15 - seniors, and $9 - children over six.
Historical Sites Only - $6 – adults, $3 – children over six
Whaling Museum Only - $15 – adults, $12 – seniors, $8 – children over six
Walking Tours - $10 – adults, $8 – seniors, $4 – children over 6

For more information visit The Nantucket Historical Association or call (508)-228-1894 ext. 0.

Photo Credit: All photos courtesy of The Nantucket Historical Association.