“Nantucket! Take out your map and look at it. See what a real corner of the world it occupies;” – Herman Melville, Moby Dick
Once a whaling village in the 19th century and then part of the then-booming whaling industry that swept the globe, Nantucket, Massachusetts is a cornerstone of early American history. The characters that filled the island back then inspired some of the narration in Herman Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick and a visit to the island might bring some of the old maritime lore back to life for you. Nantucket was a booming town at the peak of the whaling industry, then fell into decline as demand for whale oil fell, and was then revived and developed with real estate prices now in the millions.
It is an easy one day getaway to the island from the Massachusetts coast. We took the Hy-Line ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket very early one summer day. We were staying at an AirBnb in Cape Cod and drove our car to Hyannis where we parked it and got on one of the first ferries out to the island. It was full of people going to work at their jobs in Nantucket. There was a small deli/grocery near the ferry dock where we grabbed a quick breakfast to go. We silently ate our pastries and sipped on coffee while the ferry swayed gently up and down on the waves.
Once we docked at Nantucket, we headed out for a proper brunch at the Fog Island Cafe, which has unfortunately closed. Afterwards we roamed around, admiring the pristine white flower boxes in the windows and cobblestoned streets.
We decided to get some lobster rolls for lunch, passing several rows of charming Cape Cod-style houses on our way to The Nantucket Lobster Trap. We feasted on some delicious rolls brimming with lobster salad with fries on the side. Then it was time to time to hit the Whaling Museum.
The Whaling Museum
We bought a one-day pass at the door (Adult ticket $20), which lets you see the Whaling Museum and five other historic sites (The Old Mill, Oldest House & Kitchen Garden, Fire Hose Car House, Old Gaol, and Greater Light), but we spent the next hour just at the museum. It is run by the Nantucket Historical Association, which also gives tours. We toured Gosnell Hall, envisioning what it was like to be part of the 18th century whaling trade. There is an amazing display of the entire skeleton of a whale there.
We learned what scrimshaw was and viewed an impressive collection of these carvings that sailors made on whale teeth to pass the time during their long voyages.
There is a gallery that tells the story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex, which partly inspired Melville to write his novel. Climb the staircase to the roof top of the museum for lovely, sweeping views of Nantucket.
On our walk along the wharfs on our way back to the ferry, we marveled again at the charming cottages that dotted the landscape. All of the houses in Nantucket have to abide by a code and be built in the typical Cape Cod style. There were little renovated fisherman shacks that lined the wharfs that we were told sold for several million dollars.
In my brief one-day voyage of sorts, my impression of Nantucket is that it’s a charming blend of early American history and a wealthy lifestyle. There is still much to explore in Nantucket, such as beaches, historical houses, lighthouses, fine dining and strolls along the Nantucket sound. I will just have to be patient until the next trip!
Links to points of interest and dining:
Further reading:
The Spectacular Rise and Fall of U.S. Whaling: An Innovation Story – Dereck Thompson
Maps:
Date trip taken: August 2016
The Full Itinerary 
Nantucket looks an interesting place to visit when we can all start travelling freely once again,
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It will be great when we can all travel freely again!
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I love the unique designs of the houses of Nantucket. Great post.
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Thanks Geri!
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