Resources for the Humanities

The entire island of Nantucket is a National Historic District, with more than 800 pre-Civil War buildings. A number of organizations support the study and preservation of its architectural heritage and interpret the island's maritime history.

During the first half of the 19th century, Nantucket was one of the richest cities in America, as its whaling fleet played a crucial role in our nation's expansion into the Pacific. Its women, Native American, African American, and Cape Verdean citizens also have a uniquely interesting history.

The Nantucket Historical Association is of special note, with a world-class whaling museum, a second museum with changing exhibits on other aspects of island culture, nine additional historic properties ranging from a Quaker meeting house to a whaling baron's mansion, and a new, state-of-the-art research center housing a substantial archive of documents and photos.

The Island is also home to many artists, craftsmen, poets, and writers. The Great Hall in the Nantucket Atheneum is the site of illuminating lectures and forums and has featured speakers from Frederick Douglass and Ralph Waldo Emerson to David McCullough.

Related Links

African Meeting House Nantucket
Egan Institute of Maritime Studies
The Nantucket Atheneum
Nantucket Historical Association
The Nantucket Life Saving Museum
Nantucket Preservation Trust
Preservation Institute: Nantucket

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