Nantucket Walking Tour: Discover the Island's Unique Heritage and Gems
The Island of Nantucket Was Once the Whaling Capital of the World. Go Beyond the Cobbles of Its Ancient Streets With Drives and Detours' Self-Guided Tours
Nantucket Island is one of the most unique destinations in the world. This beautiful, beach-filled destination is full of unique architecture, cultural landmarks, Black history, and stories of people living on what was a harsh frontier.
The former whaling outpost has a long history of equality and was a place where Black people could live free and women could be pioneers, long before this was possible in the rest of the United States.
Go beyond the cobblestones to an island that has far more to offer than this guide can cover. Discover Nantucket with the Drives & Detours mobile app and GPS-triggered audio walking tours. We’ll take you on a walking tour through surreal desert landscapes where you’ll find iconic stops like the Atheneum, African Meeting House, and Maria Mitchell Observatory—and the hidden gems other tours don't visit.
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Nantucket’s wealth came from the sea. The whaleships would leave port and spend years hunting for whales — David Kanigan / Pexels
Hanging from the rafters of Gosnell Hall is the 46-foot skeleton of a sperm whale. The whale beached on one of the Siasconset beaches in 1998, much to the islanders' dismay. However, its remains are now used to illustrate the struggles of 18th-century life in the Nantucket Whaling Museum.
The museum spans four centuries of history surrounding the whaling industry on Nantucket Island. You will discover the stories of the dangerous and lucrative trade in the beautiful Greek-revival building, told across more than 1,000 artworks and artifacts, nine galleries, and one restored 19th-century candle factory—the Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory.
Herman Melville based the novel Moby Dick on a ship that sailed from Nantucket. The oil gathered from sperm whales was the best and most expensive, and the whaleship Essex set off to hunt them off the coast of South America. Near Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, a sperm whale attacked and sank the ship. Only eight men survived the harrowing three months lost at sea after resorting to cannibalism.
Museum of African American History
19th-century Nantucket was home to a thriving Black population. The African Meeting House is the only remaining public building constructed by the community, and it is now part of the Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket. It forms part of the Black Heritage Trail.
Nantucket has a history of equality that stretches further than most of the United States. The African American community began to form around the neighbourhood of New Guinea in the early 1700s. It was home to free African Americans who owned homes and businesses, even while slavery continued on the island until 1773. They had their own churches, a school, and a dance hall.
New Guinea became Newtown, and the island became an important stop on the Underground Railroad—the secret network that helped African Americans escape slavery. Arthur Cooper's family settled on the island in 1820 after traveling on the Railroad.
When slave catchers arrived to return the Cooper family to their former master, the people of Newtown and the Quakers of the island created a distraction and hid the Coopers. This is just one of many stories that strengthened the Black community and built a strong culture of abolitionism on Nantucket Island.
Brant Point Lighthouse
Brant Point Lighthouse was built to guide ships into the port of Nantucket through the fog — Keenan Shepard / Unsplash
Nantucket can be very foggy, and it's not unusual for the island to be buffeted by heavy Atlantic storms. Roughly 800 ships have sunk in its waters. Brant Point is a jut of land that protects the harbour from the storms, and the lighthouse warns the ships sailing in from Nantucket Sound of its presence.
Brant Point Light is the second-oldest lighthouse in the United States, originally built in 1746. Even though it's small—26 feet tall—the light can be seen from 10 miles, and it's beautiful. The lighthouse is easily reached on the walking tour and is the perfect location for scenic landscapes and stunning pictures.
Nantucket Atheneum
The Nantucket Atheneum is the island's oldest library, and it has played a large role in its history. The astronomer Maria Mitchell was the Atheneum's first librarian, and Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison spoke out against slavery on its steps. It was considered so important that it was the first public building to be rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1846.
Originally, the Atheneum was housed in a converted church that was destroyed by the fire. The building that replaced it is a Greek revival building that reflects one of the key architectural styles of the island. The library became public in 1900—after some resistance from its owners—and has been gradually expanded with new reading rooms and a delightful garden.
Hadwen House
Nantucket’s unique architecture is a mix of utilitarian fishing buildings and grand Greek Revival houses — David Kanigan / Pexels
Hadwen House was constructed at the same time as the new Atheneum and in the same style. The mansion was owned by the whaling magnate William Hadwen and is the best and most beautiful example of Greek revival architecture on the island.
The American Civil War destroyed the whaling industry in Nantucket, and Hadwen died just a year after it began. Many whalers went to fight for the Union—despite the Quaker's pacifism—and many of the whaleships were converted into gunships. Those that weren't had to run a Confederate blockade, and many were destroyed by raiders. The Civil War Monument on Main Street commemorates the sacrifice made by the people of Nantucket.
Hadwen House was donated to the Nantucket Historical Association in the 1960s, and it became a museum. Visitors can wander through the imposing mansion and gardens, which are full of exhibitions dedicated to the arts and history of the island.
Jethro Coffin House—The Oldest House in Nantucket Town
The Oldest House on Sunset Hill is a lovely name for a building better known as the Jethro Coffin House. The home was built as a wedding present for Coffin and his wife, Mary Gardner, in 1686 and is considered the oldest residence standing on the island.
The couple were from powerful families on Nantucket. Coffin's grandfather had been one of the original English settlers in Massachusetts and invested in Nantucket. Gardner's father led a revolt of tradesmen against the island's wealthy. Their families were not friendly, but the marriage mended bridges. The house was symbolic of this new bond. It was built from Coffin wood on Gardner land.
Eventually, the Jethro Coffin House fell into disrepair and was acquired by the Nantucket Historical Association in the 1920s. Much work has been carried out by the Association and Historic New England to restore the house to its original state. The land surrounding it has been turned into a vegetable garden of the kind that would have been grown in the 1700s. It is farmed without modern tools or chemicals, and grows the herbs and vegetables common in the era.
Maria Mitchell Observatory
Maria Mitchell is perhaps the most important person to have lived on the island of Nantucket. The first librarian of the Atheneum spent her nights gazing into the night sky and became one of the world's most famous astronomers.
Mitchell has a list of firsts to her name, on top of being the first librarian. She was the first person to spot what became known as Miss Mitchell's Comet; the first woman to become a professor of astronomy and a professional astronomer; the first woman to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and she was one of the first women to work for the federal government and to join the American Philosophical Society.
The Maria Mitchell Observatory carries on her work. Drives & Detours' Nantucket self-guided walking tour will take you to her house—now a museum full of artifacts, personal items, and her telescope—and the domed observatory beside it. Another campus with two more domed telescopes is just outside of town.
The Beaches of Nantucket
Nantucket holds more than 82 miles of beaches just waiting to be explored — Carson Cooman / Unsplash
Nantucket has more than 82 miles of coastline to explore. They're a great place to relax or enjoy watersports—especially if you're a beginner on a surfboard. Beaches on the North Shore tend to be calmer than those on the south of the island. Look out for Land Bank trails if a walk through the dunes is more your thing. Nantucket Land Bank works to preserve the island's natural history and has created 40 miles of trails to explore.
On the North Shore, Children's Beach is close to Nantucket Town. The water is calm and safe for paddling, and the local government runs family activities throughout the day. Jetties Beach is also family-friendly with safe waters. This is the best location to watch the ships and yachts sailing in from Nantucket Sound. Brant Point Beach is where to go for stunning pictures with the lighthouse. Going into the water is not recommended here—the point is too close to the shipping channel for safety.
The South Shore beaches are where you'll find the more adventurous activities. The surf isn't too large, although the waves can be challenging. Nobadeer is where to go for surfing, parties, and off-road driving adventures. The Land Bank maintains the three Surfside Beaches. These are excellent for walking, and strong surfers and swimmers. Ladies Beach has quieter waters, but they are unpredictable and not suitable for younger children. You will find some excellent photography here when the seals feed as the sun sets over the ocean.
Download Drives & Detours’ Nantucket Self-Guided Walking Tour
Drives & Detours will take you on an incredible journey around Nantucket, where you travel at your own pace. Beyond the Cobblestones Self-Guided Walking Tour of Nantucket brings you to the main sights, visits the hidden gems of the beautiful island, and tells the stories behind these historic sites.
Book your Nantucket walking tour online and take it anytime you want, or download the app and purchase your trip when you’re ready. Your adventure through a location packed full of American history begins on Broad Street in the center of town, close to Steamboat Wharf.
Our self-guided tours tell you the full stories and cultural history behind the island, as well as taking you to the hidden gems Nantucket holds.
