Those who've visited Nantucket know that this New England resort island was once a prosperous whaling port. Indeed, many of the sea captains' 19th-century mansions now house gourmet restaurants and intimate inns.
The island's Whaling Museum has never had sufficient exhibition space to bring to life its rich maritime history, but this month it reopens after a $13 million renovation and expansion (it now incorporates the adjacent Peter Foulger Museum). The redbrick building was originally a candle factory, and the two-story wooden-beam press used to process whale oil into wax is now more prominently displayed, as are the scrimshaw and lightship basket collections.
The new galleries showcase the museum's centerpiece, a forty-six-foot sperm-whale skeleton, as well as a thirty-foot whaleboat, tools such as harpoons and lances, and portraits of renowned captains. The rooftop observation deck overlooks the harbor, where Nantucket's golden age began. Admission from $8 to $15. 13 Broad Street; 508-228-1894; nha.org.
LOG-IN TO POST A COMMENT
POST A COMMENT