NHA News - Recent Press Releases

April 7, 2011

NHA SPRING HOURS BEGIN APRIL 28

The NHA’s Whaling Museum Will Be Open Thursday through Monday

NANTUCKET, MA. In celebration of Nantucket’s annual Daffodil Festival—now enjoying its thirty-seventh year—the Nantucket Historical Association is pleased to offer extended spring hours beginning Thursday, April 28 to May 9. The Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street, will be open Thursday–Monday, 11 A.M.–4 P.M. Beginning May 12, the Museum will be open daily.

The Museum Shop opens for the season on Thursday, April 28, and will be open Thursday – Monday through May 9, then daily from May 12 to October 31. Adjacent to the museum, the shop carries a wide selection of fine gifts—many with a nautical theme that includes reproduction scrimshaw. China, glassware, books, children’s toys, reproduction lightship baskets; specialty jams are also available. You may shop on-line or place orders by calling 508-228-5785.

On Saturday, May 28, the NHA will open its other historic properties and houses for the 2011 season; island visitors and NHA members are invited to visit the historic sites: Oldest House and Kitchen Garden, Old Mill, Quaker Meeting House, Old Gaol, and Fire Hose-Cart House. Starting in July, the restored property known as Greater Light will open twice a week in an open-house format.

Oldest House and Period Kitchen Garden, 16 Sunset Hill
The Oldest House will be open daily, Noon – 4 P.M. Situated in a pastoral setting, the 1686 Jethro Coffin House and Kitchen Garden are open for regularly scheduled tours offered on the hour and the half-hour.

Old Mill, 50 Prospect Street
The Old Mill will be open daily, Noon – 4 P.M. Weather permitting, the millers will grind corn daily and conduct tours of America’s oldest continuously operating mill.

Quaker Meeting House, 7 Fair Street
The Quaker Meeting House, adjacent to the NHA’s Research Library, will be open for self-guided tours, during regular library hours. Call 508-228-1655 for library hours.

Old Gaol, 15R Vestal Street and Fire Hose-Cart House, 8 Gardner Street
Built in 1806, the “jail” continued to hold prisoners for more than 125 years. The Fire Hose-Cart House, built after the Great Fire of 1846, is the last structure of its kind on Nantucket. Both are open daily for self-guided tours daily, Noon – 4 P.M.

Admission Information
Admission to the properties is available with the purchase of a Combination Sites Pass, sold at each of the sites. Good for the entire 2011 season, the Combination Sites Pass entitles purchasers one-time admission to the Whaling Museum and each property. Tickets are $20, adults; $18 seniors and $10, youth (ages 6–17); free for NHA members. Admission to the Whaling Museum, or a combination sites pass for the Whaling Museum and the Historic Sites, may be purchased separately. Some historic properties may be open on a rotating basis. Visitors are encouraged to call for a schedule, 508-228-1894, ext. 0. NHA members receive FREE unlimited admission to all properties. Nonmember admission to the Whaling Museum is $17 for adults, $15 seniors, and $8 youth, 6–17.

NHA Research Library, 7 Fair Street
The Research Library is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, 10 A.M.–4 P.M.; Tuesday 11 A.M.–4 P.M.; closed Wednesdays and weekends. Research assistance is available on all aspects of Nantucket history: whaling, genealogy, house histories, art and architecture, and thousands of historic photographs. Researchers pay a $5 use fee; no charge for NHA members.

NHA Educational Classes in Early-American Arts & Crafts at the 1800 House.
Art Inspired by Nantucket History. Currently enjoying its seventh season, the class schedule now offers over fifty classes. We invite you to immerse yourself in history while indulging your artistic side. Classes are taught by artisans from Nantucket and throughout New England and will teach centuries-old techniques dedicated to celebrating and reviving Nantucket’s rich heritage in historic decorative arts and crafts. Please check our Web site, www.nha.org/1800house, for a complete class schedule, or call 508-228-1894, ext. 128, and we’ll mail one. Registration and prepayment required.

The NHA administration office, 15 Broad Street, 1st Floor, is open Monday–Friday, 9 A.M.–5 P.M.

For further information about programs or special events, please call 508-228-1894, ext. 0., or visit the calendar.