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Museum · Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Museum in an old 1847 sperm-candle warehouse by the harbor, about the era when Nantucket was the world capital of whaling, featuring the skeleton of a sperm whale about 14 meters long.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Nantucket Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum occupies an old spermaceti candle factory built in 1847 near Nantucket’s wharf and is run by the island’s historical association. The brick building houses one of the presses used to extract oil, and the collection explains how a small island became, from the late 18th to the early 19th century, the world’s main whaling port.
The highlight is the skeleton of a sperm whale about 14 meters long, found dead on an island beach and hung in the main hall. Around it are harpoons, boats, tools, portraits of captains, ship paintings and a large collection of carvings in whale bone and teeth, called scrimshaw.
The museum also covers island life: the influence of Quakers, the women who ran businesses while their husbands spent years at sea, and the voyage of the Essex, a whaler sunk by a sperm whale in 1820, a story that inspired the novel Moby-Dick. The old lens from Sankaty Light is displayed in a gallery.
From the terrace atop the building you can see the harbor and the downtown rooftops.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
At any time during opening hours; the museum has longer hours in summer. It’s a good option for foggy days. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It’s on Broad Street, a few minutes’ walk from the ferry docks. Admission is charged and may include other historic buildings run by the association; check the current rates.
Tip
Attend the short talks about whaling, which usually take place throughout the day in the main hall. Go up to the terrace before you leave.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nantucket Whaling Museum
What is in the Nantucket Whaling Museum?
The skeleton of a sperm whale, boats and tools from the whaling industry, bone scrimshaw, and the island’s history as a whaling port.
What is Nantucket’s connection to Moby-Dick?
The novel was inspired by the story of the Essex, a Nantucket whaler sunk by a sperm whale in 1820, an account told at the museum.
Is the Whaling Museum close to the ferry?
Yes, a few minutes’ walk from the docks where the Hyannis ferries arrive.