Characters and Collections

Island Novelties and the Early Years of Nantucket Tourism

In the years following the Civil War, many Nantucketers turned to their history as whalers, Quakers, and world travelers to attract visitors and build a new tourist economy. Explore the quirky characters, cabinets of curiosities, and museum collections that showcased the oddities and treasures of the island during the first flowering of tourism on Nantucket.

The Nantucket Historical Association preserves and interprets the history of Nantucket through its programs, collections, and properties, in order to promote the island’s significance and foster an appreciation of it among all audiences.

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