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 NHA preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse stories of Nantucket and its people with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research.

We use cookies to deliver our online services. Details and instructions on how to disable those cookies are set out in our Privacy Policy. By clicking I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies unless you have disabled them.

> >