Virtual Roadtrip: Egan Maritime’s Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

By Land and By Sea – Nantucket’s Maritime History

Last stop on our Virtual Road Trip is the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum in Nantucket, Massachusetts! The Museum is dedicated to preserving the island’s maritime past while inspiring the next generation of mariners. It features permanent and rotating exhibitions that will interest both children and adults. The exhibits showcase the history of Nantucket lifesaving, famous shipwrecks and rescues, life-saving equipment, the daily routine at a life-saving station, and the workings of the modern-day United States Coast Guard.

During your visit, take a few minutes and watch one of the short films before exploring the collection of over 5,000 artifacts. Free guided tours are available but not necessary— the exhibits are interactive with descriptive signs explaining the artifacts. A few of the highlights include period surfboats, beach carts, vintage photographs, and Fresnel lenses from Brant Point Lighthouse and Great Point Lighthouse. There are also plenty of activities for the kids, including a ship’s rigging rope wall and breeches buoy swing set.

Did You Know? During the 1800’s, more than 200 merchant ships navigated past Nantucket every day. Over 700 documented shipwrecks occurred in the shallow waters off the coast of the tiny island, causing the area to be dubbed “a graveyard of the Atlantic.”

Travel Tip: The museum is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, with free shuttle service from the Nantucket Visitors Services office located downtown at 25 Federal Street. We suggest renting a bike to navigate the island during your stay— the museum is one of many great places to discover while enjoying the beautiful scenery on the island.

Following the Connection

We have completed our first Virtual Road Trip! We hope you enjoyed the trip; we were lucky enough to visit each of these places during our own trips across the United States. Thanks again for following along, supporting us with likes and comments, and being interested in U.S. Travel Experiences. Now we are connected to you!!

Detour: Lighthouses were built to aid in maritime navigation and warn of dangerous areas. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and one of the most recognizable with its black and white candy cane striped pattern. The lighthouse is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the town of Buxton. From April to Columbus Day, you can climb the 257 steps to the top at your own pace. You can also reserve a “full moon” tour through the National Park Service website. Bring your camera, you can get some great pictures from the top!!

Plan Your Trip

Nantucket is an island off the coast of Massachusetts, part of the Cape Cod & Islands region. Getting to the island requires a short flight or ferry ride from mainland cruise terminals. The population of Nantucket explodes from 10,000 residents in the off-season to over 50,000 during the summer months. The village of Nantucket is a time capsule preserved from the whaling days, with world-class lodging, amazing restaurants, and one of the best small-town shopping experiences in the United States. Here are some recommendations from the travel desk at Check-it-Off Travel to consider while planning your trip.

Photo: Courtesy Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum