Whaling Museum

15 Broad Street, P.O. Box 1016, Nantucket, MA 02554

508-228-1894

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Carved Plaque on the Outside of the Nantucket Whaling Museum

Finny in Discovery Room at Nantucket Whaling Museum

27 visitor photos

Ranked #1 of 45 attractions in Nantucket

192 Reviews

Type: Speciality Museums, Museums

Activities: Group tours/walking tour

Description: The history of Nantucket's whaling industry and artifacts are exhibited at this museum.

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192 reviews from our community

kwagner258

Brookfield, Connecticut

Reviewer

3 reviews

“Presentation was animated and interesting!”

Reviewed 10 May 2013

I think we learned that Whaling was not an easy job, and life was hard for Nantucket whalers. There were many historic facts in the museum, along with a full sized sperm whale, and the tools used for whaling. Our historic presentation was excellent.

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Thank you for your recent visit to the Whaling Museum! We're glad that our mixture of artifacts and interactive presentations helped you to understand what Nantucketers went through during the heyday of the Whaling Industry. Our fabulous museum staff does an amazing job of bringing a difficult story to life with vibrancy and passion. We're so happy you enjoyed your... More

FranGina

Reviewer

5 reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

1 helpful vote

“Very Historic!”

Reviewed 7 May 2013

A great museum detailing the history of whaling in Nantucket. We watched a film and then took an extensive tour of the collections.

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Thank you for your recent visit to the Whaling Museum! We're pleased that you were able to fully take in the many pieces of our collections that help to paint a picture of the lives of Nantucketers, past and present. We're also thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our signature "Nantucket" film by Rick Burns, as it truly captures the... More

OfftheRockPile

Manchester, New Hampshire

Contributor

12 reviews

Reviews in 4 cities

“Must see while on Nantucket”

Reviewed 6 May 2013

This is a great place to begin your visit to get a good grounding in the history of the island. Friendly docents and first-class exhibits help explain the island's whaling past and its eclectic present.

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Thank you for your recent visit to the Whaling Museum! We're glad that we were able to provide a detailed overview of Nantucket's rich history. We agree that our museum guides are top notch and really bring the presentations to life. We 're so happy you enjoyed your visit and we hope to see you again soon! More

Flusspferd

East Sandwich, Massachusetts

1 review

“Awesome.”

Reviewed 5 May 2013

The Whaling Museum is definitely worth a visit, and has something to offer for most everyone who visits it. It provides unique insight into the rich history of the island.

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Thank you for your review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your visit to the Whaling Museum last summer. We're glad that we are able to provide an interesting way to experience Nantucket's history for all types of visitors, whether they prefer to explore the museum on their own, or to take in the colorful story of the Whale Hunt... More

Nempuku

Contributor

16 reviews

7 attraction reviews

Reviews in 9 cities

11 helpful votes

“A unique experience”

Reviewed 21 April 2013

The movie is a must see. The whole visit takes about 2 hours. The history of whaling is unique to the island and they have done a nice job capturing that time

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Thank you for your review! We're pleased that you enjoyed the Nantucket film by Ric Burns and were able to enjoy the experience the Whaling Museum offers. We agree- our curatorial staff does an amazing job of selecting which pieces of our extensive collection that will tell the story of the island's rich history. Thank you for visiting us and... More

lukitas

barcelona

Top Contributor

63 reviews

5 attraction reviews

Reviews in 19 cities

9 helpful votes

“A must in Nantucket”

Reviewed 21 April 2013

I have to be sincere, it was a great way to avoid the sun, but I was in for a surprise. It's an excelent museum, a good way to look for something else in the island, to understand and view the old Nantucket before the turism. Spectacular.

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Thank you for your review! We're glad that in your attempt to seek some shade that you were able to enjoy your experience with us and enjoy a different side of the island. Thank you for visiting and we hope to see you again soon! More

MusicalTraveler

Boston, Massachusetts

Reviewer

4 reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

5 helpful votes

“Unique Museum”

Reviewed 8 April 2013

One might think this is some simplistic quaint island museum, but be ready for a surprise, it's the next step from the Smithsonian. And no better place for a whaling museum than one of the hearts of the original whaling industry. Great artifacts, expansive, and very well done.

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Thank you so much for your review! A comparison to the Smithsonian is quite a compliment, and we're happy that you were able to enjoy our collection of not only whaling memorabilia, but pieces from the island's rich history as well. We like to think of ourselves as a small museum that provides a big experience for our guests. Thank... More

worldtraveler416

Charleston, South Carolina

2 reviews

1 helpful vote

“Superb”

Reviewed 6 April 2013

Small enough to be an easy excursion but also very informative. Great staff. Very interesting films as well. Also, we were there in the summer and this was one place that had great air conditioning for us Southerners!

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Thank you for your review! We are pleased that you enjoyed your visit with us last summer. We agree, the Whaling Museum is a great escape from the summer heat and enjoy the day- temperature controlled! We're glad that you were able to catch our films and interact with our amazing staff. Thank you for visiting and we hope to... More

gvamax

Geneva, Switzerland

Contributor

11 reviews

Reviews in 7 cities

3 helpful votes

“Great experience”

Reviewed 26 March 2013

A must if you go to Nantucket. Beware though : Off season, opening may be seriously restricted - weekend only in March !

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Thank you for your review! We're so glad you were able to visit us recently. We are very excited in anticipation of our spring season, when starting on April 15, we will be open every day from 11:00-4:00! We look forward to seeing you again soon. More

Yogainthegarden

Reviewer

4 reviews

1 helpful vote

“Authentic”

Reviewed 19 March 2013

Here is the usual collection of 19th century marine artifacts you'd expect to see in a whaling museum, and this destination might be a bit boring for younger children, or people accustomed to getting all their information from a touch screen. What makes the Whaling Museum distinctive are its windswept roof walk with its overview of Nantucket Harbor (a rare... More

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Thank you so much for your review! We are so glad that you visited and were able to enjoy so many of the museum's unique attributes, including our beloved roof walk with its view of Nantucket Harbor. Amongst the amazing artifacts, it is the museum staff and guides who truly bring the stories of Nantucket history alive. Thank you for... More