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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Saltzman Cabinet of Curiosities
Vanity: The Last Working Catboat
Built over the winter of 1928-29 by Edgartown boatbuilder Manuel Swartz Roberts for commercial fisherman Thomas Pease and his son Oscar, the catboat Vanity worked the waters of Martha’s Vineyard for over half a century. In this exhibit, explore the life of the last working catboat of Martha’s Vineyard through artifacts, photographs, archival materials, and film footage.
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The Grain Family, Hollinshead, Cox, and Fleischner Galleries
Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of JAWS, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is proud to present the first-ever comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the film's production on Martha’s Vineyard. Through photographs, oral histories, original art, and movie props, this exhibit will delve into how the Island became the fictional Amity Island, showcasing the Vineyarders who brought the movie to life and the enduring legacy of Spielberg's blockbuster.
READ MORECOLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS
Woven Bag
Contemporary Wampanoag artists and artisans help us picture the world of their ancestors, the first inhabitants of this Island, by making objects using old and new materials while drawing on old and new techniques.
Mary Norton Sampler
Mary H. Norton made this sampler in Holmes Hole (now Vineyard Haven) when she was around 12 years old.
Jagging Wheel
Though most familiar in the form of whales’ teeth carved with pictures of ships, scrimshaw was an extremely varied art.
Chappy
Mary Drake Coles learned to paint during childhood summers on Martha’s Vineyard, in her teens in Provincetown, and later at Smith College, in Paris, Majorca, Haiti, and New York.
Zeb Tilton Portrait
Benton found inspiration on Martha’s Vineyard from his first visits to the Island in the 1920s until his death in 1975.
Dancing Dolls (Brinquinho)
Mary Paiva Drouin, the daughter of a first-generation Portuguese immigrant family, recalls how her family’s cherished “dancing dolls” in traditional Portuguese dress were paraded through the streets of Oak Bluffs during the Holy Ghost Festival.
Brickman’s Shirt
One of the earliest Jewish families to settle here, the Brickmans operated a shoe business on Main Street in Vineyard Haven that became Brickman’s department store.
Dial Telephone Service Comes to Aquinnah
This photograph, staged in May 1955 to celebrate the introduction of dial telephone service in Chilmark and Gay Head, captures the tension between tradition and modernity.
Gislaine Portrait
In 2017, the Museum exhibited photographer Mila Lowe’s “Local Immigrants Project.” Lowe undertook the project to document the wide diversity of recent immigrants to the Island.
Luce Dressing Box
Captain Richard G. Luce presented this box to his daughter, Abbie Bradford Luce, upon returning from one of his many long voyages.
Life Preserver
Life preserver from the City of Columbus, which crashed on the underwater rocks of Devil’s Bridge in January 1884 when a gash was torn in the hull and seawater rushed into the steamer.
Priscilla Pearl Necklaces
Manufactured in Hyannis at the Priscilla Laboratory, these glass and herring scale “pearls” were named “Priscilla Pearls” and sold around the country through mail order and at Lina Call’s Priscilla Pearl Shop in Edgartown.
Violin
Owned by E. Gale Huntington, this violin was possibly carried around Cape Horn on a voyage by Menemsha fisherman Lyman Cottle.
Monohansett
Monohansett (1862), depicted in this painting by J. P. Winegar, was the first reliable steam ferry to serve Martha’s Vineyard.
Fall River Line Advertisement
Palatial “night boats” like Plymouth connected New York and Martha’s Vineyard.
“Enchanted Isle” Poster
This 1934 travel poster promoted the Vineyard as a playground of the rich and stylish.
Islander
Islander, which operated from 1950-2007, revolutionized ferry service to the Vineyard.
Island Queen Advertisement
Summer “excursion boats” like the Island Queen carried day tourists to Oak Bluffs.
Provincetown-Boston Airlines Timetable
Provincetown-Boston Airline was the Island’s leading air carrier for 40 years.
Islander and Island Home
Islander (1950) passes her successor Island Home (2007) in Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Satinet Sample
Hard-wearing satinet cloth: the West Tisbury woolen mill’s signature product.
Vanderhoops at Aquinnah Circle
Harrison and Selina Vanderhoop selling Wampanoag crafts at Aquinnah Circle.
King’s Paint Mill
Clay pigments from King’s Paint Mill in Chilmark tinted the houses of southern New England.
Bricks on Pier
The signature product of the Roaring Brook brickyard awaits shipment to the mainland.
Erford Burt Bass Boat
One of Erford Burt’s signature “bass boats” in the basin at Burt’s Boatyard on the Lagoon.
Model of the SS Drottingholm
Van Ryper offered its customers affordable “models of ships on which you’ve sailed.”
Dairy Cooperative Bottle
Martha’s Vineyard Cooperative Dairy helped the Island’s small farmers, but could not compete with mainland producers.
Chilmark Chocolates Sign
Chilmark Chocolates was known for its delicious product, and its community spirit.
Black Dog Catalog
The Black Dog began as a year-round restaurant, but became a lifestyle brand.
Harpoon
The ancestors of the Wampanoag people who live here now fished using harpoons such as this one, which was found along the shore in Aquinnah.
Joseph Belain Portrait
Over the course of 20 whaling voyages, Aquinnah-born Joseph Belain (1848-1926), served as harpooner, second mate, first mate, and twice as a replacement master.
Whale and Porpoise Oil Samples
Beginning in the mid-19th century and ending in the 1940s, William F. Nye Company of New Bedford refined and processed whale and porpoise oil for various purposes.
Nomansland Codfish Box
Salted and dried cod was sold to Fischer Brothers of Vineyard Haven, who packaged it in wooden boxes like this one and sold it locally as well as shipping it to New Bedford and Providence.
Eel Pot
Before the 20th century, eels were caught and eaten in great numbers by islanders, who captured them in the fall and winter using pots like this one.
Menemsha Swordfishing Fleet
Equipped by a tall mast for lookouts and a long narrow platform for the harpooner jutting out from the bow, “Sword boats” supplied a market in which swordfish was seen as a delicacy.
“Dorothy and Everett” Weathervane
Using the vessels he knew as inspiration, local fisherman Jimmy Morgan made weathervanes and sold them in his small shop in Menemsha to supplement his income.
Photograph of Fishermen
Fishermen could once make a good living selling the fish they caught in net traps along the northwest shore of the Vineyard.
Chart of Holmes Hole
This view of Holmes Hole (now Vineyard Haven) harbor in 1781 looks familiar at first glance, but a closer look reveals unfamiliar features.
The Harbor of Holmes Hole
Twelve years before this chart was drawn in 1847, the citizens of Holmes Hole blocked Bass Creek with a worn-out schooner filled with rocks, making way for Water Street and Union Wharf.
Martha’s Vineyard Railroad Train on the Beach
The Martha’s Vineyard Railroad operated from 1872 to 1896, carrying passengers from the Oak Bluffs steamer wharf to the outskirts of Edgartown, then to Katama.
1938 Beach Road Flooding
This photograph, looking down Beach Road toward Five Corners, was taken during the 1938 Hurricane.
Bathhouse Debris on Oak Bluffs Steamer Wharf
Bathhouses were a fixture of Oak Bluffs — a monument to the social customs of a bygone era — until September 1944, when the Great Atlantic Hurricane struck the Island.
Bunker on South Beach
This concrete structure, used to train World War II naval aviators, originally stood in the dunes behind the beach; by the late 1960s or early 1970s, it stood at the water’s edge.
Moving the Gay Head Light
The brick tower of the current Gay Head Light was built in 1856, and by the early twenty-first century, erosion had left it dangerously close to the edge of the cliffs.
EVENTS
Exhibition Opening Reception for Mermaid Farm: Beauty & Struggle
Join us on Saturday, July 5th as we celebrate the opening of a beautifully curated exhibition called Mermaid Farm: Beauty & Struggle by seasonal visitor Lexi Van Valkenburgh. This exhibition explores the past and present of farming on Martha’s Vineyard. Once predominantly agricultural, the Island has seen much of its farmland lost to development. Through a series of photographs taken by Van Valkenburgh at Mermaid Farm—one of only two remaining dairy farms—the exhibit traces the Island’s agricultural history and tells the story of a family deeply rooted in the land.
Tales of Edgartown: An Everyday Life Tour of the Cooke House
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
The Heroic Life and Times of a Vineyard Whaleman
It all began with an old envelope and a hunch. Join author Paul Magid on Tuesday, July 8th, as he shares the captivating story behind his new book, Pursuing the Leviathan, and the unexpected journey that began right here in the Martha’s Vineyard Museum Library.
MVM Day
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites the community to celebrate its 102nd anniversary with a festive afternoon of family-friendly activities. From 3-5 PM, visitors are welcome to explore the Museum free of charge and enjoy a variety of offerings including scavenger hunts, hands-on crafts, face painting, live music, and seasonal treats.
Global Rhythms: Ehud Ettun
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Ehud Ettun
Jaws: Stories Beneath the Full Moon
Join us Thursday, July 10th on the Museum’s Lewis Lawn under the full moon for a one-of-a-kind evening that re-creates the iconic opening beach party scene from Jaws. With Michael Haydn—the original acoustic guitarist from that unforgettable scene—strumming live tunes around a cozy faux campfire, this is your chance to step straight into movie magic.
Jaws and the White Shark: 50 Years of Impact and Discovery with Dr. Greg Skomal
Join us in welcoming renowned marine biologist Dr. Greg Skomal back to Martha’s Vineyard, where he once served as lead scientist for the Massachusetts Fisheries’ Island station. With nearly four decades of shark research under his belt, Dr. Skomal is a respected explorer, author, and authority on the white shark. In this special 50th anniversary program on Friday, July 11th, he’ll examine how Jaws shaped public perception of the species—and reveal how our understanding of white sharks has evolved over the past half-century.
Discover Inner Peace: A Book Talk on Refining the Mind
Summertime on Martha’s Vineyard offers a chance to slow down and reflect. Join us for an uplifting and inclusive book talk on Refining the Mind: The Transformative Process of Buddhism by Lama Jigme Rinpoche. On Sunday, July 13, everyone is welcome—regardless of background or beliefs—to explore practical tools like mindfulness, kindness, and compassion that can help cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Tales of Edgartown: The Vineyard and the World: A Common Humanity
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
Global Rhythms: Molly & Mark
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Molly & Mark
Unplugged with Fred Mollin: Hits, Humor & Humanity
Join us on Thursday, July 17th for a rare and intimate evening with Fred Mollin—the quietly legendary producer, arranger, and composer behind some of the most beloved music in film, television, and popular culture over the last four decades.
The Whimsical World of Margot Datz
Join us on Friday, July 18th, for an intimate, joy-splashed evening with reluctant grown-up Margot Datz as she shares tales from her extraordinary artistic journey—stories as colorful and unexpected as the murals she brings to life. With a heart full of humor and hands dipped in myth and magic, she’ll take you from the shores of Martha’s Vineyard to the edges of the imagination.
Decoding Climate History from Whaling Logs
Historians and climate scientists are uncovering new insights into historical weather and climate change by examining a surprising source: ship logbooks from 19th-century American whaling voyages.
In this talk on Saturday, July 19th, Dr. Timothy Walker, Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and Dr. Caroline Ummenhofer, oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will present their collaborative research using these logbooks—many of which are stored in New England archives including the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Falmouth Historical Society.
An Evening of Wine, Cheese & Island History at the Thomas Cooke House & Legacy Gardens
Wine and cheese are natural partners, and when paired thoughtfully, they enhance each other’s flavors in delightful ways. What better place to explore these perfect pairings than an Island said to be named for the wild grapes that once grew here?Join us on Sunday, July 20th for an evening of al fresco wine and cheese at the Thomas Cooke House and Legacy Gardens.
Tales of Edgartown: The Pond People of Pohogonot
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
Shark Smarts: Understanding Our Ocean Friends
Join Kristen Smith, Community Engagement Manager at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, for an interactive program that busts myths and uncovers the truth about sharks! Through a fun true-or-false activity, young participants will explore shark biology, behavior, and the latest local research happening right here in Massachusetts. A perfect program for curious kids and budding marine biologists alike!
Jaws vs. Reality: The Truth About Great White Sharks
How much of Jaws is fact—and how much is fiction? Join Kristen Smith, Community Engagement Manager for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, for a fascinating look at how Jaws shaped public perception of white sharks and the myths it left behind. This program will explore current research and conservation efforts—including tracking technology and data collection—that are deepening our understanding of these apex predators and reshaping how we protect them. Come separate science from cinema, and walk away with a more informed view of one of the ocean’s most misunderstood species.
Global Rhythms: Sol Y Canto
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Sol Y Canto
From the Campground to the Copeland District: An Architectural History of Oak Bluffs
Join us on Tuesday, July 24, for an extensively illustrated presentation that begins with a review of the distinctive features of Campground cottages and highlights several stylistic variants developed by architect Perez Mason and others in the 1860s.
Mr. W. Douglas Thompson will illustrate how these designs were replicated and expanded in the Copeland District—the section of Oak Bluffs between Circuit Avenue and Nantucket Sound. He will also describe a radically new cottage type developed in the Copeland District during the 1870s under the supervision of E. P. Carpenter.
Revelations in Stone: Hitchcock on the Vineyard [ONLINE ONLY]
Join us on Friday, July 25th for a live, online only program with author and biographer Robert T. McMaster for a fascinating talk about the 200th anniversary of Edward Hitchcock’s groundbreaking 1824 geological study of Martha’s Vineyard. McMaster will explore how Hitchcock’s work sparked a scientific revolution in understanding the forces that shaped the Vineyard, Cape Cod, and beyond. Drawing from Hitchcock’s unpublished writings and illustrated with historical and contemporary images, this engaging talk reveals the island’s pivotal role in the history of American science.
The Power of Images: A Journey Into a World on the Edge of Change
Celebrate Legacy Week on the Vineyard with an inspiring evening honoring Glenda E. Jones, a 1968 Central State University graduate and visionary photographer. Her powerful images of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley tribes capture cultures on the brink of change, bridging generations and preserving heritage.
The program opens on Tuesday, July 29th with remarks from Sheryl Wesley, founder of HBCU Legacy Week and a passionate advocate for preserving Black history and culture. Sheryl will also introduce students from Showtime/MTV’s Storytellers Lab —rising voices continuing the mission of authentic storytelling.
Global Rhythms: Jan Hulka
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Jan Hulka
The House That Wouldn’t Let Go: The Story of Woogie and Mary
Join designer, preservationist, songwriter, storyteller, and part-time Island resident, Dawn Carroll for an unforgettable evening of music, memory, and rediscovered history, as she shares the powerful story of a house that once echoed with the footsteps of legends—and nearly vanished into silence. A story that started in Boston.
Tales of Edgartown: Colonial Essentials: The Garden That Fed and Healed
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
Tales of Edgartown: Beyond the 527 Feet: Peter Wells’ Story of the Chappy Ferry
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
Global Rhythms: Molly & Mark
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Molly & Mark
Tales of Edgartown: The Way We Wore: Island Textiles & Fashion, 1642–1850
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
The Farmer and The Shark
On Tuesday, August 19th, don’t miss this exclusive special screening of The Farmer & the Shark, the gripping documentary that unveils the hidden story behind Martha’s Vineyard legend Craig Kingsbury and his extraordinary influence on Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Stay for a rare and fascinating discussion with award-winning filmmaker John Campopiano, veteran producer Rick DiGregorio, Jaws historian Jim Beller, and Craig Kingsbury’s daughter, Kristen Kingsbury Henshaw, as they share never-before-heard stories and behind-the-scenes details about this iconic film’s local heartbeat.
Global Rhythms: Peter Halperin and the Group Therapy Band
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Peter Halperin and the Group Therapy Band
Tales of Edgartown: Whaling Port to Summer Resort
Spend your Monday evenings in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House, where local historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s expansive past to life. Each week features a new speaker sharing a distinct chapter of Island history and culture. Enjoy light refreshments, meaningful conversation, and the experience of an outdoor summer lecture series.
Global Rhythms: Jim Thomas Spirituals Choir
Celebrate the vibrant cultures that shape our Island community through music and storytelling. Each week, world-class musicians take the stage to share not only their sound, but the personal and cultural stories behind it. Join us Wednesday evenings this summer for a series that moves to the beat of connection, tradition, and discovery.
THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE: Jim Thomas Spirituals Choir
VISIT OUR CAMPUS
With an exciting slate of exhibits, guest speakers, and community events, there’s always something new to discover at MVM.
OPEN 10 – 4
TUESDAY – SUNDAY
YEAR-ROUND
100,000+
ITEMS IN
OUR COLLECTION
Explore maps, manuscripts, objects, photos, oral histories, and much more.
2,500
FEET FROM THE
FERRY DOCK
Our Vineyard Haven campus is just a 10-minute walk from the Steamship Authority terminal.
100
YEARS OF SERVING THE ISLAND COMMUNITY
We are committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing all facets of the Island’s story, from the familiar to the untold.
LEARN
We provide thought-provoking and engaging learning experiences for students of all ages.
RESEARCH
We bring the Island’s history and culture to life through research and resources that encourage curiosity and compassion.
SUPPORT & DONATE
Your support empowers us to continue inspiring, educating, and strengthening our community.
“We believe in the mission and vision of the MV Museum. We want our grandchildren to love and appreciate this Island’s history, art, and culture as much as we do, so it is very important to us that the Museum continues to grow and thrive!”
BARBARA COUCH
