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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Waggaman Community Gallery
Menagerie of Marvels: Paintings by Eleanor Hubbard
Menagerie of Marvels features twelve rescued animals whose lives changed when they met Vineyard artist Eleanor Hubbard. Through oil paintings and watercolors, Hubbard celebrates luck, care, and connection—anchored by a joyful tribute to José, the legendary West Tisbury ox.
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Hollinshead, Cox, and Fleischner Galleries
Inside the Edit: Dolores Allen Littles, Time-Life, and the Island
Discover the work of Dolores Allen Littles and the community of photographers and editors who found both inspiration and connection on Martha’s Vineyard.
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Beim Gallery
Jaws at 50: An Island Story
Our 2025 exhibition Jaws at 50 was one of the Museum’s most popular shows ever, celebrating the Vineyard’s starring role in Steven Spielberg’s classic. Because of that excitement, we’re keeping the story alive with Jaws at 50: An Island Story. This smaller follow-up highlights the Islanders who built sets, piloted boats, and stepped in front of the camera, showing how their creativity and spirit helped bring Amity Island to life.
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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.
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
Prayer Horse: Indigenous Leadership for Land, Culture, and Future Generations
Join us as we host Josh Dini, Founder and Executive Director of Prayer Horse, Inc. An enrolled member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, Dini will share the work of Prayer Horse, a Native-led organization dedicated to protecting Indigenous sacred lands, cultural traditions, and environmental health.
The Offseason: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Claymation
Experience The Offseason, a handcrafted claymation series made on Martha’s Vineyard. Enjoy a screening, the world premiere of a new episode, and a behind-the-scenes look with creators Henry Danielson and Sophia Kolak.
Edgartown Lighthouse Children’s Memorial
Gather at Edgartown Lighthouse for the annual Children’s Memorial, a ceremony of remembrance honoring children whose names are engraved on more than 1,000 cobblestones surrounding the lighthouse.
Embrace the “Impossible”: Housing Solutions Re-imagined
What might become possible when we rethink how housing is designed and created? Moderator Beth Harris joins Philippe Jordi, Scott Slarsky, and Keith Moskow for a conversation exploring innovative approaches to affordable and attainable housing on Martha’s Vineyard, from adaptive reuse to new ideas in design, planning, and construction.
Listen, My Children: Vineyard Legends of the Revolutionary War
Explore the myths, mysteries, and stories that reveal how the Vineyard remembers its Revolutionary past.
Martha’s Vineyard Living Legends
Explore the stories of the Island’s BIPOC and immigrant elders through a short video featuring excerpts from 15 oral histories recorded by Vineyard students. A panel discussion will follow, offering perspectives on the Martha’s Vineyard Living Legends project and its ongoing community impact.
Opening Reception: The Two Worlds of Denys Wortman
Celebrate the opening of The Two Worlds of Denys Wortman with a first look at original cartoons, paintings, photographs, objects, and archival materials exploring the artist’s life and work in New York City and on Martha’s Vineyard.
Buddy Vanderhoop: Tales from the Tomahawk
Join Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and owner of Tomahawk Fishing Charters, for an evening of stories from more than six decades on the water. In this Legends of the Line talk, Vanderhoop reflects on charter life, memorable catches, Island adventures, and the knowledge of Martha’s Vineyard waters passed down through generations.
Mike Cassidy: A Constant Champion of the Derby
For more than 30 years, Mike Cassidy has helped make the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby happen. A 2019 Derby Hall of Fame inductee, former Derby chairman, and longtime weighmaster, Cassidy shares stories from behind the scenes, including the traditions, characters, challenges, and moments that have kept him coming back year after year.
From First Cast to Hall of Fame: Ron Domurat
Join 2025 Derby Hall of Fame inductee Ron Domurat for stories from more than four decades of tournament fishing. Domurat has fished the Derby since 1982 and earned more than 100 daily pins along the way. He will reflect on the people, places, and memorable catches that shaped his Derby life, as well as the enduring pull of fishing on Martha’s Vineyard.
Wampanoag Sovereignty, Relationality, and Responsibility
In this online lecture, Brad Lopes (Aquinnah Wampanoag) explores Tribal sovereignty and the evolving relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States. Through key historical moments, he examines how sovereignty has been challenged, alongside the ongoing resistance and persistence of Wampanoag communities.
More Than Bait & Tackle: Pete Sliwkowski
Join Pete Sliwkowski, owner of Larry’s Tackle Shop, for a look at the Derby and Island fishing culture from behind the counter and out on the water. Drawing on years of fishing, helping generations of anglers prepare for their next outing, and advocating for public beach access, Sliwkowski shares the people, places, and traditions that keep fishing central to Island life.
Who’s The Duke Part II: 1776 to Present
How did Dukes County come to include seven towns across Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, and what has that history meant for the people who live here? Join Wampanoag representatives Julie Vanderhoop and Brad Lopes, Museum historian Bow Van Riper, and Dukes County Commissioners for a conversation tracing local government from the Revolution to the present. Together, they will consider the lasting effects of colonization and 250 years of division and unification in Dukes County.
In Harm’s Way: Martha’s Vineyard and the War at Sea
A fast-paced look at how Vineyard sailors and privateers brought the Revolution to the open sea.
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 – 5
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.
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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
