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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 With Wayne Iacona who was a key crew member on JAWS, working behind the scenes to help bring Spielberg’s iconic thriller to life and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
