Inside 19th-Century Whaling Logbooks

Inside 19th-Century Whaling Logbooks

Step aboard a 19th-century whaleship through the pages of a logbook in a lively conversation with MVM Curator of Exhibitions Anna Barber and historian Matthew Stackpole. Together, they’ll go beyond what’s on view in the Museum’s exhibit Hidden Worlds to see how these daily records, kept day after day at sea, became surprisingly personal. Discover the human stories, creative marks, and the extraordinary legacy of the Charles W. Morgan, the world’s  last wooden whaleship, in a talk that brings the beauty, and the harsh realities, of whaling vividly to life.

The program will include a behind-the-scenes look at some of the Museum’s more than 120 whaling logbooks and will conclude in the Hidden Worlds exhibition for a deeper dive into the stories found within the logs on display.

NEW: Join us at 4pm at First Light Cafe in our Linnemann Pavilion to purchase drinks, light bites, and mix with Museum staff and fellow attendees before the program!


MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25

DETAILS


Date January 23, 2026
From 5:00 pm
To 6:00 pm
Type Talk
Venue Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email collections@mvmuseum.org. Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.