Mission & History
Mission
Martha’s Vineyard Museum inspires all people to discover, explore, and strengthen their connection to the Island’s diverse heritage.
HISTORY
Martha’s Vineyard Museum (MVM) is more than 100 years old. The Museum collects art, artifacts, oral histories, documents, and photographs that tell the Island’s story from time immemorial to today. MVM provides a framework for understanding the past to help create a better future.
Founding Years (1922–1932)
Founded in 1922 as the Dukes County Historical Society and incorporated in 1923, the organization first met in libraries, churches, and private homes. In 1932, it acquired the 1766 Cooke House in Edgartown.
Growth and Name Change (1932–2006)
The organization grew steadily. In 2006, the Historical Society officially changed its name to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum to reflect its focus on collecting and sharing Island history. By then, MVM had outgrown its historic home and needed to move to achieve its mission.
A New Campus in Vineyard Haven (2011–2019)
In 2011, MVM purchased the 1895 Marine Hospital and its four-acre grounds in Vineyard Haven. The Museum launched a $31 million capital campaign to transform the site into a modern facility with more than 10,000 square feet of galleries, library, collections storage, and offices.
In March 2019, the Vineyard Haven campus opened to the public with great fanfare. The first major exhibition celebrated the Island’s influence on the artist Thomas Hart Benton.
As part of the move to Vineyard Haven, portions of the original campus in Edgartown were sold. MVM still owns the historic Cooke House and its grounds, which have been transformed into the Cooke House and Legacy Gardens. The Museum also operates the East Chop and Edgartown Lighthouses on behalf of the towns of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
Today’s Museum
Today, MVM’s collections include more than 15,000 objects, 65,000 photographs, and 12,000 postcards. The archives also hold over 400 subject collections, including manuscripts, maps, charts, and genealogical materials. The Hackney Research Library houses more than 3,500 volumes. Since 1993, the Oral History Collection has grown to over 1,900 interviews.