PRESS RELEASE: Martha’s Vineyard Museum Announces Three New Exhibitions
Press release: OCTOBER 2025
Martha’s Vineyard Museum Announces Three New Exhibitions
[VINEYARD HAVEN, MA] – OCTOBER, 2025 – Martha’s Vineyard Museum is proud to announce three new exhibitions now open to the public, joining Jaws at 50: An Island Story (opened September 17) in celebrating the Island’s rich and varied history—from its maritime legacy to its beloved main streets and vanished landmarks.
Let’s Go to Circuit Avenue! is on view from September 27 through May 10, 2026. This colorful, family-friendly exhibition invites visitors to step onto one of Oak Bluffs’ most iconic streets and experience the sights, sounds, and stories of Circuit Avenue. With interactive games, bilingual text in English and Portuguese, and a detailed model of the Flying Horses carousel built by Stan Lair. The exhibition captures the spirit of summer joy and community that has defined Oak Bluffs for generations.
Also on view is Hidden Worlds: The Art of Whaling Logbooks (on view October 3 through January 25, 2026), which reveals the artistry hidden within the logbooks of Vineyard whalemen who crossed the globe during the 19th century. Though these daily records were practical tools, they also became canvases for creativity—filled with inked silhouettes, carved whale stamps, and sketches of ships, animals, and faraway lands. The exhibition offers a rare look at the human stories and brutal beauty behind one of the Island’s most defining industries.
In the Waggaman Community Gallery from October 18 through January 11, 2026, The Lost History of Innisfail, curated by Brenda Horrigan and Chris Baer, uncovers the story of a grand hotel and artists’ enclave that once stood high above Lagoon Pond in Vineyard Haven. Operated by Irish tenor Tom Karl and his partner Dellon M. Dewey, Innisfail was a hub of music, theater, and culture at the turn of the century—until it was lost to fire in 1906. Through photographs, objects, and stories, the exhibition brings to life the vibrant spirit of a place that, though fleeting, left an enduring mark on the Vineyard landscape.
“Each of these exhibitions invites visitors to rediscover beauty in the everyday—whether in a hand-drawn whaling log, a vanished hotel, or a lively street still humming with memory,” said Anna Barber, Curator of Exhibitions. “We’re always looking for ways to connect history with imagination, to show how art and storytelling help us see the Island differently.”
Meanwhile, Jaws at 50: An Island Story continues on view through 2025, extending the celebration of the Vineyard’s starring role in Steven Spielberg’s classic film. The exhibition spotlights the Islanders who built sets, piloted boats, and appeared on screen, honoring the creativity and collaboration that brought Amity Island to life.
“We strive to make the Museum a space where everyone feels welcome and represented,” said Heather Seger, Executive Director. “By offering bilingual exhibitions, family-friendly experiences, and stories that span cultures and generations, we’re celebrating the full depth of what the Island is—and who it’s for.”
Together, these exhibitions reflect the Museum’s ongoing commitment to telling the Island’s stories in ways that are inclusive, imaginative, and deeply rooted in place. From maritime art to modern-day nostalgia, each show reminds us that history isn’t just about what came before—it’s about what connects us still.
About Martha’s Vineyard Museum:
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum inspires all people to discover, explore, and strengthen their
connections to the Island and its diverse heritage. Through exhibitions, programs, and a vast
collection of artifacts, photographs, and oral histories, the Museum preserves and shares the
stories of Martha’s Vineyard—past and present. Located in Vineyard Haven, the Museum offers
year-round opportunities for learning and engagement for visitors of all ages. For more
information, visit mvmuseum.org.
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