PRESS RELEASE: Island Stories Take Center Stage in MV Museum’s New Summer Lecture Series at the Cooke House, Tales of Edgartown

Press release: JUNE 2025

Island Stories Take Center Stage in MV Museum’s New Summer Lecture Series at the Cooke House, Tales of Edgartown

[VINEYARD HAVEN, MA] – June, 2025 – The Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites the public to experience Edgartown’s rich and surprising past through Tales of Edgartown, a new seven-part lecture series hosted in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House.

Beginning Monday, July 7, and continuing weekly through August 25, each hour-long program explores a distinct chapter of local history—offering fresh insight into the people, traditions, and transformations that have shaped Edgartown over the centuries. From colonial gardens and historic textiles to ferry crossings, forgotten communities, and the Island’s pivot from whaling port to summer resort, the series features some of the Vineyard’s most engaging historians and storytellers.

“This series invites both residents and visitors to connect with the layered history of Edgartown in one of its most historic and beautiful settings,” said Laurel Redington, Director of Programming & Audience Engagement of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. “It’s an opportunity to learn something new, hear from local experts, and enjoy meaningful conversation in the garden.”

Programs take place Mondays from 4:00–5:00 PM at the Cooke House & Legacy Gardens, located at 51 School Street in Edgartown. Light refreshments are served. Talks will be held outdoors when weather permits, or inside the Cooke House for select topics or in case of rain.

Individual tickets are $30, and a season pass is available for $150, granting admission to all seven lectures. Tickets and the full schedule are available at mvmuseum.org/special-events/tales-of-edgartown/.

Highlights:

• July 7: An Everyday Life Tour of the Cooke House with Norah Van Riper
• July 14: The Vineyard and the World with Gail Straub
• July 21: The Pond People of Pohogonot with Chris Baer
• August 4: Colonial Essentials: The Garden That Fed and Healed with Roxanne Kapitan
• August 11: Beyond the 527 Feet: The Chappy Ferry with Peter Wells
• August 18: The Way We Wore: Island Textiles & Fashion with Norah Van Riper
• August 25: Whaling Port to Summer Resort with Bow Van Riper

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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