Tales of Edgartown Lecture Series
A Summer Lecture Series. Stories of Edgartown, told where history happened.
Tales of Edgartown
Monday Evenings at the Cooke House
TALES OF EDGARTOWN LECTURE SERIES
Spend Monday afternoons in the Legacy Gardens at the historic Cooke House in Edgartown, where Island historians and storytellers bring Edgartown’s rich and surprising past to life. Each week, a new speaker explores a distinct chapter of local history—from colonial gardens to textile traditions, from legendary ferry crossings to the evolution of Edgartown itself.
This annual summer series invites you to slow down, listen, and connect with the stories that shaped this place and the people who called it home. Programs take place in the gardens or inside the Cooke House itself, depending on the topic and weather. Enjoy light refreshments and meaningful conversation in one of Edgartown’s most beautiful and historic settings.
July 6 – August 31, 2026
Join us on Mondays from 4:00-5:00pm at the Cooke House & Legacy Gardens (51 School Street, Edgartown)
Individual Tickets:
• $15 per Member, $25 per Non-Member
Season Pass:
• $110 per Member; $190 per Non-Member
• Admission to all 9 lectures in the series
• Valid for one person
THE SCHEDULE
Step inside one of the Island’s oldest homes for a guided look at everyday life from the Revolutionary era through the 1920s. Historian Norah Van Riper explores how generations of Vineyarders lived, worked, and adapted through changing times.
July 13 – Historic Preservation In Action
Join Vineyard Preservation Trust Executive Director Nevette Previd for a conversation on the roots and lasting value of historic preservation on Martha’s Vineyard. This talk explores how saving old places connects memory, identity, community, and responsible stewardship, carrying the Island’s stories forward for today and future generations.
July 20 – Telegraphs, Tunnels, and Trouble: Adventures in Chappaquiddick Infrastructure, 1800–1938
Explore the surprising history of Chappaquiddick’s many attempts at connection, from bridges and tunnels to canals and telegraph lines. Historian Chris Baer brings these ambitious—and sometimes chaotic—ideas vividly to life.
July 27 – A Childhood on the Edgartown Waterfront
Poet laureate Steve Ewing shares personal stories of growing up along Edgartown Harbor in the 1950s and beyond. Through memory and storytelling, he reflects on the people, traditions, and changes that shaped waterfront life on the Island.
August 3 – The Rise and Fall of a Whaling Town
Historian Tom Lauria explores how whaling shaped—and ultimately transformed—coastal communities like Martha’s Vineyard. This program examines the risks, ambitions, and lasting legacy of the whaling era.
August 10 – The Way We Wore: Clothing & Textiles During the Revolution
Discover how clothing, textiles, and homespun production became symbols of patriotism during the American Revolution. Historian Norah Van Riper demonstrates the process of turning raw wool and flax into finished textiles.
August 17 – Separated Island: Isolation & Independence on Chappaquiddick
Explore the long history of Chappaquiddick’s independence, isolation, and connection to the rest of Martha’s Vineyard. Bow Van Riper traces a century of debates, infrastructure dreams, and Island identity.
August 24 – Inside Edgartown Lighthouse: Keepers, Families, and History
Explore the history of Edgartown Lighthouse through the stories of its keepers, families, and relocation to the harbor. Deborah Medders shares insights drawn from years interpreting the Island’s lighthouses.
August 31 – Memory Keepers Through Time: Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Conservation as Resistance
Alexis Moreis explores the enduring relationship between the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag people and their ancestral homelands through stories of stewardship, cultural memory, and resilience. This thoughtful talk considers conservation as an act of care, continuity, and connection across generations.
All Cooke House photography by Ray Ewing