Nantucket Whaling Museum

Wow! This is a fantastic museum. My son and I arrived at 9 am and had the whole incredible place to ourselves. When it’s said it’s bigger on the inside, that is this museum. It keeps going and does a beautiful job telling the story of whaling in area.

It’s a nice museum. Lots of history. You could spend a good 1-2 hours here. The rooftop is nice and relaxing. You get access to other historic points on the island when you buy your ticket for the museum. I’m just not into this as much as my husband is lol. The gift shop was surprisingly decently priced.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Nantucket Whaling Museum. It was very interesting to learn not just the history of whaling, but also how it created and changed Nantucket.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this Museum. My brother and I were on the island for the day and thoroughly enjoyed our time touring the exhibits and chatting with the informative and attentive staff. I want to give a special shout out and thank you to Karen, who not only gave a fantastic history of whaling presentation, but also helped us with an excellent restaurant recommendation for lunch (Brotherhood of Thieves).

This is an awesome museum!! Great presentations. I learned so much about the history of whaling and Nantucket. A must do while in Nantucket! Military is free! Thank you!

Lots of good information and history about the island. Staff were very friendly and helpful. They also give first responder discount which helps on the price.

We went midday Monday in early June. We enjoyed the live lecture. It’s pretty and you see where the $25/person fee goes. They keep it very nice. If you’re not really interested in Nantucket whaling of the 19th century save your money and go buy a $15 ice cream across the street but if you like local history then this is your place. Watch or read In the Heart of the Sea before visiting and you’ll enjoy it more.

Dont miss the schrimshaw exhibit! It's stellar! If you can catch the talk on life in a whaling ship, you'll the 30 min talk provides great context for everything in the museum!

BLUF: A sophisticated and well curated museum that tells the history of Nantucket with a focus on whaling. Of all the things to do on Nantucket I was most excited about visiting the Whaling Museum and it didn't disappoint. The highlight of the museum for me was the presentation that Robert gave about life aboard a whaling ship. Robert was very engaging and the history he orated was fascinating, surprising and a bit gruesome. I also enjoyed all of the exhibits including the whaling exhibit, the sperm whale skeleton, the Nantucket basket collection, quarterboards and the scrimshaw gallery. The well curated collection was nicely displayed with informative object labels. Part of the museum is inside an old candle factory so I really enjoyed seeing the architecture of the historic building. For those who want to meander and listen to the audio tour, there is an option for that via a cell phone. I didn't listen to the audio tour in real time due to low cell phone battery but I do hope to be able to access the narration after the fact. Atop the museum is a rooftop deck or widows walk with a cool whale weathervane perched up above it. The deck offers nice views of Nantucket. We serendipitously visited the museum during the Daffodil Car Parade so we were treated to a bird's eye view of amazing and festively decorated antique cars. The museum also has a nice gift ship at the end, of course. Overall this was a terrific museum and I'm happy to have such an amazing place to Yelp on the occasion of my 2,700th review.

My young family came on a rainy day toward the end of the day. Admission is $25 for an adult; kids 5 and under are free. We truly just blasted through the museum to go to the Discovery Center, which seems unrelated but did the trick for us on this on this rainy afternoon. Theres a play market, lots of books and coloring activities, a small rocking boat, and some other toys that kept us thoroughly entertained for an hour. The museum is nice and worth checking out - though perhaps not with toddlers. There's a lot of great Nantucket history to explore, and the whale skeleton alone is very impressive.

What a great experience! I am so happy that we came here and wish that we had an opportunity to frequent the two other establishments where the tickets were included. Through the movies, the displays, and the live presentations we were able to learn a lot about the island. The gift shop was wonderfully curated and had some great sales going on. It is where I picked up most of my souveniors from the trip. A MUST see when you are on Nantucket

The Quick: super interesting and fun museum in the heart of Nantucket! Crazy artifacts and amazing stories. Plus... A great view from the roof! Overall a great visit during colder weather or on a rainy day. Enjoy

It's that thing you do when you go to Nantucket. The museum is a pleasant surprise. It has a clean bathroom. It has a great view of the city. If possible start your visit with the Rik Burns documentary - it makes Nantucket an allegory for America. Go ahead and enjoy the visits and of course take a photo of the whale skeleton. You'll be happy.

The NANTUCKET WHALING MUSEUM is much bigger, well curated and entertaining than it appears. They did a fantastic job presenting nantucket history, very engaging. The kids section was fun even for us big kids and adults A MUST VISIT!!!

***MUST DO**** while on NANTUCKET! Honestly, this was such a highlight for the trip this late summer. I have been to Nantucket several times and shame on me for not going before this. I honestly think this place is such a true gem! I could have spent HOURS in here. I honestly think this is the absolute perfect addition to a trip on a rainy, hot, or just need a break from the beach kinda day. (Who ever needs a break from the beach, though!) Regardless, ABSOLUTE must visit. You will not be disappointed!

It's the second time I visited it, and I especially enjoyed the dramatization of the historical events that led to the writing of the book of Moby Dick, I enjoyed the exhibits ; well written and I recommended it to find out what Nantucket was like when it was the center of the world whale oil trading and industry

Great day at the museum! Went in November so it was nice that it was open . We went up to the roof deck , which was lovely.

Three floors of super interesting artifacts, portraits and views from the observation deck. The museum itself is a lovely structure. For the price of admission, you get a sticker and can come and go as you please.

This attraction was part of our tour package, and did not disappoint. You could spend a few hours here (we did) if you enjoy history and culture. There was also a special, temporary exhibit of Asian art in one of the halls. There is a lot to see in the various exhibits and floors, not to mention a nice view from the roof. They have talks in the main hall area if you want to learn more about what it was like to be a whaler in New England. A nice little gem of a museum, especially on a drizzly day like when we visited. There's a little gift shop on the way out, and we found some nice candles to take back with us.

Cool museum about the history of whaling and NT. I enjoyed looking at and learning about everything. I enjoyed the views from the rooftop and it's a good sized museum. It's convenient in the main area of shopping and dining. I highly recommend if you need a day activity in NT.

I went in to the gift shop next door with some friends. I purchased a few trinkets ahead of time while I waited for my friends to finish looking around. I was talking to one of of my friends (both of us are POC) near the front door about the salt and pepper shakers I had just purchased. An older woman employee was standing very close and seemed to be watching us so we proceeded to move away closer to our friend that was still shopping around. I watched her go up to the other sales associate that was behind the checkout counter to ask if we had purchased something, which she proceeded to say no (no fault to her because im assuming she asked about the item she accused me of stealing). The older sales associate came over to us and accused me of stealing a lolipop. Which I never touched. I asked her if she wanted to look in my bags. Not to bring race into this but she did not question our other friend and only directed her accusations at me and my other friend. She was not watching any of the other customers who were in the store. So be aware if you are of color you will be watched.

A must do on my husbands wishlist while visiting Nantucket last week! It is centrally located near the ferry and Main Street- making it walkable from most hotels /inns in the area. The ladies working the reception desk were extremely nice and informative! There is so much amazing history packed into one building . Be sure to check out the short film about Nantucket and the whaling industry. It was very informative! The roof top deck offered amazing views so be sure to go up there too! We enjoyed our visit and recommend it to anyone visiting Nantucket for the first time.

Expect to learn a LOT! We visited Nantucket for our honeymoon a couple weeks ago & the whaling museum was on every recommendation list we heard, so we quickly added it to our agenda. We were not disappointed! Although a little pricey , it was well worth it! From the history of the town & surrounding region to looking at the actual boats & equipment used, this entire immersive experience opened our Okie eyes to something brand new & intriguing. We had heard of whaling, but didn't know the half. From the scrimshaw to the baskets and story of the Essex, it was all fascinating. Climb the stairs to Tucker's Roofwalk for an amazing view of the area! Be sure to make time for the gift shop, LOTS of interesting things to support a GREAT cause.

This...was...awesome! A definite visit, even for 25 minutes (which was how long I got to spend). I came to Nantucket for a family wedding and only had 2 hours to explore the city. After getting a few souvenirs, I rushed to the Whaling museum for a 'quick peek' at the scrimshaw. Turns out, this whaling museum is not a small one, in fact, the recommended visit time is about 1-2 hours, so when I told the staff about my time limitation, they were quite skeptical but accommodating nevertheless. Without spending so much time gushing over how beautiful and stunning the sculptures were, I will let some of the photographs speak for themselves. There is much more history that I missed during my photo-spree, but I think everyone would find something they like during this visit. Highly recommend.

Meh. The artifacts and information were lacking depth and humanity. It felt like an assortment of random items from peoples attics than a museum. The building itself lacked character and was strangely warm. The entire museum lacked a solid stance on modern day whaling and its impacts on our ecosystem and oceans. Disappointed in a historical society being so unapologetic of the harmful and negative impacts of whaling and its repercussions.

Very interesting and educational. Not only did they have exhibits about whaling and the products made from them (oil, candles, scrimshaw art), they also had an art gallery of a local artist who painted scenes of Nantucket and a suffragette exhibit on the fight for women's right to vote. An enjoyable alternative to shopping and eating. The sperm whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling is most impressive. $23 for adult admission.

Small museum with lots to see and there's even a toddlers discovery section! We easily spent an hour here just casually strolling through. There's a nice view on the roof deck. The kids discovery center had staff there helping kids make their own bracelets. Worth the visit!

This was my first time on Nantucket over Memorial Day Weekend. I was hoping for sunny and warm weather, but unfortunately we got stuck with cold, wet, and rainy. We were looking for things to do inside and The Whaling museum was highly recommended to us, so we decided to check it out! The location of it is great, right in town, so close to our hotel and tons of restaurants. I haven't been a fan of museums and would rather be doing anything else, but when I came here, that all changed! This is such a perfect, rainy day activity to do for all ages. Tons of kids and families. They have so much stuff. The museum is bigger than I thought! They have a kids play area, a gift shop, holograms of the real women in history who were part of the Whaling community, and a self guided audio tour. This is a must if you visit Nantucket!!

This museum is packed full of stuff to see. Sad history with the Whales, but they put every once of the whale to use from oil and candles which were necessary for day to day living. There is a scrimshaw section which is incredible. The basket making, candle making sections were also very interesting. The local history is well told from the early days, the gold rush, civil war and the fires that destroyed part of the town. They did offer a small Veterans discount, so make sure you ask if you are a veteran. We spent just over 2 hours at the museum and then we went to the Quaker Building and a home which was included in the ticket price.

Very interesting museum about the whaling industry. Strange layout with no logical direction. We were told it takes about 2 hours to go through the museum but we were done in 1 hour. If you go, make sure to go to the rooftop for a great view of the island. Ok way to spend extra time.

The Whaling Museum is one of the main attractions on Nantucket especially in the colder months when there are less outdoor activities. We were there during the Festival of Trees which complemented the museum nicely. Lots of good information about whaling on Nantucket and the island itself. Loved the room with the scrimshaw whale teeth and the lookout at the top of the museum. We also walked to the 3 historic homes decorated for the holidays that are part of the museum and historical society. Very lovely! Don't miss the museum when you're on Nantucket!

I must be the only person who thinks this museum wasn't worth the price. Sure, it's nice and I did learn something about Nantucket's whaling history but I walked out wanting more. Maybe I expected too much because I'm a history buff and had high expectations before my visit. The building itself is a good size but there appears to be a lot of open floor space. It looks like they have the room to add more exhibits. The large whale oil press was impressive and the scrimshaw collection was equally impressive as well. I learned a lot about the native Americans of the island also. The movie "Nantucket" by Ken Burns was a tad disappointing.To me, it came across as a feel-good self promotion video of the island. Throughout the movie the audience is reminded about how great the island and its people are. Bah I already knew that before watching the video. If anything, I walked away even more envious of not living on the island. :-( Those of you who live here are very lucky. Sure, the $20 admission gets you into other historic sites throughout town but many of them have limited hours and can easily be viewed from the outside (i.e.: Old Mill windmill). In my opinion $10 would have been a much more commensurate price for the museum.

Our first museum stop in Nantucket -well worth it. We attended a storytelling session about The Essex - very interesting. Great museum with an array of artifacts and relics. Don't miss the rooftop. And jump across the street afterwards to the Juice Bar for ice cream!

Very interesting look into Nantucket's start in the whaling industry. Appeals to all ages. Great for rainy weather, though it was sunny when we went. $20 gets you into all the historic sites including this museum. There is no individual attraction ticket. Kids are $5 and those under 6 are free.

This is a cool museum, though somewhat small. It doesn't take too long to go through all of it. It seemed a little pricey for what it is. The location is great which makes it easier to incorporate into a busy day.

Really really enjoyed this place! So neat with the history of whaling and its impact on Nantucket. I sat in on the 45 minute Whale Hunt talk and found it to be incredibly fascinating. The woman speaking (who I assume is a native Nantucketer) was knowledgable and engaging as she spoke on what happened during whaling expeditions. The museum itself isn't overly large, but what's there is interesting. Not only that, but your ticket allows you access to other historical sites on the island like the Mill for free. The pass is good until Columbus Day when many of the sites close down for the winter. It was very cool and I could definitely go there again

Incredible! After reading Heart of the Sea I had to see this place. When you are faced with a giant whale skeleton hanging over a reproduction of a tiny whale boat it immediately pulls you back in time. Whaling built this town and this museum does an outstanding job of educating visitors on every facet of it, and its affect on the people of Nantucket

So I only went here because Emily Gilmore moved to Nantucket and was a docent. Well, the real life docents here are just as good at explaining whaling as Emily and this museum is so incredibly interesting! I learned a lot about whaling and at the top of the museum is a beautiful view.

$20 gets you an all access pass to 6 historical sites* on Nantucket, the main event being the Whaling Museum located in town. This historical building showcases the history and life in Nantucket from the 1800's onward. From farming and fishing to the lucrative yet dangerous profession of whaling, the museum does a great job displaying all the historical assets they have accumulated over the years. It's pretty impressive to see a sperm whale's jaw bone that takes up a whole wall, to an intact skeleton of a whale hanging from the rafters. Other highlights include the exhibit following the 3 month journey of the Nantucketeers in the true story of the Essex (with real costumes from The Heart Of The Sea a major motion picture starring Chris Helmsworth). End with a quick trip to the roof deck to soak in views of Nantucket harbor and downtown. Sites include: Fire Hose Cart House, Greater Light, Old Mill, Oldest House & Kitchen Garden, Old Gaol. Doesn't expire until Columbus Day weekend.

If you are in Nantucket and have already spent a day exploring the shops, make time for the Whaling Museum. You must be 65 years of age for a senior ticket. You get a sticker to put on your shirt, thus letting you go in and out for the day. I have to say I was impressed. A movie is shown explaining how the island came about. It was about thirty minutes long. Then they have a docent talk about how whaling was done which was quite interesting. You think they are in the big ship but they send out three rowboats to kill the whale. They have a lot of artifacts from whaling days. Now go to the second floor and take a card with a crew members name on it who was on the whaling ship Essex and follow his adventure. The ship was attacked by a sperm whale and sunk. Did you survive or die? There is also a lookout that you can go on although the day we went it was raining. Make an attempt to see this museum. It is well worth it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this museum and this is solely due to the fact that I attended the multi-media presentation about the history of Nantucket. The speaker was absolutely fantastic! I learned so much about Nantucket, including what the Nantucket sleigh ride is (LOL). The artifacts in the museum didn't particularly interest me, but I liked the view of town from the roof. I'd definitely recommend buying a ticket to this museum if it's your first visit to Nantucket because it gets you into all of the historic sites, and it's good for the duration of your entire stay so you can be leisurely and there's no rush to see everything in one day.

The Whaling Museum is definitely a must see if you are on Nantucket. I'm not typically a museum person, but it doesn't take too long and it's filled with interesting stories, artifacts, and history. My sister and I were on the island for a weekend and several people recommended we take some time to visit the museum. I'm so glad we did! They happened to be building a new exhibit so due to the construction, they waived our ticket prices. Cool! The museum gives an awesome timeline of the islands history, and many relics have been preserved and presented. However, the highlight has to be the skeleton of a whale that hangs from the ceiling. There is an entire room dedicated to what the whale oil was used for, and how critical it was for Nantuckets financial survival. Another highlight was a rooftop deck, essentially a lookout area, where you can enjoy gorgeous and panoramic views of the island and the harbor. Like those who recommended it to me, I would highly recommend visiting the museum while on the island. It won't disappoint!

We loved the museum which includes so much. Highlights are the view from the top of the building, the whale skeleton and the artifacts and short films. A bonus is that our admission included access to other historical spots.

Visited on 8/12/16 While sightseeing on Nantucket Island, make sure to visit this museum, you won't be disappointed. Though it is a small museum it packs a lot of information regarding the whaling industry; from it's beginning, through it's peak, and finally it's demise. The exhibits are very interesting and clearly marked depicting the dangers and hardships the whalers experienced. A short movie along with an excellent narrator not only explained the whole whaling industry but brought up the interesting fact that the early settlers worked hand in hand with the local Native Americans that lived on the island. The narrator also mentioned the name of an old movie called " Down the Sea In Ships" that you can access on Utube.

While we chose to visit the Whaling Museum to wait out a stormy afternoon, I recommend paying a visit irrespective of weather. There are all sorts of interesting exhibits about whaling life, the spermaceti candle industry, and scrimshaw that transport you back in time. A standout program was the story of the Essex - make sure to snag a seat and listen to one of the docents recount this engrossing, tragic tale. Oh, and head to the rooftop deck for great views and photo ops before you depart.

Excellent tour. I did the walking tour they offer and went to so many places, really allowing me to appreciate Nantucket. I did the tour solo without walking with others, just me and my boyfriend, so we got to get lost a bit as we explored the island. It was super memorable and we had so much fun being silly visiting the jail, the firehouse, the first home that still stands, and more. 5 stars all around!

Great museum in the town center of Nantucket. I personally did not know a thing about whaling, but after touring the museum I was enlightened! Allow yourself about an hour. The museum is small, but packed with interesting collections, photography, and exhibits. I especially enjoyed learning about the physically demanding work of a whaler. The scrimshaw is cool to look at and the candle factory was neat because there were some interactive things to do. The history of Nantucket's boats and how islanders live on the island using local resources is also very interesting to learn. If you're planning some time in Nantucket, the Whaling Museum is worth visiting.

An absolute highlight of my short trip to Nantucket; I'm surprised a highlight was indoors. Great tours, discussions, education. And a just *endless* collection of fascinating and authentic content. About as high quality a museum as I've ever seen. If you're visiting Nantucket, not visiting this place is not an option.

A must see on your list of places to visit on Nantucket. Whale skeleton, movies, exhibits, all were excellent. History of Nantucket on full display. Wonderful historic representation of Nantucket's' whaling history. Now I have to read Moby Dick! Really great staff, this place has it all.

Cute little museum, they had an exhibit for a movie when I went last summer. I'm assuming the movie is out now...forgot the name whoops! When you need a little break, sit down and watch one of the videos! Seems very kid friendly as I saw a bunch of them, lots of history and on the roof you can get a very nice view of the city. I didn't take a tour though..just did some self touring. You can definitely spend more than an hour or two if you really look at everything! The all access pass is great- just loads of walking since tour sites are not in the same area...scattered around.

Absolutely loved this museum. Very beautiful space and interactive programming. The observatory deck was really nice and I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits. I would love to come back.

The history of Nantucket whaling is well presented in this compact but very interesting museum. Programs included very informative lectures throughout the day and film clips explaining the extreme conditions sailors endured to capture and process whales. Exhibits include whale skeletons, scrimshaw and other products of the era. Exhibits are well presented and the guides and lecturers are excellent.

If you are on Nantucket, the Whaling museum is a must! Sure, you could get through this place in 45 minutes, but you would be missing out. The 30 minute, included, docent led tour provides an introduction to all that the museum has to offer. This introduction makes it easier to figure out what you are going to look at on the rest of your day at the museum. In order to really get a sense for whaling and the museum, be sure to carve out some time to watch the videos and the performances on the big screen. There are specific times for these and the schedule repeats in the morning and the afternoon. We watched the introductory video and the presentation about the "Hunt for Whales". Plan on at least 3-4 hours. The walking tour sites that are included with the paid admission are worthwhile if you like history. We were there during the shoulder season so we basically got personal tours of each, but could imagine much larger crowds making this less enjoyable during the peak summer months.

You need to pre-book admission online, and will be assigned a time. Adults are $20 per person plus tax. They kindly greet you, give you a quick overview and send you on your way following the arrows through this extensive, multi-level museum. Download the presentations for the phone using your QR reader which will give you an explanation of each of the numbered stop along the way through the museum. Timelines, fascinating stories, artifacts, documents and logs, pictures and paintings, scrimshaw and art, types of whales and their anatomy, detailed explanations of the industry, mariner's life, their wives and families and how they lived. Technology of the day and innovative ways problems were solved. A side gallery on Slavery and Suffragette history was on display which had a strong connection to whaling and specifically the history of Nantucket. The view of the harbor from the top of the museum is phenomenal. There is a lot to see and learn here, well worth the visit.

This museum was perfect for a rainy day! One ticket was $20, and it was a whole day pass (you could come and go anytime for that day). I think my husband and I came and left about four times (we would leave and go shopping or eat lunch and then go back!). We planned our day based on the activities they provided: an hour long documentary on Nantucket, a story about the Essex whaling ship, a guided tour of the museum, and presentation called "The Whale Hunt". My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed all these activities except the documentary, because they didn't provide closed captioning (it was hard to follow!). We felt like $20 gave us so much, and we learned so much about Nantucket and whaling - we recommend the trip!

Really fun museum. Make sure to listen to the narrated sorry of how whaling was done. Also, the Essex display is great. Don't forget to go to the rooftop which provides a great view of the harbor

Two things: Kids are not welcome. Pricey for what it is. $20 per head - always happy to support smaller museums, etc., unless you take my money first and then make it clear that kids are not welcome. Four adults, three kids (2-3 y/o). Kids were well behaved except that they ran around a little, not fast and neither touching anything nor running into anyone. Lady who worked there came up to us five times in four different areas of the museum within 15 min telling us they need to stop it. Never felt that unwelcome and basically followed by someone just waiting to say something to us. Needless to say we left after 15 min. Mentioned it at the desk, they felt embarrassed but not much else they did. An expensive 15 min. Take away: It's not a kids place. They take your money and then chase you out. Way to go!