Introduction
The Town of Nantucket is the sole town in the consolidated town-county arrangement of Nantucket County, Massachusetts. Though not as notable for the LGBTQIA+ 🏳️🌈 population as the Cape Cod area, including Provincetown, the island of Nantucket offers seclusion that may provide privacy and security for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and aromantic/asexual community, albeit on a different register.
Notable Attractions
The bulk of attractions on the island of Nantucket of historical significance are of women in STEM, in particular Maria Mitchell, a notable astronomer from the island area. The Maria Mitchell Observatory is an observatory named in her honor, though the aquarium of the island is also named for her, along with numerous representative facilities located both in the village area and potentially elsewhere on the island.
First Sunrise?
Scientists observing the times of the sunrises along the eastern seaboard of the United States have debated the location of the first sunrise in the contiguous United States, which usually varies between Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in the winter months, Mars Hill in Aroostook County in the summer months, and the Lubec/West Quoddy Head area around both equinoxes. However, at the beginning of the new millennium, referring to 2000, the first sunrise over CONUS was measured as being reported at the Siasconset village area on Nantucket, Massachusetts, rather than being located within the more easterly State of Maine.
Ferry Service
Four (4) ferry routes are identified regarding access to Nantucket Island on Google Maps. While Google may not necessarily provide the most accurate nor up-to-date coverage of ferry routes, especially regarding seasonal ferries, the island is currently identified as being accessible from elsewhere in the Commonwealth exclusively by ferry (and the same is true for Martha’s Vineyard to the west, by the way).
From Straight Wharf, the Nantucket ferry provides access to the Port of Harwich on the mainland in the southern portion of Barnstable County, Massachusetts. From Steamboat Wharf, access is provided to the communities of New Bedford on the South Coast in Bristol County, Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard in Dukes County, and the village area of Hyannis in Barnstable County.
Outlying Villages
The outlying villages of the Island, Town, and County of Nantucket include the villages of Siasconset, Wauwinet, Polpis, Tom Nevers, Dionis, Eel Point, and Madaket. Siasconset is located at the eastern edge of Nantucket County and is often shortened to ‘Sconset and home to the ‘Sconset Foot Bridge, while the village of Wauwinet contains a five-star hotel in the area. Altar Rock, the Sankaty Head Lighthouse, and the Barnard Valley Road Viewpoint are each located within the outlying areas to the east, with Nobadeer Beach to the south and Madaket Beach to the west.
Though not in the central village area of Nantucket, the town is also home to the seasonal Nantucket Shipwreck and Life Saving Museum. However, within the true village area are numerous arts galleries, including Arts Nantucket and the Nantucket Gallery at the southern end, as well as the Barn, the Old Mill, the Museum of African American History, the Loines Observatory, and the numerous exhibits and tourist sites associated with astronomer Maria Mitchell further north. The Maria Mitchell exhibits include, though are not limited to, the year-round Maria Mitchell Observatory, the seasonal Maria Mitchell Hinchman House, the seasonal Greater Light, the Hadwen House, the appointment-only Eric Holch Gallery, the Macy-Christian House, the Friends Meeting House, Stone Alley, the Meridian Galleries, the Maria Mitchell Association Classroom, the Maria Mitchell Aquarium and Sea Shop, the Quidley and Company Fine Art Galleries, the C+C Photography Gallery, White Elephant Nantucket, Buglight, and Steps Beach Nantucket within the outer area and numerous locations within the innermost portion of the village area:
- Captain George Pollard House
- Hostetler Gallery
- Samuel Owen Gallery
- The Scrimshander Gallery
- Nantucket Whaling Museum
- Bernard D. Grossman Visitor Center
- The Gallery at Four India Street
- Cavalier Ebanks Galleries
- Artists Association of Nantucket Galleries
- Noble Fine Art
- Pierce Galleries Incorporated
- East End Gallery
- Stark Gallery
- Marcus Foley | Thomas Macy Gallery
- Photographic Scenery by Chad Pierre
- G.S. Hill Gallery
- Nantucket By Water
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