Whaling Museum Reviews

I think we easily spent a couple hours here. Make sure you set aside 1/2 an hour to see the movie on Nantucket’s history by Ken Burns’ brother Ric. There are several exhibits upstairs and the observation deck above. Make sure you brush up on your “Moby Dick” knowledge before you come.

We’ve been to the Whaling Museum several times. The museum is big enough that we’ve learned something new each time. The video they show, narrated by local author Nathaniel Philbrick, provides an excellent historical context of the town and island. This background knowledge pays dividends as you visit other locales and come to know more people and places across ACK.

Our teen girls found the museum interesting and lasted a few hours before it was time for ice cream. They still talk about a few of the noteworthy exhibits.

We only had one day in Nantucket, so our first stop was the Whaling Museum. It was an incredible experience. We learned so much about the whaling industry from the many wonderful talks and presentations that are there throughout the day. We can only imagine what a whaler's life was like. Super exhibits and a great staff.

Interesting history of whaling and Nantucket. Highly recommend a visit. Great information o the whaling industry and more.

This plpace was great! Well organized & a timely talk by an authority on a whaling expedition some in our family had read a book about. The employees & volunteers were frienddly & easy to talk to.

Lots to see and great view of the harbor from the observation deck. Not sure that it was worth $20/per person. During peak season, I think there are other activities available and included for $20 but because it was off season, not really worth it.

Great place to learn about the history of Nantucket and the whaling industry. Nice special exhibits and don’t miss the view of town from the top deck.

We went with children ages 15, 11 and 7 and spent about 2.5h. We watched 2 of their short movies and attended 2 presentations, each about 20-25min and plenty of fun and great information. Our family is not hugely into museums, but this dive into history did not disappoint.

The museum is great at presenting the whaling history of the island. We also saw 2 live presentations that were enlightening. The pass enabled us the visit all kinds of other sites, like historic homes, the mill and the jail.

The skeleton of the sperm whale was magnificent. We especially enjoyed the two movies. The Bones of Nantucket was a fascinating movie about a beached whale, and the movie about the History of Nantucket was enlightening as well. We climbed to the rooftop terrace for a view of the wharves and Nantucket town. The museum gift shop was closed the day we were there, but it looked really nice.

I saw lots of new things and changes at the Nantucket Whaling Museum. There is a fabulous traveling art exhibition from the Smithsonian, how big is that for this small town....HUGE!! It's so refreshing to see all the new exhibits. Great job to bring out so many new historical items that have apparently been in storage for years and maybe never exhibited before. Good reminder to go back as things can and do change. Made for a totally new experience. Staff is friendly and professional, and they help to bring the place alive.

A thoroughly charming small museum that immerses you in the history of Nantucket. I especially enjoyed the holographic women of Nantucket who described their lives from various eras. There was also a special exhibit of the works of Tony Sarge, cartoonist, illustrator, puppeteer and creator of first big helium balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Had nothing to with Nantucket’s whaling history but was very well done.

This museum provides a highly informative account of the island’s origin story. The museum packs a lot into its rooms, but everything in each room helps to convey the importance of whaling to Nantucket. Go here first before you see any other historic sites on the island!

Beautiful museum
Much more artifacts than i expected such as Figi spears, African carved cane,
Kimono’s, scrimshaw, historic fire engine, snuff vases, I loved the interactive videos of the ladies of the era. There were beautiful paintings, cloisonné, awesome movies, roof top view, lighthouse light, whale artifacts and so much more. The check in was awesome. We had a military discount which was great. Kim gave us great direction on where to start first because we were short on time. We ran through this museum in a little over an hour. Starting at the top working our way down. I’m so glad we stopped, we met such a personable staff members and really enjoyed our visit.

As someone who loves Moby Dick, this was an unmissable museum. Enjoyed the exhibits. (Don't miss the talk if its given when you are there - it makes all the difference in understanding the whaling process. In all, we spent about two hours here. Gifts shop, alas, wasn't open. We always love a good gift shop. They should make more of Melville's description of Nantucket, which is very evocative.

LOVED this museum! The exhibits were really well done--signs were readable and clearly explained what we were looking at. I knew a fair amount about whaling from having visited a number of museums and reading various books over the years, but I still learned a lot. The docent who gave live lectures really made things come alive, but it was also interesting to see the movies that showed the history and the recent stranding on a sperm whale on a Nantucket beach. The whale skeleton was fascinating, as was the whaling boat (even if it came from New Bedford!). Nice history of Nantucket itself. The gift shop was also excellent.

Went here on a somewhat cold day when we were leaving. It has a whale skeleton and quite a lot of exhibits about Nantucket during that time. My favorite part was going to the lecture about the Essex whaling voyage. Really interesting.

The museum is loaded with artifacts and history of Nantucket's days as the whaling capital of the US. As far as history museums go, it was well above average. The building is beautiful, clean and very well maintained. The audio tour was not good. It was very difficult to follow and we got lost several times. Additionally, some the displays were out of sequence and some removed completely but they were not removed from the audio tour. It was very frustrating. If you are history buff I'd say it's a must do when visiting Nantucket. Otherwise I wouldn't give up a sunny day to do this tour.

I went on a sunny day when I knew there wouldn't be so many people. It was very clean, and I felt safe. There's a new cobblestone road that leads you through without touching anything, with fun signage to remind you to keep your mask on.

Spent 3 hours enjoying all the exhibits and listening to the new audio tour. Lots of information and had an awesome view of the downtown from the rooftop. Also loved the new kids area!

It was a bit overcast in Nantucket earlier today so I opted for the Whaling Museum to spend some time, so pleased I did. This is one of the nicest smaller scale museums I have visited. I was able to spend 2+ hours and could easily have spent longer. The live presentations were fantastic. I learnt about the history of scrimshaw. The gam about the Essex was fascinating. And the information about the whaling industry in Nantucket very interesting.

Caught the whaling lecture with photos!! What a tough way to make a living!! Make sure you get to the second floor and check out the scrimshaw display!! The observation deck on the third floor gives you a panoramic view of the harbor!! Don’t forget the gift shop too!!

BETTER PENCIL MORE TIME INTO YOUR DANCE CARD……
…..this place will steal the original period allocated.

I thought nearly 3 hours before I started the associated TOWN HISTORICAL WALK was plenty of time, but there’s so much in this seemingly compact place that I had to return after the walk for another hour or so. No problem – the helpful person at entry said just flash the admission ticket again.

The museum has models and full size replicas/real examples of ships and equipment used back in the day. The talks and audio-visual stuff impart fascinating information. No shortages of maps, charts, art etc. When you finish you will be expert at life on a whaling ship plus the people who made up the crew – not to mention the growth and decline of NANTUCKET as the world’s premier whaling port.

TIPS – there is a room near reception for your stuff if you don’t want to lug it around the museum
- don’t miss the roof observation drck which overlooks nearby NANTUCKET TOWN and particularly the pier area.
- and naturally: allocate enough time on your dance card for this very good attraction.

This museum was a great place to visit to understand the history of Nantucket and how the island came to be what it is today. You must sit in on one of the informations sessions run by the volunteers. Ours was just so informative and engaging. We walked away with a great knowledge of what it would have been like to go to see for months to hunt the whales, what they were used for and how everything was processed. Highly recommended.

Really enjoyed looking at the Sperm whale on display. The artifacts, the literature, and bonus: roof top view of Nantucket Harbor and sail boats.

The wonderful staff and volunteers will tell you everything you need to know about this seafaring industry. The boats are beautiful, and the artifacts are intriguing to look at.

Several local friends recommended a stop here quite highly on our first visit to Nantucket. We were not sorry we took their advice! The museum is fascinating, cozy and easy to navigate, with an agreeable corner for kids with varied activities, some very interesting historical displays, and an awesome gift shop which can be entered separately from the museum, without cost. (Don't miss it for fun and unique Nantucket-specific items!) There are helpful and friendly docents who move about and who stepped up to us now and again, unobtrusively, to share or enlighten about some of the curious nautical things on display. Learning about Nantucket's influence on Herman Melville and his book "Moby-Dick" especially was a personal highlight.

I was surprised how large the museum was. I loved learning about Nantucket’s history. The lookout point was wonderful.

This is a beautifully presented/maintained museum with a generous collection of antiquities associated with history/life on Nantucket. We saw two short films that supplemented the items on display/exhibits. (There are additional films; we didn't have time to stay for all.) The admission fee also entitles patrons access to two historic properties within walking distance. Definitely go to the museum if you have an opportunity.

Very interesting to learn about the history of whaling and how important it was to the economy. We tend to think of whaling in terms of how devastating it was to the whales. But this museum made me also think of how ordinary people depended on whaling for their livelihoods. And it was a nice touch to get a free photo of yourself with a choice of historic backgrounds. Some of the videos of actual whale hunts might be a bit too graphic for young children.

This beautiful museum brings Nantucket’s rich whaling history to life. Recently updated exhibits include history both on the whaling ships as well as in land with a huge collection of items made/using whale oil/bone etc. Gorgeous view of Nantucket from the roof top - perfect to relax and enjoy the view. When we were there they also had an art exhibition. Entry ticket also gets you into other historic sites on Nantucket. Perfect for a rainy day...or for us a too sunny day where we just wanted a little break. Very affordable and well worth the entrance fee.

The artifacts and the history were fascinating. The whale skeleton was cool. Overall very unique, informative, and interesting.

The whaling Museum is fascinating and we try to go every time we visit Nantucket! It is a walk back in time and a good review of how much the fishermen went through to be able to feed their families. There are lots of photos and paintings and books for you to see and purchase!! It is worth the time and so very interesting we recommend going highly~~you will be glad that you did!!

For a small museum there is a lot to take in. Very well organized space, lots of richness and culture and detail. Gives you an amazing sense of how things evolved through the generations, feels like taking a journey thru time—recommend taking the time to watch the film presentations for the full experience.

You have to go to the Whaling Museum to appreciate Nantucket. We listened to a great story told by a docent that educated us to the industry then toured the entire museum learning more. Go all the way to the top and get out on the deck for some great views of the Harbor!

We went in looking to kill a little time before lunch. There was so much to see and learn, we ended up going back after lunch and spending a few more hours. They have lots of talks. So very entertaining and informative. We highly recommend this little gem.

I loved everything about this museum. Very visual, super knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff, very interesting history. It made me love Nantucket even more!

A wonderful museum. Presentations by individuals and video provided a lot of neat information. Could spend an entire day here - entry pass allows you to come and go for the entire day, was able to spend a couple of hours in the morning and then a couple more hours in the afternoon before the ferry went back to Cape Cod.

Great displays, knowledgeable staff, interesting stories will make your visit well worth your time in Nantucket. We did go in on an overcast day but frankly any day would be worth it!

Worth watching the movies that are offered. Great history brought to life. The store attached is fantastic. The museum is a must do.

My husband and I happened to stop by at the right time, just as a talk on the history of whaling on the island was starting. The speaker told us about so many interesting things and did so with a story line. Another thing we felt was of value was our $20/pp admission also gave us admission to several historic sites around the island--not just the museum. We didn't have to see them all in that day or even weekend, we had about a month to use the tickets and really appreciated that. We were surprised there were so many exhibits and things to see--do not let the size of the building fool you. This museum is jam-packed with all sorts of exhibits including the biggest scrimshaw exhibit you may ever see. We enjoyed reading the authentic ships logs from the 1800's as well as learning about the history of the captains and wives and whalers and scientists that lived on the island. We spent hours here! This museum is very well organized and easy to get to. I would recommend starting your trip off with a visit and then building in extra time in subsequent days to see the other historic sites.

We live on Nantucket and visit this site several times during the year. A HUGE renovation was done about 5 years ago and it’s a great place to visit for people of all ages. Learn about the history of Nantucket through the whaling years. Original implements, books, and scrimshaw. Take an hour or a day. A video presentation gives you a quick overview of whaling and is excellent. Take some time to visit this and also take take in some of the Historical Assoc other properties. The Old Gaol (Jail) is one of my favorites and the grandkids love it. Best visited when a docent is present so check beforehand.

Tons of history about a past that I don't like at all, but historically, it is necessary.

The museum has some great artifacts, wonderful video footage and super forna rare rainy day!

We squeezed this in an hour before closing one day on Nantucket. It’s a very beautiful museum and very well done. I wish we had more time. I would plan to spend 2 1/2 hours here if you have the time

Really interesting place to visit if in Nantucket. Very good stuff related to whaling. A little sad to see harpoons used to kill these poor animals but anyway a nice to see while in Nantucket!

Everything from the displays to the staff made this a great experience, especially for an indoor activity on a very cold day. The history of whaling industry was made to be very interesting with beautiful displays. To see everything, you can spend the better part of the day. Make sure that you have time for any live demonstrations that may be occurring that day.

Best museum on the island with two excellent art galleries to go along with the great whaling history. As good as the museum in New Bedford.

This place was amazing. I had a working knowledge of whaling, but it was just as a concept of something that was important long ago. This museum brought why it was so important into razor sharp focus and also why whaling helped build the industrial age and then was gone as an industry. I also had ne idea how far flung the Nantucket whalers roamed and how deep the history of the native and new residents intertwined.

There are truly impressive displays and lectures that bring the era to life. The museum also affected me in a way I did not expect. Applying my modern sensitivities to what we have done to the creatures in the ocean, I see the Essex of more karma than tragedy…..

well kept and up to date and super informative to end it with rooftop terrace and great view .
all I wish they had a little bar and refreshments with that !!!

This was my 14 year old daughter’s first visit. She was very excited to learn about Whaling and it’s history with Nantucket. Excellent audio tour. Sometimes couldn’t find a correlating number to go with the audio, but still full of interesting information. Beautiful view of the harbor at the top of the museum.

We loved the diverse methods of telling aspects of the story. Lectures, movies, displays, etc. All very well done. We started our visit here with a walking tour and then used the historic building pass to visit things the next day. Absolutely recommend it.

After vising many museums around the world this is a gem of all gems. Whaling museum is amazing so much to learn and see on Nantucket is a MUST visit for all young and old. I was impressed by the variety they have and all the history guide provided. Please do not miss to visit the roof top . Amazing view on a nice day.

You must see this to get a good sense of Nantucket. It is a spacious brick building with interesting exhibits on whaling, candle-making, and the big fires which devastated the island. Reception desk and initial docent were friendly and knowledgeable. Be sure to take the elevator to the roof for a wonderful view of the harbor. There are restrooms and a gift shop with both reasonable as well as pricey merchandise. It's within walking distance of the ferry.

This was a nice place to visit on a rainy afternoon. We listened to the audio tour as we walked through. Very interesting.

Good history. Nice to take about an hour out of your day to see relics, scrimshaw, whaling history and more. Good for all ages. Don’t forget to go to the top roof observation deck.

Let’s start by saying I am typically not a museum person.

This went above my expectations. There’s so much crammed into this space. Front desk was lovely and helpful.

The audio tour worked well for us so be sure to bring ear pods.

We were lucky to be there when there was a scheduled storytelling hour. A little over inflection but still very good.

Definitely a must do.

Seeing views of the island and all the boats and different islands (weather permitting). Great place!

This is a must visit museum when in Nantucket.
The lectures were excellent. We attended the lecture on the "Essex" whaling ship which inspired the novel "Moby Dick". Then we moved on to the lecture on whaling in the early days which was equally enthralling. The skeleton of a sperm whale is displayed in the lecture hall along with the whaling skiff and all the harpoons and paraphernalia associated with the hunt.
Both lecturers knew their stuff and their story telling was dramatic and so interesting.

I love the place very much which makes me to having fun and loving the nature this was beautiful place

Good place to better understand nantucket's whaling past. Skeletons, movies, tools, scrum shaw activities for children. it's wonderful.

Awesome, not your usual museum. Unique and educational, apart of history not often documented. Glad it was open.

This is a large museum with all different aspects of whaling and Nantucket history represented. My friend and I listened to a presentation about whaling -- I had no idea that little rowboats with 6 men went after huge whales and won! Or that whaling expeditions took 2 or 3 or even 11 years and went all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back! A very interesting museum -- good to plan several different visits!

This was our second time in Nantucket and this time we didn’t want to miss this attraction. It was very informative and well done. It’s a great activity if it rains or it’s cold. We especially liked the rooftop view.

The whaling museum was one of the best sites I visited during my time on Nantucket. The cost of admission was very reasonable, the docents were knowledgeable and friendly. I like that the whaling museum covered more than just the history of whaling but also of Nantucket itself. I really enjoyed it.

Great stories and history lessons. It was very interesting to learn about the whaling industry and the merchants involved.

The Whaling Museum is a small, specialty museum that explains the history of whaling in Nantucket and is housed in an old whale oil factory. The museum is located near downtown Nantucket, MA and is a short walk from the ferry pier. This attraction is open every day during the months of April – December and is closed during the winter months.

I visited this museum with my wife on a Sunday afternoon in early September and thought it was overrated and expensive. I read numerous positive reviews before the visit so my expectations were high. The museum is small and there were not that many unusual artifacts. We only had a couple of hours before our return ferry trip so we only had about an hour to see everything (which was enough time). They charged us over $20 each for the museum admission ticket which I think was the cost of an all access pass instead of just the whaling museum. We told the ticket taker that we only had time for this museum and I think she purposely sold us the wrong ticket (or it is an extremely expensive museum). There were a few cool things inside the museum including the entire skeleton of a large whale but there was not that much to see.

Overall I was not impressed with this museum and thought it was overrated. I do not recommend this museum unless you are in Nantucket on a rainy day. I will not go back on my next trip to Nantucket.

I was torn about going to this one considering the history, however, it is so much more that a historical perspective of whaling! The museum gives you background into the people of Nantucket which was eye opening and refreshing. You will learn about the politics of the time and Nantucket’s fight to do the right thing, and how important the women of the time were. They offer military discount so make sure to ask if you are affiliated as the discount is worth it!

Depressing history of white male destruction of the earth. However the homes portion of the tour was excellent with great story tellers at each location giving personalized tours. It was a steal for $20. Give yourself a solid 5 hours to get it all in.

Be entertained while discovering the traits that make Nantucket so different from the main land. Whaling in just a part of the story. Bravery, independence, tolerance, and ingenuity are things you will learn about too plus a 360 degree downtown from the rooftop that cannot be rivaled.

Great exhibits and information on the history of whaling. There is a video that runs in a continuous loop and a great observatory deck on the top floor. You can see the entire town from the deck.

There is a lot to see in this museum. It is laid out over multiple floors and multiple themed areas. The museum gives you insight into Nantucket's role in the whaling industry.

Went for a visit prior to the start of the real tourist season so I am sure it gets a lot busier.
I don’t think I’ve ever gone to a museum where the staff were as friendly or fun to talk to.
Make sure that you go to the roof to see the view.
Just a great overall experience.

Enjoyable ninety minutes with the young children. Very friendly and helpful staff. The Discovery Room was excellent.
The teenagers were impressed with the special exhibit on women’s suffrage.

A very engaging experience all around. The cobblestone path that takes you around the whole museum made social distancing easy to uphold and the rooftop with views of the harbor is fantastic.

Really friendly staff who seem to genuinely care about their work, and the detail in all the rooms is impressive, especially the kids area.

Lots of museums have remained closed due to covid— this one serves as an excellent role model of a seamlessly adapted, safe environment. Nicely done.

This was a fantastic museum and so very interesting learning of the whaling industry in this area. Very well done and very informative.

I am a whale buff; my reason for visiting Nantucket.
Nice museum right off the ferry, in the historical downtown section of downtown.
Storytelling about the Essex, good displays. Very friendly volunteers. Price of admission gets you into other old properties on the island.
Good early Nantucket displays.

A MUST while visiting Nantucket!. The museum is beautifully designed, well kept, with a diverse collection of artifacts, movies, interactive displays. We loved the side galleries with the art, scrimshaw, handmade baskets, and heirlooms. We had the extra treat of the Tony Sarg exhibit. It’s no wonder people fall in love with Nantucket with its rich historical past and civic pride.

This is a must see in Nantucket. It is a beautiful museum, well laid out tracing the history of the whaling industry on the island. Impressive to see is large whale skeleton hanging in one of the large exhibit halls. Spend the time to see everything. There are multi media displays, short films snd the beautiful scenic vistas from the top of the museum.
Allie at least 2 hours minimum.

The museum is small but packed with information. It's a must see when in Nantucket and gives a great history of Tankee whaling, especially in Nantucket, during the 19th century.

Learn while a docent takes you through the life of a whaler through the eyes of a 12 year old. Fascinating!

Spent several hours at the Whaling Museum during a recent day trip to Nantucket; it proved to be the high point of our visit! The building itself is beautiful, with gorgeous displays of all sorts—scrimshaw carving, whaling implements, historical artifacts from the different groups of people associated with whaling industry. Exhibits gave some good insights into the lives of those who relied on the sea for their living. Much food for thought, well-curated and presented.

I have been going to the whaling museum for years with my child. Exploring the whaling museum children’s room used to be the highlight of his vacation. They recently moved the room to the location of the old gift shop, and it is not nearly as good as the old children’s room. The old room was large and well thought out. There were toys, games and artifacts to spark the children’s interest in the island’s history and ocean life. While the new room seems to have most of the same objects, it is much smaller and not well organized. It seems like it was just thrown together. It is also missing a beautiful mural featuring many of the historic island sights. The new room is adjacent to a very large room with a train set and a video scream with folding chairs. The train set is nice, but the room itself is awkward and uncomfortable. The old children’s room is the new gift shop, which is also disappointing. It has far fewer interesting item’s, especially for children. The rest of the museum is great, but as an adult, I really only want to visit once a year. I used to visit many times per visit with my child. My final thought is, if it’s not broken, why fix it?

This museum is outstanding and is about more than whaling. It also includes the history of Nantucket and its peoples. Additionally, the amazing staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Highly recommend!

Museum was a wonderful reflection on Nantucket's whaling history. I especially enjoyed the life size whale in one of the great rooms. Well laid out and educational. They also had a room for children to play which is great for parents who maybe need a break. Do not miss the observation desk accessible by steps or via the elevator. It offers a magnificent view of the Nantucket harbor. While I was there, they also had on display the Asian art collection of David and Beverly Billings. It was a wonderful surprise since I love Asian art and their collection is spectacular ranging from ceramics, jewelry, textiles. It was a unexpected but much appreciated bonus. My only criticism stems from the lack of information when I purchased my ticket. I was not offered an audio tour, any map or told about the audio clips on the floor (which I didn't realize until almost finished with the museum.) After I purchased the ticket I was simply pointed in the direction to go.

We actually went in Oct 2019- we had been once before 30 years ago on our first trip to the island. Lots to learn and fun to hear about the history of whaling.

My friend and I came to see the textile exhibition and while small, it was terrific. Quilts were of particular interest with the fine condition of the 19th C. Pieces. Whaling and Nantucket history were well covered.

This is a great place to experience history in a way that reminds us of how humans who work together can accomplish amazing things. Go and be swept up and taken back to a time when people had no choice but work together. It was very refreshing. Do be sure not to skip the informational presentations. In fact, attend these first, then marvel in the museum's artifacts. You will not be disappointed.

Nantucket was the whaling capital of America for a long time, and we found this museum very educational, including several interactive presentations. Well worth your time to go!

We have been in many maritime museums, and this one stands out for:
1. Great subject material
2. The thorough treatment of the history of Nantucket whaling
3. Presentation
4. Location is right off ferry
5. Helpfulness of staff

Beautiful museum with interesting artifacts about the history of whaling. Lots to see! We were impressed with the variety.

Very interesting museum with history about whaling and nantucket. Also has nice terrace on the roof with great view over the town

I must admit that I wasn’t really excited about visiting a whaling museum on our trip to Nantucket. I was wrong. This museum has a lot of informative and interesting exhibits. Even my tween enjoyed the museum. Make sure to take advantage of the interactive exhibits, and open the drawers that tell you to do so ... so you don’t miss any information. If you are visiting Nantucket, I highly encourage you to include the Whaling Museum on your itinerary. There is a lot of local history about Nantucket in the museum. It is located a very short walk from the ferry port.

The history buff and the other one of us both thoroughly enjoyed this museum. Highly recommend the presentation/lecture!

The museum was absolutely beautiful. Defenitely take time to watch the presentation. My husband and I spent hours there and we loved it.We had so much fun with the free photo booth too. The staff was super friendly and there's a kids discovery area. We didn't have kids but we explored anyway and had fun and took lots of photos.

Make sure to allow plenty of time for the films and talks- they are as important as the exhibits and justify the admission price.

Great historical overview for anyone or families to learn and discover the rich history and magic of Nantucket. Make sure to see the movies. Worth the time!

We've been to Nantucket many times and always take the time to go through the Whaling Museum. Such an awesome history of Nantucket. I can't recommend it enough!

Wonderful museum. The docents gave wonderful talks. You felt like you were on the Essex and part of the crew. The rooftop view is not to be missed. There are many exhibits. You could easily spend a day there and still not see everything. It is a not to be missed gem.

The organization of the museum is a little confusing, especially if you are also listening to the audio tour, but, that said, it is a must for solid history. Good balance of objects to text. They do a fairly good job of highlighting underrepresented peoples of the island (women, indigenous, POC). At the top is a walk where you can see the harbor and a good bit of downtown.

Thoughtful presentations about Nantucket's history. Friendly and knowledgable staff. Great view from the roof. The walking tours of the town are great.

So interesting..!! And in December …showcase of Festival of Trees….beautiful!
Enjoyed viewing The many Christmas trees throughout the museum!!

Less than two blocks from the two boat lines which serve Nantucket, The Whaling Museum is not only informative for all ages but fun. Walking under a huge skeleton of a whale gives you a sense of scale . Looking at the various instructive displays exemplifies the importance of the whaling industry to Nantucket Island. One realizes why there is a mixture of people from all over the world on Nantucket ; it is because men from all over the world were crew members on the whaling ships. The Gift Shop is full of attractive high quality items. Visiting Nantucket without a stop at the Whaling Museum would be like visiting NYC without seeing the Statue of Liberty.

Better that I thought. Very knowledgable museum staff - learned alot - interesting artifacts - don't miss the whaling video and chat.

A wonderful museum to visit. Perfect for a rainy day. Some stuff is interactive which is fun if you have kids. I really recommend this museum. It’s also very close to the Juice Bar, so that’s a plus!

The Whaling Museum is a perennial favorite due to the high quality of their rotating exhibits. With the appointment of a new Executive Director, the special events have expanded. one such event was a pop-up concert by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. It was wonderful to hear some of his newer songs as well as singing along to old favorites, such as "Blowing In The Wind", which we were able to do up on stage with Peter. My wife even got to sing a solo and a duet with Peter! There is always something interesting there for all ages. A must-see.

This is a must-see experience. So much history and audio tour was very informative! You may also get a special treat with a live narrative of a historical story by a volunteer.

What a wonderful, unexpected and educational experience. We had no idea of the tidbits we would learn by attending this museum. It is a MUST DO for every visitor to the island.

Whaling! It built this island & this museum does an extraordinary job bringing the time and place back to life. Its 4 floors with the top floor having 360°views of the island. Its spacious, clean and very easy to navigate. After reading Heart of the Sea, the real-life whaling tragedy on which Melville based Moby Dick, I knew I wanted to visit this place and it did not disappoint. Its part of the Nantucket Historical Association so there are all kinds of other points of interest to do with the history of Nantucket as well. I particularly enjoyed the learning about the Nantucket lightships and the beautiful woven baskets the island is famous for.

This museum is a Nantucket must-see. It is so interesting, with lots of historical artifacts displayed in a very accessible manner, even for younger children. We happened to arrive, just as a docent was beginning to give a talk, and she was fascinating.

Lovely way to spend a cool rainy day on island. Fascinating history of whaling and Nantucket, and I loved learning about the generations of notable, accomplished women. The space is beautiful and the observation deck is not to be missed.

The museum was great but Ann at the front desk almost ruined it completely. She was very rude to us for no reason. Stay away from Angry Ann.

I learned more about the whaling industry in a short period than I ever learned over my lifetime.

Exhibits are informative well laid out and easy to understand

Give yourself plenty of time to take in all that’s on offer here. Firstly, use the QR code to download the commentary on your phone. It’s a great informational tool to navigate this well laid out museum. This was the most educational experience I’ve had for quite a while.

Nothing compares to this history experience for that that love the sea and the maritime history of New England. For a time whale oil lit the world.

We've been to the whaling museum before and each time find it absolutely fascinating. A must when you visit Nantucket! Here you find out about Nantucket's whaling history over the centuries and the important role that it played.

The Whaling Museum is very easy to navigate and has points of interest for every age. The rooftop deck provides wonderful views of Nantucket. The building has been beautifully restored. Impressive.

Nantucket’s Whaling Museum is a must-see attraction if you’re lucky enough to get to the Island. It takes you back to an era when whale oil was far and away the most important source of energy, and Nantucket was among the world’s main suppliers of it. One of most unusual exhibits is a film made in the early days of motion pictures of a so-called “Nantucket Sleigh Ride,” when a harpooned whale dragged a small boatful of harpooners through the ocean – there may be tougher ways to make a living, but it’s hard to imagine one. Beyond the whaling industry per se, the Museum gives a history of life on the island from the earliest days of colonial settlement to the recent past. Paintings of seascapes and nautical themes are worth your while as well. A shop offers an array of books, clothing, and miscellaneous souvenirs. The bottom line: a small but absolutely excellent museum.

Best place to learn about the history of Nantucket and the influence the island had on the world economy at one time.

Excellent opportunity to learn the whaling history of Nantucket. Enjoyable museum with informative sessions for all ages.

I was very glad that my husband and I visited the Whaling Museum, though I wish we had allowed more time, especially because other Nantucket historical sites are included in the admission price. The exhibits are very informative and the full-size whale skeleton is something to behold.

Fascinating museum. Staff was very informative and many modes of information. Several lectures and self activated videos at most displays . Beautiful examples of whaling life and an actual skeleton of a whale is exhibited.

Interesting Museum for folks of all ages. Like a time capsule back to the worlds of Nathaniel Philbrick and Herman Melville. Documentaries and exhibits very interesting. Check out top floor deck for nice panoramic view.

A small museum with a lot of history and information packed into it. We especially enjoyed the storytelling presentation about the life of a whaler. A must-do when you are on Nantucket!

Fascinating museum. Well worth any time spent there. The films were informational. Be sure to go up to thebalcony to get a great view of the island.

A must see if you’re in Nantucket! First the museum is beautiful. It’s bigger than what it appears from the road. Secondly, the museum is really spectacular it terms of curation and interactive exhibits. Because we traveled in the off-season, we had the entire museum to ourselves and had a lot of fun taking photos in the photo booth. Do visit if you have time. It’s worth it!

The museum takes an hour to really explore. The 3 levels are a mix of media and paintings and harpoons even a full size whale skeleton. Don't miss the third floor roof top deck. Here is the view

Since I am from the Midwest I knew next to nothing about the whaling industry and the history of it along the New England coast. This museum did not disappoint. We ended up using our one rainy day in Nantucket to explore this spot and it worked out perfectly. Besides seeing the neat exhibits indoors, we were able to climb up to the top of the roof deck and see a beautiful view of the harbor and sites at large around town from a high vantage point.

This was our first time at the whaling musem and it did not disappoint. From the whale skeleton when you first walk in to all the artifacts and information on whaling, including watching one of the staff dipping candles, it was a great learning tool and was also fun. The view of the harbor from the top is amazing. We chose to purchase the full pass that gave us access to several historic homes and properties and we are glad we did. We ended up walking to the places, but you can catch a Wave bus if it's too much walking. All the tour guides at the facilities were great and eager to share their knowledge. The other nice thing is that once you purchase the pass, you can use it over the course of days/weeks, so we split it up over 3 days. Highly recommend stopping here to learn about life on Nantucket before it became a tourist attraction.

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. Of course you exit via the gift shop and can check out some local souvenirs or wares.

A wonderful collection of whaling related items. We were fortunate enough to watch a presentation about hunting whales. The woman who narrated/ presented this was perfect. She made it interesting and educational. Honestly this was a great experience.

We have been to this museum four times over the past 20 years but there always seems to be something new happening. We particularly enjoy the talks provided by tour guides as they bring history to life. We have also done walking tours through the historical association and have enjoyed those as well. A great place to visit!

Small museum but totally worth spending a couple of hours here. Records the history of an amazing period. Great talk with feeling on the early whalers.

The museum has beautiful displays along with great information. Be sure to allow time to savor every treasure.

Nothing in particular. Museum rather put a meager collection of objects related to whaling. The centerpiece should be the candle factory but it's nothing special. The price is astronomical for what is proposed.

Our family of four enjoyed our visit. We loved learning more about the whaling industry and history of Nantucket. The displays were well done with clear story telling and an interesting collection of objects. There was a young man Jamie who worked at the museum and made the history come alive as well. He answered our questions and his passion was contagious.

We joined as members and went back later in the week for a historic tour of Nantucket, and Jamie was the guide. He is so knowledgeable and articulate. It was a great experience! We highly recommend both.

Our children are college aged. It’s a great place for everyone.

What a gem! After entering his beautifully laid out space, we were mesmerized by the story-telling of a man who told the harrowing tale of the Essex whaling ship. The art work throughout the museum's superb, particularly the wonderful collection of realism on the top floor from the Smithsonian. I cannot recommend a place more.

This is a must see while in Nantucket. Lots of information and be sure to attend one of the programs put on by the historians. We went to a program which took us on an actual whale hunt and it was full of great information. We learned so much here.

I went to the Whaling Museum rather skeptical and solely because of the rave TripAdvisor reviews. It did not disappoint! My favorite part of the experience was the 11am 'Whales Tales' where a passionate museum staff member spun tales of adventure and misery on the high seas.

We got off the ferry and headed to Brant lighthouse before the whaling museum. In hindsight we should have done the opposite. The museum fee is around 20$ per head and kids above 5 years pay around 5$. It includes admission to a few other attractions on the island so definitely put this first on your list. You could spend 3-5 hours here depending on your interest in whales and aquatic history. The giant skeleton of the whale , hunting exhibits , lighthouse lenses and films are nicely staged. The children’s area was hosting girls scouts during our visit and had some wonderful interactive videos on lighthouse preservation efforts. There was a traveling art exhibition from Smithsonian. Enough places to rest your feet. Icing on the cake - go up to the terrace and watch the waves roll on to you from the ocean! Breathtaking view. One stop shop to see Nantucket.

This spot comes up as the top suggestion for something to do when it's raining on Nantucket and I agree, check it out! I honestly probably wouldn't have gone if it was not raining, but I was pleasantly surprised how much I learned and enjoyed this visit. My husband and I are not huge museum people, but it's laid out in a way you can spend as little or as much time as you want. We spent longer than we expected and I was really amazed at the history behind the whaling industry I knew so little about. Definitely make a stop if you like history, or if it's raining :)

We were hesitant to visit this museum at first, but we are so glad we went! I would suggest that you download the free audio guide when you arrive. Make sure you visit the rooftop and check the schedule of the live speakers. We learned a lot about Nantucket and whaling industry.

Small museum, but filled with interesting displays of Nantucket's whaling days and the brave souls who went on the hunt for 3 to 5 years at a time.....excellent talk and movie

Wasn’t sure I would like this but actually was very enjoyable educational and the building is beautiful!!! Pleasant surprise

The Whaling Museum was a high point of our November visit to Nantucket. The displays are engaging and informative, and the docent presentation was very well presented. We got a good sense of the history of the island. My only regret about our visit overall was that I did not read “In the Heart of the Sea” prior to coming; I read it after the fact, and gained a much deeper knowledge of Nantucket’s place in history.

I have been there many times very interesting part of the new england past. Nantucket has such a rich history.

Awesome museum of Nantucket whaling early America. Easy to follow good videos nice separations of eras

If you do one thing on Nantucket, this should be it. This is an amazing, detailed visual and audio account of the whaling industry on Nantucket. One of the particularly interesting presentations was given by Shawn on the Essex whale boat. There are several other visual presentations that should not be missed as well. Every aspect of the industry is on display, including harpoons, long boats and a beam press used to extract oil. These items and many others help to brings to life the day to day life as well as the long term lives of the men at the time. The centerpiece is the 46' full skeleton of a juvenile sperm whale suspended from the ceiling. A must see while on Nantucket. 

the whailing information. the hosts are very knowlagable. the lookour from the top of the museun allows you to view all over the island.

The whaling museum is full of fun facts, and fun exhibits and you actually can learn just about anything you want to learn about whaling. Enjoyed this small and friendly museum for sure!

First time on Nantucket and the whaling museum is a must do. Very impressive history and displays. Multiple movies of the area to see. Spend at least an hour

Great little place to learn about whaling as it was in its hey day. Lots of history contained in this small building.

This museum would hold the interest of visitors of any age or background. Great visual experience and highly informative

Go back in history to the time when Nantucket was the center of the whaling industry. Can spend several hours seeing all the exhibits and guided tours.

I can only endorse the previous reviews and echo them in my title.

To the three reviewers who thought this place was terrible I really don’t know what you were looking at or what you were thinking. The staff,the museum and their knowledge is superb.

To understand the history and beauty of Nantucket a visit to this museum is a must.

The museum presents a historic look at the many aspects of life before during and after the whaling days on Nantucket. The importance of whaling not only to Nantucket but to the rest of the world since Nantucket was the Whaling capital of the world. You can tour around with or without the audio tour through the many galleries featuring artifacts of the history, and culture on Nantucket. There is a Children's discovery room with hands on exhibits which would be a great family outing especially on a rainy day. There's plenty to see and hear to spark everyones interest. Don't forget to go up on the roof top to see the beautiful view of the Nantucket Harbor, boats, and the downtown.

Never knew the impact of whaling on this island until our visit to the museum. There are a number of films and audio visual presentation to help you learn of Nantucket. The staff is very helpful and informative.

Don't miss a climb to the rooftop with the best views of the village and the harbor

This museum in the heart of town is an excellent starting point for your visit. Admission was $20 but for a few bucks more I got the combined admission to all of the sites run by the historical association. Discount for seniors and students. The building itself was once a factory for making candles out of sperm whale oil. An excellent guide gave a talk on the fire of 1846, which destroyed both the town and its whaling industry, to an audience of one — me. Young families seemed more focused on the touchy feely exhibits. The huge whale skeleton displayed next to the relatively tiny whale hunting boat really captured the feeling of Moby Dick. The Roby collection of 20th Century American art included an extraordinary Hopper painting. It is worth the climb to to roof for a panorama of the harbor. A worthwhile way to spend an hour.

Like many visitors to the Cape Cod area, we had just been on a fabulous whale watching cruise, seeing the majesty and poetry of these graceful ocean creatures. So, it's well worth then going to the historical and informative Nantucket whaling museum that illustrates the central role that whaling had for a time in the American economy before the eras of petroleum and electricity. Thousands of whales were slaughtered for their oil to light the lamps of America and Europe. Great talk by one of the staff at the museum put the trade in perspective. Well worth the visit!

Worth going to, very fasinating and the view from the top walk is fantastic. Good for all ages. They have art too.

BE SURE TO TAKE A PICTUREFROM THE ROOF TOP. You must wind your way up the stairs, but well worth it to take a panoramic photo of the town and bay. Lots of interesting displays and history on the whaling industry. Two short movies are available in a little area in the back set up with about 12 chairs. Movie on Nantucket is the best shown on the half-hour -- other movie on Bones of whales is not as good and shown on the hour.

My wife and I had a wonderful time exploring the Whaling Museum. All of the exhibits were interesting along with the guides who will answer your questions. Plan on at least two hours to explore and listen to some of the talks they give.

We very much enjoyed the Whaling Museum. It was very interesting and the whale skeleton is definitely something you need to see in person!

What a wonderful display of art, artifact and bringing history to life. As a fan of history I’d say this is top notch! We loved Bob’s RE-enactment of the whale catching trip—with video and real boat, whale bones, and spears.

Erik was rude and spoiled the visit for all of us. The rooms were laid out in a strange pattern. Hard to follow. . Not worth the aggrevation.

I recently visited Nantucket with a group of family and friends. We heard the Whaling Museum was a good attraction so we stopped by there on a Sunday early afternoon, members of group ranged in age from 4 to 74. The lady who narrated "The Hunt" detailing a whaling expedition was FANTASIC!! I honestly don't know how she spoke for over 45 minutes absolutely packed with interesting facts about Nantucket's history and whaling while narrating a multi media presentation. I would be sure to go to this first as it was more interactive than the movie presented in the Discovery Room - which was also interesting but there was some redundant content between the two and The Hunt presentation kept the little ones more interested.
I wish we had budgeted more than two hours to be there as we didn't make it through all the displays. Definitely plan on 4 hours if you plan to go and I can see still wanting more time!
This museum actually would be reason enough to venture to Nantucket for the day or weekend. Also be sure to check out the Observatory deck which provides a spectacular view of the island.

Been to many museums over the years, but few, if any, are as well done as this. A difficult subject is dealt with very well. The local historians who relay the stories are magnificent and bring the history to life. Some of the footage of the old whaling boats is amazing. Absolutely worth a visit and 3 or 4 hours of your time, you will learn a lot, trust me

A very well put together and maintained museum. We enjoyed all the exhibits but mostly the whaling presentation. Plenty of artifacts and information from the whaling era. We went away with a deeper knowledge of the history of Nantucket and the whaling trade.

This was a delightful surprise. The museum is large, diverse, and interesting. There is something for all ages. The giant whale skeleton was cool. The roof top wad great with amazing views. There are talks frequently if you want to sit. I would recommend this as a must see on Nantucket.

Interesting history of the whaling industry here back in the day. They have done a nice job of pulling the history of Nantucket together.

My husband and I spent almost 4 hours there on a rainy afternoon . . . perfect place to learn a plethora of facts about the island of Nantucket and the importance of the whaling industry as the island was established.

Admittedly wasn't going into the museum with high hopes. I was so wrong. What a fascinating excursion with very knowledgable persons telling stories and explaining exhibits throughout the museum. Really a wealth of knowledge, both with those who work there, but also the well laid out exhibits. We only had an hour, and I wish we had far longer to peruse all the very interesting exhibits. Also, make sure you make your way up to the top of the museum. The views from the rooftop are incredible!!!!

Went to a private event at the whaling Museum. This is a must see if visiting Nantucket. Fabulous museum & view on the roof top is so pretty.

One would expect Nantucket to have a wonderful museum dedicated to the island's rich history of whaling. We were not disappointed. The exhibits were excellent and even the gift shop was a place a visitor could get lost in. Plan to spend 2-3 hours to do the museum justice. Most highly recommended.

While a good portion of the museum’s exhibits do center around Nantucket’s whaling history and related industries, the museum also covers Nantucket’s founding families, its Cape Verdian ties, the local newspaper’s history, an art gallery. There is a great view from the rooftop of the harbor and mush of the town as well.

The Whaling Museum is both wonderful and educational. The presentations and films were well done and not too long. Always interesting to hear about the history of a location during a visit.

We visited the museum as part of the Stroll Weekend activities and admission included three house tours. Very festive trees throughout and interesting exhibits related to Whaling.

We visited the museum not really knowing what to expect. We really enjoyed it. We were lucky enough to listen to a talk delivered by one of the team at the museum. It was very interesting.
The artefacts and exhibits are well displayed and there are many of them.
The view from the roof is amazing.

Honestly wasn't expecting too much -- just wanted to learn a little bit about the island and a few hours' diversion. Was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the exhibits, the films, and the knowledge of the staff. I'd encourage adults to carve an hour out of their trip for this gem.

Excellent! Don’t leave Nantucket without a visit to here and make sure you go to any of the staged story telling, which takes place at various times throughout each day. It is well thought out, interesting and innovative. Well worth the entry fee.

A state of the art museum in the heart of one of the more historic parts of New England and the New World. Many programs for all ages and a Wreath Festival and Tree Festival during Stroll the likes you will find no where else!

Beautiful, small museum with great attractions. Amazing how much whaling stuff they collected from the attics of the whalers' descendants over the years. Will give you a good appreciation of the history of the town and the country.

Be sure to see the sepia tone film of actual whaling voyages in the ground floor display room. The museum makes good use of computer graphics to zoom in on details like scrimshaw carvings and original writings dated nearly two centuries ago.

The Whaling Museum's Christmas Tree festival was a delightful addition. The museum is interesting and very engaging.

So many neat things to see. We learned a lot and also enjoyed some relaxing time on the rooftop deck prior to our departure.

Such a great Museum. Everyone should visit this museum- it s such a gem of the island. I loved every floor and every knook and cranny.

We spent a couple hours here taking in the rich history of Nantucket. The museum features an amazing sperm whale display, lots of great scrimshaw and tons of history of the island. It also includes an amazing rooftop view of Nantucket that shouldn't be missed. If you want to get a great feeling for the history of Nantucket, this should be a must-see stop.

-The Power Trippers

A treat by all measures. The museum explains the whaling industry in detail: its evils, hardships, and profits. The island's Quaker roots explained - it left a mark on the country. So pleased to have visited it. The museum ties the past and present together.

A very well curated ode to whaling- quite educational with free talks by experts. Museum stretches about so be sure to see everything. Well worth a visit.

Loved to learn about the history of this little island. The view from the observation deck was also great! The full whale skeleton in the main hall was from a whale that dies of natural causes which made me feel a little better about it.

What a special place ! Loved the presentation as we arrived and the exhibits. Unfortunately I was not able to stay as long as I would have liked due to ferry schedule. If I return to Nantucket this will be my first stop !

This was an awesome museum to visit if you are into history. We sat through a narrated presentation of “The Whale Hunt” which was fantastic. The items on display give you a real sense of the industry. And the museum is very large. And handicap accessible. Go up to the roof walk.

My family and I made a sour of the moment visit to the museum. It was very cozy and educational. We enjoyed ourselves very much.

If you care to know anything about the island you are visiting, you can not possibly do that without a visit to the Whaling Museum right in the center of town. Gives you a real sense of dimension of what this industry was and how Nantucket was the center of it for the entire world. I visit it every year.

Everyone with an interest in Nantucket’s history, whales and an era that was thought of by many as the great adventure besides the gold rush, will be happy to have visited the museum. I recommend bringing time to explore everything. The museum offers a rich exhibition of the whaling industry and history in addition to featured films, special workshops for kids and so much more. You need to estimate spending at least three hours at the museum. This is a unique and special museum that invites you to explore a different perspective of America... not to be missed...

We happened to it it just as they were starting the talk on whaling and Nantucket. This talk was key to us really appreciating and understanding all that was at the musuem and the history of Nantucket and whaling. The woman who gave the talk was awesome! She did an amazing job of explaining whaling and Nantucket. Without sitting for the talk i dont think we would have all enjoyed it as much. Amazing views from the third floor of Nantucket. We purchased the $20 ticket that got us into musuem and a few other sites. That was enough for us and teenagers. It's a nice walk to the old gaol, aka jail, we had our own personal tour there.

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!!

We learned so much by going through the musem. The audio was very informative. Plan for about 2 hours,

We had only two and a half hours for this amazing museum and so could have used more time. One of the very best small museums we've visited in many years of travel both in the U.S. and Europe.

Great exhibit portraying the history of whaling and life in Nantucket in the early 1800s and forward .
Exhibits were displayed well and had good descriptions. I loved the roof top view of The harbor

If you are interested in Nantucket history, head over to the whaling museum. Our last visit was about 4 years ago - since then they have updated the exhibits, including local works of art. Make sure you climb the stairs to the terrace, overlooking town and the harbour.

Had a wonderful experience at the museum, but upon arrival had the most unpleasant interaction with Ann. She was incredibly rude and it was completely unnecessary.

Great history of area including cape cod. Martha's Vineyard. New Bedford. Nice representation of Wamponoag history

The Whaling Museum is definitely one of the highlights to learn all about the history of the island and its history in whaling. There are many, many rooms filled with artifacts which you will find truly interesting. It is conveniently located on Broad Street.

Fascinating insight to a piece of America; Walking back into history in the 1850s; Staff helps explain

The museum was cute, small but informative. Mostly, we really enjoyed the planned activities: there was a ten-minute talk on scrimshaw, and then a theatrical telling of the story of the Essex (surprisingly gripping)! What our family especially enjoyed was the fact that museum entry also got us into lots of the other historical spots on Nantucket (Old Gaol, Old Mill, various houses, etc.)

A must see on the island rather you are a tourist or live full time on the island! We could have easily spent more time in the museum and we spent almost two hours. The displays are detailed and well preserved with rich history. There was also a movie that was narrated by one of the staff members which is also a must see. One of the best museums I have been in.

The whaling presentation was amazing! Really enjoyed the whole museum. A must see! Great for kids and all ages

We paid $20.00 each on groupon and when we got to the museum it was monday and it was free. They gave us a refund. The museum was very educational. The people there were very nice,

Great museum that does a good job of telling its story. Docents are very good. Beautiful views of Nantucket from top of building.

Superb views on the rooftop and a nice exhibit .
A nice gift shop too.
3 levels to explore. Many interesting things to see.

Well conceived and laid out. Extremely interesting information and done in a respectful manner that didn’t unfairly judge the whaling industry of Nantucket’s heyday.
Important to people who do not have a deep knowledge of whaling

It was raining so went went to the Whaling Museum. It has just had a 10 million dollar renovation and was very interesting. the presentation by the docent ,Karen, ( 20 minutes) was very good and we learned a lot. They have a discovery room for kids. I think everyone would enjoy this Nantucket treasure!

If you stay for a weekend of for season! It’s such an amazing museum plus you get a ticket valid for many other attractions! If you want to get a real feeling of Nantucket history, this is where you find it.

We made this a priority to visit based upon recommendations of other. We were pleased with our experience. We learned a fantastic amount about the history of Nantucket and its whaling industry. The exhibits were very well done and super informative and fun. The museum is extensive and we were only able to spend about 90 minutes there; I wish I could have spent 1/2 of the day there. Nicely, the admission price to the museum granted access to other historical sites in Nantucket, several of which we visited.

I had high expectations going to this museum given the positive reviews. It did not disappoint. It was much larger than I expected and I learned a lot. I spent two hours at the museum and could have spent more time on some of the exhibits.

Fun place to get a sense of the island's history. Terrific exhibits and presentation. Lots of things to see and do for visitors of all ages.

Absolutely interesting and a learning adventure. I expected to hear a sad story about the whaling industry and instead was told a story about the early colonial population and inhabitants, we learned so much and wished we had more time to go back and enjoy other parts of the tours.

Extremely interesting museum that covers whaling practices, early Nantucket, the abolitionist and suffragette movements, Melville, scrimshaw arts, Nantucket basket making, candle making in the factory that houses the museum, and contacts between Nantucket and the rest of the world. Cool artifacts from the Pacific islands, Alaska, and Africa. Great whaling presentation by a docent using video and a whaleboat model. Roof walk with views of the harbor.

Great place to spend an afternoon, use the self guides and the video sessions, don't miss the roof top views, and the light house lens

Came to the island as a lark and on the way over a group of regulars suggested the Whaling Museum. It was an interesting tour and we understand the island much better now.

There was a variety of exhibits addressing so many different interests-looking at whaling from a variety of perspectives. The rooftop was a great bonus with taped whaler songs.

This is a must visit for everyone. So much local whaling and other history to see, rad and learn about. This place never gets old and they have a wonderful, helpful staff.

There are many docent led tours as well as films to lead you through the museum. Plenty to look at on your own as well. Make sure you go to the roof for a great view! Many terrific exhibits. The gift shop is a real gem, too.

This beautiful museum brings Nantucket’s whaling history. Cool interactive displays for adults and kids of all ages. Multi-level displays make you feel you’re on a ship yet are accessible to all abilities. Very cool roof top to enjoy a beautiful summer day.

Very pricey for what you are getting, but it is a nice summary of the history of the island and well displayed. Beautiful ores of the harbor from the roof.

The entrance fee was pricy (like everything on Nantucket). But the content was fascinating, a lovely museum. Nice kids hands on exhibit also.

Worth the time 👍🏻👍🏻

We visited the museum on a rainy afternoon and listened to a tale of the Essex ship before looking around at all of the artifacts, etc. It was interesting but I think we spent far less time looking around than we had originally anticipated(which made the $40 price tag for both of us a little bit much). Overall it was ok - not something I would be eager to do again.

Visit this museum while you visit Nantucket to learn the history of the whaling. The museum was far more interesting than I thought it would be, and I would return to see more as we ran out of time. Beautifully presented, there are far more artifacts to learn about than just that of whaling.

Very informative and easy to navigate. You don’t have to commit an entire day here, which is nice. It was off season when we went and not crowded at all. Get the online app that has narration throughout (you need your own headphones or listen on speaker). My only complaint is that they didn’t sell more lightship basket items in the gift shop.

My husband, 12-yr-old daughter, and I learned so much about Nantucket island and its whaling industry. The exhibits were fascinating with engaging captions, as well as interactive screens and films. We also loved the whaling hunt and Essex gam programs. The Essex story was our daughter’s favorite part. A really beautiful museum.

A must see if you are in Nantucket. The history presentation by the docent was so interesting. Ready the book "Heart of the Sea" before going to the museum.

Spent a couple of hours exploring this fine museum.

Staff on the front desk were very welcoming and helpful.

The fixed parts of the exhibits covered Nantucket history before and during the white settlement, whaling in general and the significant role played by the brave people of Nantucket.

We attended the talk on the survival of the Nantucketer whale men after the wreck of the Essex in the Pacific after a whale head butted it a couple of times - this formed the basis for Herman Melville’s epic novel Moby Dick.

We also attended the talk in the scrimshaw gallery on the history of scrimshaw carving by the whalers in their spare time.

Recommend this Museum to anyone with an interest in the history of whaling and Nantucket.

A visit to the lookout at the top of the Museum provides panoramic views around Nantucket.

A not to be missed opportunity to appreciate the history of the island as well as various personalities and life style during the whaling and post-whaling eras. We had been to another museum several years before but this updated museum, with links to other highlighted places on the island for one fee, really had great exhibits. Were sorry we only had a couple of hours to tour!

Every time we've been to Nantucket we end up visiting this wonderful museum and I find some tidbit of information I somehow missed.The displays are so easy to read and understand, the route through is calibrated well, and the movie is a nice respite for your back after walking for miles on the cobblestones outside. So much history of the island and the entire Cape area - amazing to see how far the whalers reached, not just in New England but across the entire Atlantic Ocean. Also a relief that other methods of energy other than whale oil finally emerged, saving the world's population of these beautiful creatures. A very interesting and relatable spot to spend a couple of hours. Don't forget to venture upstairs!

$20 pp adult. we took about 2 hours on tours during rain. we saw the nantucket show and the whaling show/movie/slides and we loved both. the 3-4 floors of exhibits were interesting and the roof had great photos of the city. the gift shop was awesome and we bought some items. great to visit on rainy day as well.

Wonderful place for story telling and other events. Great inside, fund, historical and educational. WOnderful .

A good small museum. We went up to the open gallery on the roof to enjoy the view. The temporary exhibit of Ted Sarg was joyful. The overview of the rise and fall of the whaling industry was informative. Our only complaint was the difficulty of using the website to pre-book. We expected to be able to purchase a combined ticket for a museum visit and a guided walking tour. We wasted a lot of time searching for this and then overlooked the default time set for the tour. This could be much more user-friendly.

The museum is just a couple block away from the docks . During the day they have presentations. These are really good, do not miss the movie, then stroll all the floors of the museums all the way up to the roof top and enjoy the view.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeble
You can even do part go have lunch a come back to do the rest.
This is a must do activity.

First, I think this is overpriced for the museum. Second, we felt that the video we watched did not have the content we were looking for - it was the history of Nantucket - we were more interested in the whales/whaling. Several other individuals came to sit in and must have felt similarly as they left during the middle. Interesting journals from the early days and some cool relics for the time. The whaling boat was amazing and the process of harpooning and catching the whales given their size was fascinating. . .

A must visit historical location. Well laid out, interesting artifacts. You will learn an amazing amount of information and be thoroughly impressed by what you see at this easily accessible friendly location. Make it a priority to visit the whaling museum.

This story is not just about whales. It is the history of the island. Great gift shop and very knowledgeable guides

Whaling was as great a part of US history as were the settlers going westward. This museum brings out the details of that adventure in a very interesting way. Lots of great exhibits, including wonderful ship models.
Tickets are pricey, but they will also get you in to about 6 other places in town.
Don’t miss the observation deck on the roof for a panoramic view of the harbor.

We enjoyed the museum. Good history. We took the steps to the roof and it was beautiful! I never read Moby Dick and I hear about it growing up. I thought I heard that it was based on a true story. If you go here, make sure you listen to the story they tell about the whalers.

A gem and at Christmas time trees are decorated by local shops and community organizations - so fun!

I never would've purposefully gone to the whaling museum. It sounds lame and boring to me. But a wrong turn in a gift shop let me into the museum through their exit. And I must say........the whaling museum is incredible!!! Legitimately, I could've spent 4 hours there if not for my kids wanting to move at a faster pace. The displays, artifacts, history (not only about whaling, but Nantucket as well), were all incredible. This place is a MUST VISIT in my opinion!

Beautifully done museum on the history of the whaling industry out of Nantucket. Informative short talks throughout the day.

Fascinating! Gigantic sperm whale skeleton makes it all come alive. Seeing how they used spears, and lances to bring the whale to the boat. Seeing photos of different whale species to include the one with a horn was interesting. The candle making was nice too!

A great snapshot of Nantucket's whaling history. Great artifacts, portraits, and an informative lecture given by a delightful and interesting woman.

Interesting museum on whaling industry neat exhibits and terrific roof top views. Best part of trip to ACK

Nantucket is known for its fog and rain even in summer months! The Whaling Museum is a great option when the weather doesn’t allow for the beach. Been coming to the museum for 20 years (since I was 12!) and it is a true gem. Need about 1.5 hours to get through everything.

Fantastic museum. It's not required, but do read Moby Dick first. Learned a lot about whales, whaling, and the island.

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. Ok way to spend extra time.

The Whaling Museum was about the island's history, impact of whaling worldwide, and the decline. This museum is great because it is very interactive. There are areas with a short video, ability to choose the topics you want to hear about, two 30 minute films, and presentations given by a member of the historical society. The museum is larger than it appears from the outside, plan 2-3 hours.

I love the skeleton, the exxes boat that inspired Moby Dick and the free picture with Nantucket background. We were lonely as the museum reopen today fir the pandemia Gorgeous little sparkling historical Whale Museum. Ole!

We made a quick stop (about an hour) to the museum on a day trip to Nantucket. I took 3 boys with me (ages 12, 14, and 15). We all enjoyed it. There was a short presentation on the whale hunt. Lots of cool info and things to see. I am glad we made the stop, though I wish we would have had a bit more time.

very well done museum about the history of whaling. small but i would still alot 2 hours. don’t miss the roof deck with views of the harbor and old town

Take the time to do this! It was informative and helped us understand the history of the island. We couldn’t go on the tour of the homes but it would have been wonderful.

The museum is full of many artifacts, art and interactive displays. There were two 30 minute movies available and we watched the one on the whaling industry and history of Nantucket. We actually visited the museum first, so this was very helpful for us the rest of the day on the island.

There was a presentation given by a museum member, which we did not listen to, but many people were interested in this. I appreciated the wide range of artifacts and art including pieces from ships.

Be sure to walk up the stairs to the “lookout” on top of the building to see the amazing view of the Island!

More than I expected and very well done. Makes you want to re-read Moby Dick or learn about the Essex

No visit to Nantucket would be complete without a visit to this little gem. Since having read Moby Dick a couple of years back, it was a dream of mine to visit Nantucket and the whaling museum in order to gain a greater understanding of Nantucket history and the role of whaling on the development of the towns of the N.E., since this was such an important period in American history.

This museum is NOT TO BE MISSED. Even if you are not a history or anthropology buff, you will LOVE it. You can get a sticker to wear all day so you can go in and out (for 1 whole day). We heard three truly fascinating talks about the original native population of Nantucket, whaling life, and the survival of men from the ill-fated Essex. They make the info so relatable, it’s more like storytelling or “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” LOL! There are exhibits of scrimshaw, ship models and boats, a whale skeleton, portraiture, and TONS more. And when we attended there was a wonderful Tony Sarg exhibit too. With your ticket to the museum you also get a ticket of Hadwen House, a beautiful Greek Revival mansion with a public garden and on-site demonstrations of the making of the famous Nantucket baskets.

While I am learned and read much I never realized Moby Dick was based upon the tale of the Essex, a ship loaded with whale oil when this huge whale attacked and since the ship. Good for the whale !!! Interesting displays of whale oil and candles made from the period and what may be the only press still in existence to extract additional oil. Many displays of scrimshaw, harpoons, all manner of whaling life. Quite interesting and reasonably priced. Good amount of artifacts and historical facts.
Great rooftop view of the bay with three level of exhibits.
Well worth the diversion of local shops.

We stopped here for ~2hrs on a day trip to the island a few weeks ago and the museum was certainly worth the price of admission. The history was fascinating and you have to go to at least see the sperm whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling....it put things in perspective. If you really want an experience, read "In The Heart of The Sea" before you go and watch history come alive as you walk through the museum!

Exceptionally well curated museum that tells the whaling history of Nantucket vividly and honestly. Very well done. Don't miss this!

It was great to see all the artifacts! Ticket Price was pretty reasonable. Art on display was nice, too! Favorite thing was the clock and the Lighthouse Glass!!

Great and educational. Made you realize how tough these men had to be to do this job. Exhibits were sensational. Well worth while - don’t miss it. The gift shop is also quite nice.

History buffs can't go to Nantucket without visiting this museum. Great way to learn how Nantucket came to be and it is a lot more than beaches and shopping. Nantucket was a beautiful place

If you are into Nantucket and whales. This is your place and a very good museum. If not.....it’s not that interesting. I enjoyed it and I think possible the older you are the more you get out of it.

Eight of us visited the Whaling Museum, as a local told us it was a "must-see" while in Nantucket for the first time. We all had a lovely time exploring and learning about Nantucket's vast history. There are exhibits for children, as well as adults, so everyone is bound to have an excellent time. The best part was the gallery!!

Extremely well done with lots of artifacts and historical references. Me and my kids were all dialed into each piece of history and artifact exhibited.

The one thing to be considered is an actual path through the museum. Wasn't overly clear where I needed to be going. While it let me explore, which is awesome, might be easier for visitors and flow on busy days.

Also, it feels like a path like that should get visitors to the gift shop to wrap up before leaving. Just a thought.

We were able to escape the rain and learn some history. We liked the layout of the museum and the variety of information.

This museum is very interesting and enjoyable. They have an enormous whale skeleton and whale boat with many whaling implements. The docents are fabulous in telling the stories of the Whaling era. (Check for the times of the talks)
There are movies about Nantucket both modern and historical which are worth seeing.
They have scrimshaw exhibits, period houses to visit, an old jail and windmill. There is a fun and engaging kids exhibit. Don't miss the beautiful harbor view from the top of the museum.

If you happen to get to the beautiful island of Nantucket, you must visit the Whaling Museum. The museum is very well laid out and provides both an informative and fascinating history of the island. There are houses attached to the museum that you can visit and you should visit as they also add to the whole story.

They still actively hunt for whales in the most Northern part of Alaska called Utqiagvik also know as Barrow, Alaska just wanted to mention Iceland and Japan are not the only persons still actively go whaling .

I stopped in at the Whaling Museum and was immersed in a tour that gave me an understanding of this industry of long ago and why it needs to stay in the past. The staff is terrific and it's very easy to wind your way through it. I can't wait to go back and spend even more time there as it really gives you perspective in understanding the island and what it took to survive.

The museum is very exciting and educational. It tells the story of Nantucket with the election catch of that time. You learn a lot about the history of the island. The staff is very nice and helpful. The admission was worth it.

A comprehensive look at the 17th-19th century whaling industry and the cruelty inflicted on these poor animals

It was blowing a gale out of the North East, there aren't a lot of things to do on the island in the fall during a Nor'easter. The whaling museum was open and was really interesting. We opted for the guided tour and then further explored the individual exhibits after the tour. A great rainy day adventure.

Fascinating few hours - highly recommended! The presentations were all well done & very interesting, especially the whale hunt and the story of the sinking of the Essex.

We only had a short time to visit however had s very nice time. Would like to go back soon. The rooftop view was really enjoyable as were the exhibits.

The location and history of this museum are central to the purpose and existence of the Island of Nantucket. We loved our time here. But I was so disappointed that the this Museum did not exhibit the unique history of African Americans in the whaling industry, something Massachusetts and Nantucket should be proud of. While the majority of America engaged in terrorism against black Americans, Nantucket was one of the few areas in America that recognized the humanity and value of humans of all races. This was one town where black and white Americans could make a real living side by side, and where black men could be land owners and entrepreneurs. And for that reason, it became a destination of freed and escaped slaves to get out of the South. Absalom Boston was not just the captain of a whaling ship - one of the most dangerous industries of the time - he was also the founder of the African American Meeting House (which is located next to his home, now a historical landmark and museum), a leader in the abolitionist movement, and a leading force on integrating the segregated schools in Nantucket...in the 1800s (100 years before the rest of America became so enlightened). And yet, the Whaling Museum, run by Nantucket Historical Association doesn't tell any of this inspirational history beyond this single picture. This is very disappointing and a huge missed opportunity. But the museum has a great view from the top and that's why it will continue to get great reviews from its vast majority white visitors.

This whole town is very very beautiful, upscale and white. The only diversity is in the trash collectors and nannies. But they have BLM signs in the yards. This is a typical, liberal town.

We began our day at the Whaling Museum. The ticket purchase is not only for this facility but for many other locations within walking distance. If you limit your day to the museum this is a pricey ticket. If you take advantage of seeing the other locations, the ticket price is a value.

We spent several hours touring the museum. Excellent displays that provide much information about the history of the whaling influence of Nantucket. The building is fantastic with several hidden gems including the clock and the roof.

Very much enjoyed this time. They also have a very nice store associated with the museum.

Nice mix of exhibits, live storytelling and movies. The view from the roof gives a nice glance at the town. The wooden press to make the whale oil candles, was, to me the most impressive thing at the museum.

Not to be missed when visiting Nantucket. The museum is really a model of how history should be preserved and presented. Such care and thought has clearly been put into the selection of artefacts and the manner in which they are presented.
I was especially impressed by the short lecture explaining the whaling industry, and the use of blank portraits to represent important individuals for whom no painting exists.
And the staff are so friendly and helpful.

Must-see as part of a visit to Nantucket. Don’t miss the top of the building for the best views. Fascinating history of whaling and candle making with an impressive collection of artifacts.

This is not only a museum in its own right but it also has a lot of cultural and historic exhibits Beyond The Wailing sections.

We stopped by the Whaling Museaum well worth a visit. Excellent place to visit. We opted out of paying for a tour becuase my son was tired that day.

A quick and necessary stop to get the backstory to this amazing island. Hit the story tellers, spend an hour and a half and you can walk away being educated on the fascinating history of the town. A nice rooftop terrace with a view of the town as well.

Great little museum with interactive tours. Don't miss the whale skelton and talk really well presented. Various talks and tours make it easy to learn.

We enjoyed visiting the Whaling Museum throughout our day, as we took a break for lunch between the docent talk and movies being shown. We really were able to grasp the significance of the whaling industry on the island and the major role it played in Nantucket history. Loved exploring it at leisure!

We spent an afternoon learning the long history of the whaling business and its impact it had on Nantucket.

Definitely a must for visitors in Nantucket. Very nice and informative. Once you buy ticket you can come in and out all day.

Without visiting the Whaling Museum you will never truly understand this very special piece of history.

This is worth a visit as something unique to do in Nantucket. The whaling history was not my favorite part - I preferred the section about Nantucket’s history especially relating to abolitionists and women’s rights. Don’t miss the stairs to the roof for a nice view.

Nantucket was built on Whaling. It would not be the place it is today without the curious and interesting bygone industry of extracting whale oil from behemoths. Every person with any interest in history should take the time to explore this museum. It is right downtown and well worth the visit.

For such a small island, the history is fascinating! I was so involved in all the details they shared about whaling, AND the history of the Island itself. Be sure to listen to the narrative of the doomed ship "The essex" The speaker did a wonderful job of telling the stories!

After many years without visiting the museum, we went to see the Festival of Wreaths, and then the Festival of Trees for Christmas. Both were lovely, but we then also got to experience the museum --and it was really nice! You can definitely get a real sense of the past and the Nantucket spirit here. Very good for kids, and there's a great Museum shop, with things you don't see elsewhere.

Gives you an insight into early Nantucket and into the whaling connections of the island. $20 entrance fee.

This museum is diverse, compact and a little gem that will give you a great overview of historic Nantucket. Worth it.

Wonderful and educational! a gem! We went with our 3 young children and would have stayed a lot longer if they weren't about to crash!