Nantucket’s historic downtown offers an introduction to the area’s architectural history. The island also has extensive trails for a range of activities, protected open spaces, and landscapes where you can watch birds. You can tailor your trip to culture, nature, or a mix of both.
Architectural history in the downtown area
The historic downtown was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Its buildings range from early lean-to houses to Federal- and Greek Revival-style mansions and later Victorian-style homes. Main Street also tells this story: its commercial section was rebuilt in the Greek Revival style after the Great Fire of 1846.
At the lower end of Main Street, near the harbor, stands the Pacific Club, a brick building dating from before the American Revolution. At the upper end, the Pacific National Bank was built around 1818. From its roof, Maria Mitchell discovered a comet on October 1, 1847. The story of 7 Milk Street takes a different turn: since 1945, the Coffin-Hinchman House has been home to the Natural Science Museum.
The Historic Mitchell House is also connected with Maria Mitchell. It became a museum in 1903 to preserve her memory. Opening hours vary by season, so check them before your visit. If you’d prefer to explore the architecture with a guide, the Nantucket Preservation Trust offers architectural history walking tours. For self-guided walking tours, the Town of Nantucket provides an app with mapped routes and location-specific information. The guided tour and the app offer different ways to explore the downtown area; check the Trust’s current offerings in advance.
Trails, coast, and landscape
More than 35 miles of side paths across the island are available for cycling, running, and walking. The Coast to Coast Trail is different: it is just over 24 miles long and takes hikers from east to west across the island, through a variety of habitats.
For a shorter walk, the grounds of the Nantucket Field Station and Folger’s Marsh have about a mile of trails. At The Creeks, the access path crosses a narrow beach to a wider stretch of sand and continues into a salt marsh with numerous small and large tidal creeks. There, you can spot gulls, ducks, great egrets, and herons.
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Middle Moors properties together comprise more than 3,220 acres of protected open space. The Field Station grounds offer another opportunity to observe nature: in the marsh, visitors are likely to see herons, great egrets, and other wading birds; at the freshwater pond, songbirds; and along the coast, seabirds. The Maria Mitchell Association’s aquarium at Nantucket Harbor displays local Nantucket species; exhibits may change.
Getting to Nantucket
Nantucket is accessible by air via Nantucket Memorial Airport. Ferries also run year-round from Hyannis with the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line. Check current ferry schedules before traveling. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, the different focuses of your trip—local history, trails, or nature watching—can help you choose where to stay.
To the main travel overview: Nantucket.
