Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

ATTN: The Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is closed for the 2025 season. BUT we are popping up for limited hours in November. The Museum will open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the following dates: November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22.

The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, an affiliate of Egan Maritime Institute, is dedicated to honoring Nantucket's history of shipwrecks, lifesaving, and rescuers.

Founded in 1968, it was the first museum in America dedicated to the lifesaving service. Every visit reveals powerful stories of shipwrecks, survival, and the innovation that shaped maritime history.

The museum is located at the edge of Folger’s Marsh, and the grounds are open year-round. The public is welcome to visit one of the most scenic sites on the Island for the view, enjoy a picnic, or watch the variety of birds interacting on the marsh.

While we may be "closed", we are popping up for limited hours in November.

The Museum will open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Friday, November 7th
• Saturday, November 8th
• Friday, November 14th
• Saturday, November 15th
• Friday, November 21st
• Saturday, November 22nd

Each visit includes a guided tour that showcases Nantucket’s rich maritime heritage, dramatic shipwreck stories, and the bravery of lifesaving crews. In addition, it is an excellent opportunity to see the Museum’s 2025 Featured Exhibit, "From Hard Times to Boom Times: Nantucket’s Waterfront," which explores the Island’s remarkable economic and cultural revival. Visitors will discover how Nantucket’s crumbling wharves and quiet streets were transformed into today’s charming, bustling harbor front. The exhibit traces the Island’s journey after the whaling era to its mid-20th-century renaissance led by locals and visionaries.

In addition, our team has also designed a new drop-on activity for our youngest visitors: Mini Mariner Mornings.

On Saturday mornings, November 8, 15, and 22 from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m., children are invited to explore maritime history through hands-on, age-appropriate activities. Mini Mariner Mornings are free for Island children and their guardians, offering a fun and engaging entry point to the Museum. These programs are designed for children seven and under, but all ages are welcome!

The season will conclude with the return of Sip, Ship, and Sea on Saturday, November 29, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. This festive evening features holiday shopping with exclusive gift shop discounts, local artisan vendors, and complimentary drinks and snacks. To ensure a family-friendly atmosphere, maritime-inspired children’s activities will also be available.

If you are looking to visit while we are closed. Our museum staff can try to accommodate any requests for private tours or visits. To arrange this, please call 508-228-1885 or email hnelson@eganmaritime.org. Private tours are by donation, and we require at least 3 days' advanced notice.

158 Polpis Road

Nantucket, MA 02554

508-228-1885

November Hours:

The Museum will open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Friday, November 7th
Saturday, November 8th
Friday, November 14th
Saturday, November 15th
Friday, November 21st
Saturday, November 22nd

Mini Marniner Mornings:

Saturday mornings, November 8, 15, and 22, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m

Admission Prices:

• • Adults (18+): $15
  • Seniors (65+): $9
  • College Students (with ID): $9
  • Youth (ages 6-17): $7
  • Children (5 & under): Free
  • Island Students: Free
  • Military (individual): Free

To inquire about group tours, camp groups, or school field trips, please contact Hayley Nelson at hnelson@eganmaritime.org.

Lighthouse Passport Stamp Now Available!

Egan Maritime Institute’s Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is now a proud participating site in the U.S. Lighthouse Society Passport Program—a national initiative encouraging visits to lighthouse-related sites across the U.S. and Canada.

Visitors can collect a unique stamp featuring our 1857 3rd order Fresnel lens from Great Point Light, which is on outdoor display as part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

Stamps are available at the front desk during operating hours from May through October. A $2 suggested donation per stamp helps support the Museum and its educational mission.

To learn more about the USLS Passport Program, visit uslhs.org/passports.

In the 19th Century, hundreds of ships passed by Nantucket Island each day, all navigating without the benefit of modern nautical technology. As a result, unpredictable storms, dense fog, and strong currents often caught even the most experienced sailors off guard. In addition, treacherous shoals and inclement weather led to over 750 shipwrecks in the island's waters. As a result, the area was often called "a graveyard of the Atlantic."

Founded in 1968 as the first museum in America devoted to honoring volunteer and professional lifesavers, The Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum preserves the memory of Islanders. They risked their lives to save mariners from the perils of the sea. Their inspiring stories come from men and women of the Massachusetts Humane Society, US Life-Saving Service, and the United States Coast Guard.

Although the collection greatly expanded over the years, founder Robert Caldwell, a US Coast Guard veteran of World War II, donated land and his private accumulation of lifesaving equipment to establish the museum.

"This museum could not be better" —TripAdvisor Review

The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum's permanent collection is due largely to the vision of Robert Caldwell, who returned home to Nantucket after serving aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter Spencer during World War II. Deeply affected by his personal experience and intrigued by stories of the Coast Guard and its roots, Caldwell began collecting objects related to Nantucket's history of shipwrecks, lifesaving, and rescuers. In 1967 he donated his collection and a piece of his property for what was to become the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum.

"A rare gem of a museum." —TripAdvisor Review

Make History With Us

Let your event become part of Nantucket’s story. With breathtaking views, flexible rental options, and a staff that’s here to help every step of the way, the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is the island’s hidden gem for private gatherings.

For Rental Inquires, contract: Hayley Nelson: HNelson@eganmaritime.org | 508-228-2505

Nantucket’s history is filled with stories of heroic lifesaving efforts by everyday citizens and those who went above and beyond the call of duty. Honoring that tradition, Egan Maritime Institute and the Nantucket Cottage Hospital recognize modern-day lifesavers annually on September 11, during the Lifesavers Recognition Day ceremony at the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum.