Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

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

The Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum - Open May 26th - October 13th

• Monday - Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
• Saturdays: 10 am - 2 pm

158 Polpis Road, Nantucket, MA 02554 | 508-228-1885

Early Closures & Full Day Closures:

• June 30: Closing at 3:00pm
• July 4: Closed all day for Independence Day
• July 11: Closed all day for our Annual Night at the Museum Fundraiser

Need a Ride? You can catch the FREE Shipwreck Shuttle from Visitor Services at 25 Federal Street. The shuttle runs hourly from 9:45 AM to 2:45 PM, Monday through Friday, from June 23 to October 3.

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.

This summer, the Egan Maritime Institute’s Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum invites families and visitors to dive into interactive, hands-on activities that bring the island’s rich maritime and lifesaving history to life. Led by seasoned museum educators, these engaging programs are perfect for all ages. Additionally, our educators have designed a New Family Activity Booklet, which is available to all visitors. Designed to enhance your museum experience, the booklet includes games, puzzles, and scavenger hunts. It’s an excellent way for kids to engage with maritime history—and a fun souvenir to take home! The booklet is available daily!

Weekday Family Activities
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10 AM – 1 PM
Included with museum admission. Offered July & August.
Enjoy a variety of rotating themed activities each day, including:

• Maker Mondays: Crafts such as Morse code and knot bracelets, model lighthouses, rubber stamp quarter boards, and more.
• Navigation Tuesdays: Nautical-themed fun including scavenger hunts, decoding, semaphore flag communication, and fog fun.
• Seafarer Thursdays: Activities focused on water and sailing skills, including cork boat building, knot tying, sea shanties, life jacket evolution, and buoyancy.

Tony Tuesdays | 2 PM – 2:30 PM
Included with museum admission. Offered July, August & September.
Join Collections Manager Tony Dumitru for a weekly artifact “show-and-tell” geared toward teens and adults, though curious kids are always welcome. Tony shares fascinating stories behind unique pieces from the museum’s collection.

Hands-On Lifesaving Demonstrations: Breeches Buoy & Heaving Stick
Wednesdays & Fridays | 2 PM – 3:30 PM (on the lawn)
Free and open to all — museum admission not required. Offered July & August.
Drop by for interactive demonstrations of historic lifesaving methods where visitors can try their hand at using equipment to rescue our mascot, Marshall, with the breeches buoy. Enjoy coloring activities or relax with a picnic by the beautiful Folgers Marsh.

Weekend Pop-Up Fun
Some events are free; others require museum admission.
Several Saturdays feature special activities such as Storytime with Marshall on June 28 and September 13, with more Saturday pop-ups to come. Nanpuppets will perform on Friday, July 25, and Friday, August 22. Our Family Night at the Museum: Pirate Takeover will be held on Sunday, August 24.

Need a Ride? You can catch the FREE Shipwreck Shuttle from Visitor Services at 25 Federal Street. The shuttle runs hourly from 9:45 AM to 2:45 PM, Monday through Friday, from June 23 to October 3.

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

Remarkable events begin with unforgettable venues.

Remarkable events begin with unforgettable venues.

Call (508) 228-2505 or email egan@eganmaritime.org to inquire about hosting your memorable moment at Nantucket’s hidden gem.

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.