Museum Opens with Expanded Exhibitions
By Olivia E. Jackson
Egan Maritime is delighted to announce that the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum will open for the 2019 season on Saturday, May 25, 2019 from 10am to 5pm. The Museum’s permanent exhibit will be on view, along with this year’s special exhibition, When All Hope Had Died: the Wreck of the British Queen.
New in 2019, permanent exhibits have been updated and expanded to include more of the Museum’s collection. The Museum’s reimagined spaces are designed to immerse patrons in Nantucket’s dramatic and luring shipwreck and lifesaving stories. A highlight is the dedicated exhibition to Madaket Millie. Her West End Command sign will be on display as well as some of her other personal items. The 1978 interview with neighbor and Madaket summer resident Fred Rogers will be available for viewing on the big screen in the Museum’s Gund Gallery.
The new exhibition, When All Hope Had Died: the Wreck of the British Queen, brings to life the 1851 voyage of the passenger ship British Queen, its unfortunate demise on the island’s treacherous shoals, and how Nantucketers heroically and strategically attempted to save the lives of all on board. When asked about the selection of the British Queen as the exhibition feature, Egan Maritime’s Executive Director, Pauline Proch, said “we wanted to share the hardship that these Irish souls endured and the innovative rescue efforts employed by Nantucketers, as well as underscore the important themes of immigration and salvation. We are excited to share this unforgettable story with our visitors this summer.”
Egan Maritime’s Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town. From May to October, a free shuttle ride will be offered to and from the Museum from Visitor’s Services. The Museum and the Museum Shop will open for the season on Saturday, May 25 and will close on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14, 2019. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, Noon to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 – 18, and free to children under 6. The Museum participates in the Blue Star program offering active members of the military and their families free admission. For more information call (508) 228 -2505.