Martha's Vineyard Museum

06/19/2026

On August 13, 1889, nearly a quarter-century after the events later celebrated as Juneteenth, William A. Martin wrote a letter from Norfolk, VA to Samuel Osborn Jr. in Edgartown. Osborn was the owner of the whaling brig Eunice H. Adams; Martin was the captain. Osborn was white, Martin was Black. The economics of the whaling business made them partners in an uncertain enterprise, and—in this letter and others—Martin wrote to Osborn as such: not as servant to master, or employee to employer, but as man to man.

The events of Juneteenth, like Martin’s letters to Osborn, did not transform the world overnight. They were steps along the long, stony road toward a society built on the idea that “all men are created equal.” On this Juneteenth, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum celebrates the steps already taken down that road, mindful that many more still lay ahead.

06/18/2026

The room was full. The stories were powerful. And the legacy continues. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening celebrating 70 years of The Cottagers and the generations of Black women whose leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to community have helped shape Martha's Vineyard.

📸 by Dena Porter For The MV Times

06/18/2026

It's June 1776.

Would you declare independence—or remain loyal to Britain?

The answer wasn't as obvious as it may seem today.

Join leading historians Patrick Spero and Mary Beth Norton as they take opposing sides in a lively Patriot vs. Loyalist debate, bringing to life the arguments, fears, and difficult choices that divided the American colonies on the eve of Revolution.

Hear both sides. Then decide.

📅 Monday, June 22 at 5pm
🎟 Register today → mvmuseum.org/event/revolution-in-words/

06/17/2026

One of the perks of arriving early: moments like this. A stunning sunrise over Vineyard Haven, captured from the Museum porch this morning.

📸 by John Oliver

06/16/2026

Most of us are taught to look at art.

This workshop asks something different: What happens when you respond to it?

Through movement, storytelling, creative writing, and guided reflection, you'll experience "Tom Maley: Dancing in the Field" in an entirely new way—exploring not what the artwork means, but what it awakens in you.

Join Mandy Muenzer and Sandra Maley Caruso for an immersive Art Alive workshop inspired by the life and work of one of Martha's Vineyard's most beloved artists.

📅 June 29 at 5pm
🎟 Advance registration required → mvmuseum.org/event/tom-maley-art-alive-workshop/

Come curious. Leave inspired.
📸 by Ray Ewing

06/15/2026

Nothing brightens a day quite like fan mail.

After a recent field trip, a visiting class surprised our Education Manager, Becky, with this incredible thank-you note.

This year alone, Becky has welcomed more than 2,700 students to the Museum, helping bring Island history, culture, and science to life through field trips and educational programs.

To the students, teachers, and schools who spent time with us this year—thank you for being curious, engaged, and eager to learn.

06/15/2026

Christopher Shaw Myers, an author who spent most of his life working in tech, has written a book about his uncle, Robert Shaw, who played the salt encrusted shark hunter in the 1975 summer blockbuster Jaws.

06/15/2026

Spend the weekend diving deeper into the stories, people, and legacy behind Jaws.

Join us June 20–21 for a full lineup of talks, screenings, special guests, and fan experiences celebrating 51 years of the film that changed Martha’s Vineyard—and Hollywood—forever.

Hear from Jeffrey Kramer, go behind the scenes with Jaws historians and superfans, explore the legacy of Robert Shaw, attend a live episode of popular podcast, 'Let’s Talk Jaws', watch "The Shark Is Still Working", dive deep into the film’s enduring impact, and cap it all off aboard the Ultimate Jaws Fan Experience Sunset Cruise.

Whether you can quote every line of the USS Indianapolis speech or you're simply fascinated by the story behind the movie, there's something for every level of Jaws fan.

🎟 Programs may be purchased individually or combined with Museum admission. Advance registration is recommended → mvmuseum.org/special-events/amity-homecoming-weekend/

📸 by Ray Ewing

Amity Homecoming Weekend returns to Martha’s Vineyard Museum June 19 - 21, 2026! Celebrate the enduring legacy of Jaws on Martha’s Vineyard. Programs include film screenings, talks, community gatherings, and the Ultimate Jaws Fan Sunset Cruise. Museum admission tickets provide access to the Jaws...

06/11/2026

Artist. Entrepreneur. Storyteller. Fifth-generation Vineyarder.

This Juneteenth, join Gatsby Coram, founder of Walker Noble Studios, for a conversation about heritage, creativity, business, and the enduring influence of Martha’s Vineyard on his work.

Through stories of family, identity, art, and entrepreneurship, Gatsby will explore how creative vision and cultural legacy can shape meaningful careers—and lasting impact.

📅 June 19 at 5pm
🍷 Reception to follow

Register now → mvmuseum.org/event/the-vineyard-mindset/

06/08/2026

Some stories belong in books. Others are best told in the shade of a historic garden.

Tales of Edgartown returns July 6, inviting you to spend Monday afternoons at the Cooke House & Legacy Gardens exploring the people, places, and moments that shaped Edgartown and Martha's Vineyard.

This year's series travels from Revolutionary-era households and whaling ports to lighthouse keepers, Chappaquiddick's long history of independence, waterfront memories, historic preservation, and Wampanoag stewardship of ancestral lands. Along the way, you'll hear from some of the Island's most knowledgeable historians, storytellers, and community voices.

Join us Mondays from 4–5pm for history, conversation, and light refreshments in one of Edgartown's most beautiful historic settings.

Season passes and individual tickets are now available → mvmuseum.org/special-events/tales-of-edgartown/

📸 by Ray Ewing