Nantucket Whaling Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1930 |
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| Location | Nantucket, Massachusetts |
| Type | Museum |
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The Nantucket Whaling Museum is a cool place to visit in Nantucket, Massachusetts. It's managed by the Nantucket Historical Association. This museum is the main spot among all the properties the Association takes care of.
The museum was updated in 2005. It now has more space for exhibits and programs. These new areas connect the old 1847 Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory with the 1971 Peter Foulger Museum. A huge 46-foot (14-meter) long sperm whale skeleton hangs from the ceiling in Gosnell Hall.
You can also explore the Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory. Here, you'll see a giant lever press. The museum explains how people refined whale oil and made spermaceti candles. You'll also learn about other industries that grew from Nantucket's whaling history. The museum has eleven galleries filled with art and items about Nantucket's past.
Contents
The Story of Whaling on Nantucket
Nantucket was once a very important place for whaling. Whaling ships would sail from the island to hunt whales. They collected whale oil, which was used for lamps and candles. This made Nantucket famous around the world.
The Hadwen & Barney Factory
In the mid-1800s, William Hadwen and Nathaniel Barney owned a whale-oil company. In 1848, they bought a factory building. This building was used to process whale oil and make candles. It even supplied oil for street lamps in big cities like London and Paris. Lighthouses along the Atlantic coast also used its oil.
After the whaling industry slowed down, the factory building was used for other things. It became a warehouse and later an antique shop.
How the Museum Started
In 1929, the Nantucket Historical Association bought the old factory. They wanted to create a museum for whaling items. A minister named Edward F. Sanderson had donated many whaling tools.
The Whaling Museum opened in 1930. It showed off Sanderson's collection. You could see harpoons, lances, and blubber hooks. There was even a whaleboat set up as if it were ready for action.
Growing the Museum
Over the years, the museum's collection grew. It focused on the whaling industry that made Nantucket famous. Other museums on the island told stories about everyday life.
In 1929, Admiral William Mayhew Folger left money to the Nantucket Historical Association. He wanted a new building to honor his ancestor, Peter Foulger. This new building was finished in 1971. It added more exhibit halls, a library, and office space.
Later, the museum was redesigned. It connected the 1847 Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory with the 1971 Peter Foulger Museum. This created a bigger space for exhibits and programs.
What You Can See Today
The museum has many exciting things to explore.
The Giant Whale Skeleton
One of the most amazing sights is the 46-foot (14-meter) long sperm whale skeleton. It hangs from the ceiling in Gosnell Hall. It helps you imagine how huge these creatures are.
Candle Making and Oil Refining
You can learn about the complicated process of refining whale oil. The museum shows how people made spermaceti candles. Spermaceti is a waxy substance from the whale's head. You'll see the massive lever press used in the factory.
Art and Artifacts
The museum has galleries with scrimshaw and decorative arts. Scrimshaw is art made by carving on whalebone or ivory. There are also changing exhibits about Nantucket life, art, and ideas.
See also
