The tour map, offered by the Nantucket Historical Association, is available at the Whaling Museum. The next day, we did the Melville Walking Tour, a DIY guide to three other historic sites. Owen Chase, a survivor of The Essex tragedy, lived in this house, haunted by his memories. Later, we dined at the reimagined Tap Room ( 50, This one-time popular eatery/tavern on the island has reopened with a twinkly-light, heated patio and modern American cuisine. We checked out the newest accommodations, a quartet of suites in the back of the mansion, which opened early summer and feature spacious sitting areas, modern baths, classic furnishings, original oil paintings depicting Nantucket’s whaling days, and cool details, like Crosley Bermuda record players and a collection of albums. It has stood the test of time, with beautiful historic details and updated rooms. (At the time, it was called the Ocean House.) The three-story, brick mansion was built in 1845 by Jared Coffin, a wealthy and prominent shipbuilder. Herman Melville stayed at the historic Jared Coffin House on his visit to the island.Īfter touring the museum, we checked into the Jared Coffin House ( 80, rooms start at $155), the perfect choice for our Essex-focused island tour, as Melville stayed here on his visit. A similar circa 1815 Flintlock pistol is on display, as well as a model of the Essex, a portrait of First Mate Owen Coffin, and the last surviving artifact from the Essex, a small piece of twine made by Benjamin Lawrence, the ship’s boat steerer. Owen Coffin, Pollard’s teenage nephew, lost and was shot with a pistol, and eaten by his desperate shipmates. At one point, late in the ordeal, the remaining survivors “drew straws,” to see who would be sacrificed. Faced with starvation, the men were forced into cannibalism. The permanent display provides details of the disaster, and a timeline that reveals perilous decision-making. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the sinking of the Essex, and we thought the perfect time to visit the “Tragedy of the Essex” exhibit at the Whaling Museum ( 50, open 8 a.m.-6 p.m., reserve timed tickets online, private visits also available adults $20, ages 6-17 $15, students and seniors $18).
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