Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum

In the 19th Century, hundreds of ships passed by Nantucket Island each day, all navigating without the benefit of modern nautical technology. Fog, storms, and treacherous shoals led to over 750 shipwrecks in the waters surrounding Nantucket. The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum preserves the memory of those Islanders who risked their lives to save shipwrecked mariners. These men served in organizations such as the Massachusetts Humane Society, U.S. Life-Saving Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town, and is easily reached by car, The WAVE, or our free Shipwreck Shuttle pick up at the Visitors Service on Federal Street from June on, or by bike on the Polpis Road Bike Path.