Most reviewed Historic Sites in Nantucket


  1. 4.5 Wauwinet (85 reviews)
    - Wonderful, peaceful place to relax & chill-out
    Historic Sites
    Wauwinet image
    Hotel sitting area has a nice fireplace. They offer complementary wine and cheese daily at 4 pm, though we missed out on this. Staff members are extremely friendly, professional, attentive and helpful. They gave us an umbrella when we departed as it was raining out. They have free shuttles to ferry, and they have hourly shuttles into town so you can walk around and shop if you want. There are lots of cute bunnies hopping around this relatively quiet and elegant property. Recommend accommodations at cottage 408. Not all cottage rooms have private yards. See more..
  2. 4.0 Oldest House (Jethro Coffin House) and Kitchen Garden (76 reviews)
    - Well preserved living history and grounds
    Temporarily closed - Closed until May 27, 2023 Historic Sites • Gardens
    Oldest House (Jethro Coffin House) and Kitchen Garden image
    The Oldest House on Sunset Hill, also known as the Jethro Coffin House, was built in 1686 and is believed to be the oldest residence on Nantucket still on its original site. The island’s English population at the time totaled several hundred, and the native Wampanoag outnumbered them by at least three to one. Built as a wedding gift for Jethro Coffin (1663–1727) and Mary Gardner (1670–1767), the house represents the unity of two of the island’s oldest families. Jethro was the grandson of one of the island’s original proprietors, Tristram Coffin, and Mary was the daughter of John Gardner, one of the leaders of the so-called Half-Share Revolt, in which the island’s tradesmen rallied against the wealthier full-share proprietors. Although the relationship between Gardner and Coffin was never amicable, the marriage of Mary and Jethro helped unite the families and soothe old wounds. Built on Gardner land using Coffin lumber, the house is a physical manifestation of this unity. See more..
  3. 4.5 Greater Light (40 reviews)
    - Quirky and Quaint
    Temporarily closed - Closed until May 27, 2023 Historic Sites
    Greater Light image
    Greater Light, located at 8 Howard Street, was the summer home and studio of Gertrude and Hanna Monaghan, two independent, highly educated, unmarried Quaker sisters from Philadelphia. Gertrude (1887–1962), a professional artist, and Hanna (1889–1972), an actress and author, first came to the island in 1923, renting a small studio near the harbor. Originally built around 1790 as a livestock barn, the sisters discovered Greater Light in 1929 when they followed a herd of cattle up Main Street. Enthralled, they purchased the dilapidated building and set about transforming it into their own summer oasis, adorning it with cast-off architectural elements, decorative objects, and eclectic furniture. Their personal aesthetic blended art and whimsy with an appreciation of unique handcrafted works—woven, carved, forged, or painted—that coalesced in an environment that is a monument to their spirit. See more..
  4. 4.5 Hadwen House (22 reviews)
    - A View of Time Before
    Temporarily closed - Closed until May 26, 2023 Historic Sites
    Hadwen House image
    The Hadwen House is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1846 by whaling merchant and silver retailer William Hadwen at the peak of Nantucket’s prosperity as the whaling capital of the world. The home is one of the most elaborate examples of Greek revival architecture on the island and the only publicly accessible mansion of its age in the area. Today, this Historic Home features exhibitions on various topics such as Decorative Arts, Suffrage and Slavery, Architecture, and more! See more..