NANTUCKET MA: Come one, come all, to a family heritage tour of the Nantucket Historical Association’s Gosnold Support Center, 89 Bartlett Road, on Friday, March 18, 11 A.M. – NOON. Free, advanced reservations are required, 508-228-1894, ext. 0
This behind-the-scenes tour will begin with a presentation of the NHA’s online database of artifacts, followed by a guided tour of the facility affording guests the opportunity to view numerous “old Nantucket family” artifacts.
This special tour aims to unite islanders with their family history while highlighting some of the NHA’s large collection of artifacts that is conserved at the climate-controlled storage facility. A number of the pieces represent the many definitive aspects of Nantucket's history, including whaling, land and sea transportation, Quaker religion, fine and decorative arts, farming, commerce, and architecture. As an added value, visitors will be allowed to search the NHA database to find family artifacts that may then be viewed in person.
The collections at the Gosnold Center encompass all media, including textiles, glass, wood, metals, works on paper, paintings, and whale ivory. Some of the gems on the tour will include examples from the eight-hundred-piece scrimshaw collection—such as engraved whalebone busks, canes, pie crimpers, and letter boxes; South Seas artifacts; whaling implements; Chinese porcelain tea sets and items in the highly decorated famille rose–style porcelain.
This special family heritage tour will last for one hour and will provide a wonderful glimpse into the private world of the physical objects from some of Nantucket’s oldest families. For more information about the tour, please call 508-228-1894, ext. 0
