Nantucket - Massachusetts - Culture

Nantucket in the Atlantic Ocean , about 30 miles (48 km) south of Cape Cod , Massachusetts , U.S., across Nantucket Sound, is separated from Martha's Vineyard by the Muskeget Channel. With Tucker Nuck and Muskeget islands to the west, it forms Nantucket County. Nantucket is nearly 15 miles long and 3-6 miles (5-10 km) wide. It is of glacial origin and has wide, sandy beaches, a commodious harbour, and a moderate climate.

Nantucket is a unique and beautiful island, with miles and miles of sandy beaches, deeply wooded moors, colourful cranberry bogs, and an entire ocean beckoning from all sides. It is also a quaint island, where worn cobblestone streets, lined with the historic residences of whaling captains.

Nantucket's sea captains' houses and other colonial buildings, lighthouses, bicycle trails, museums, art galleries, and yachting facilities are an attraction. Resort villages include Siasconset, Madaket, Wauwinet, and Polpis. Annual celebrations include the spring Daffodil Festival and the Cranberry Harvest Weekend, in which vast quantities of berries are collected from cranberry bogs for processing. Nantucket is connected to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard by ferries and by air services from several cities.

The Island's unique environment of houses sheathed in grey shingles and occasional "foreign" looking names and customs causes a few moments of perplexity that also adds to the Island's charm.

Nantucket has no traffic lights, neon signs, or fast food franchises. It seems that the year-round residents prefer it that way.

The Island is affectionately known as the Grey Lady. The abundance of fog plus the consistent use of cedar shingles (weathered grey) contributes to the unofficial nickname for Nantucket.

Subjected to the open sea and its swirling winds and salted spray, the vegetation of Nantucket does not get much of a chance to grow straight and tall. Scrub oak is naturally curly and squat and as these characteristics are ideal for the environment, it flourishes when all others struggle. Cranberries, blueberries, bayberries love growing in sandy soil.

A vibrant and rich community of performing artists thrives in the cultural milieu of Nantucket in summer. The Island's beauty also lured a community of visual artists. Together, all of these creative souls wove a rich tapestry of cultural life. Nantucket is now home to at least four theatre companies, several musical arts societies, a dance festival, and a film festival. Many excellent professional and amateur musicians perform both in casual settings and in grand formal style. The majestic interior of Nantucket’s churches double as matchless locations for intimate recitals while the professional theatre provides an apt setting for more elaborate musical spectacles.

Nantucket's annual dance festival creates an international atmosphere as it applauds the art of movement. This spectacular mid-summer dance celebration, organized by local Island dancers, attracts some of the world's finest performers. The annual film festival, another popular arts celebration, takes place during the lovely Nantucket spring. Screenwriters, directors, and actors from this medium come together for a discussion of craft, an exchange of ideas, and the simple pleasure of viewing great films.

The opening of scallop season is an important event for many islanders and is only one-way islanders make a living in the off-season. Nantucket is one of the premier surf fishing spots on the eastern seaboard. The blue water offshore angling is outstanding, and while many people aren't aware of it, there's terrific freshwater fishing done in the ponds.
There is fishing to satisfy almost any angler on Nantucket. The diversity and quantity of species found here are unparalleled.

The beaches best known in fishing circles are Great Point and Smith's Point.
The Jetties Beach, Brant Point, Children's’ Beach and Dionis are easily accessible beaches equipped with rest rooms, free parking, food, handicapped accessible and lifeguard facilities.

The Maria Mitchell Association is dedicated to encouraging women in science and serving as a science resource for Nantucket Island.

The places of interest include Nantucket's only salt water Aquarium located on Nantucket harbour; the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum; the Science Library ; the Maria Mitchell Birthplace House ; the research Observatory ; and the public Loines Observatory . Nantucket Island provides exceptional birding throughout the year.

The Nantucket Life-Saving Museum is dedicated to the dedicated to the preservation of a period of maritime history.  It tells of man's efforts against the relentless sea pitted against its angry demands and is testimony to those early Nantucketers who saved hundreds of lives in and near the island's treacherous shores and shoals.