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Edgartown Harbor, Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard, a top New England yacht charter destination, is a 100 square mile island off the southern coast of Cape Cod, and is often known simply as "the Vineyard".

This idyllic summer haven was once an important commercial center, with whaling and fishing as the main occupations, in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

In the late 1800s the island, with its harbors, beaches, and scenic attractions, developed into a summer resort. It is divided into the towns of Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury. Much of the island's interior is set aside as a state forest.

Gay Head Cliffs, Martha's Vineyard

Wealthy Boston sea captains and traders formerly created estates on Martha’s Vineyard and today the Vineyard has become one of the country’s most prominent summer havens, attracting politicians, musicians, artists and actors. This makes people think of the island as glitzy, which is not the case. It is, rather, intentionally rustic with T-shirts and flip flops more the norm. The real charm of the island lies not as a tourist recreation destination but rather as an escape from daily concerns.

The Vineyard is a well known African American resort stemming from a history of racial harmony on the island when black families started vacationing there a century ago. Oak Bluffs is the center of the Vineyard’s black culture.

Black Dog Tavern, Vineyard Haven

Attractions

The African-American Heritage Trail: African-American people have been part of Martha's Vineyard history since before the American Revolution and their experience has embraced all aspects of island life. As early as 1703, estates included enslaved persons and there is evidence of an African-American history from that time until the present day. Records show their work as seamen, preachers, and sea captains. Remnants of buildings include churches, homes and social clubs. Methodism is believed to have been brought to the Island by John Saunders and his wife, formerly enslaved people who purchased their freedom in Virginia and traveled to Holmes Hole in 1787.

Seamen's Bethel Museum, 15 Beach Street, Vineyard Haven, (508) 693-9317. For over a century, local and traveling sailors have visited this bethel. Today, the building serves as a museum for maritime artifacts, including early photographs of Vineyard Haven.

West Chop Lighthouse, Western End Of Main Street, Vineyard Haven.

William Street Historic District, Vineyard Haven: In 1883, a devastating fire destroyed 60 buildings, much of the town's waterfront era. However, the houses on this street were remarkably spared. Today, many of the grand homes built by sea captains are part of the town's historic district.

The Richard G. Luce house at the corner of William and Spring Streets belonged to a former whaling captain who never lost a crew member or ship during three decades at sea.

Flying Horses Carousel, Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, (508) 693-9481: This National Historic Landmark, managed by the Martha's Vineyard Historic Trust, is distinguished as the oldest operating platform carousel in the country. It was constructed in 1876 in New York and transported to Oak Bluffs in 1884. Today, visitors can still ride one of the 20 wooden horses with glass eyes and real horse hair and grab for the brass ring.

East Chop Lighthouse, Oak Bluffs: Around 1850, Captain Silas Daggett and a group of supporters financed and erected this privately owned beacon overlooking Nantucket Sound to relay signals from the Island, neighboring Nantucket and the mainland.

In 1875, the United States government purchased the lighthouse and land for $6000 and replaced the original structure with the current cast-iron beacon. For years, the reddish-brown landmark was commonly called the "Chocolate Lighthouse." However in 1988, it was painted white. Its green light distinguishes it from the red light at West Chop Lighthouse.

Edgartown Lighthouse

Edgartown Lighthouse, End of North Water Street, Edgartown: The town's first lighthouse was erected in 1828 on a small man-made island in the harbor, accessible only by boat. Later, funds were allocated for a foot bridge to the beacon. Because whalers often brought their wives and girlfriends here before departing on a long voyage, the structure was often called the Bridge of Sighs.

In 1938, a new light was rafted from Ipswich to replace the original structure. Although it was erected on the same site, shifting sands over the years have connected the former island to the mainland.

Pagoda Tree, South Water Street, Edgartown: During the mid 19th century, Captain Thomas Milton brought a Pagoda seedling in a flowerpot back from China. Today, this lovely tree is among the oldest and largest of its kind in America.

Menemsha Fishing Village, North Street, Menemsha: Steven Spielberg immortalized this classic fishing village in his unforgettable movie, "Jaws."

Aquinnah Cliffs, State Road, Aquinnah: In 1602, Explorer Bartholomew Gosnold named this landmark overlooking Noman's and the Elizabeth Islands the "Dover Cliffs."

Formed during the ice age, the colorful clay peaks stand about 150-feet high. Early islanders made paint and bricks from the rich clay.In an effort to protect them from erosion, the cliffs are now a national landmark.

Other attractions include two public golf courses, about 18 walking trails, canoeing and kayaking, aerial tours and sunset horseback riding on the beach.

For more information, visit the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.