The Don Van Dyke Gallery in Nantucket is a dream shopping spot for art lovers. It features magnificent pieces from upcoming and renowned fine art and contemporary abstract artists. This includes creations by talented artist members of the Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN).

Thanks to its extensive collection of astonishing art, you are guaranteed to find something worthwhile to decorate your space. If you want to have tailor-made art, the gallery’s talented artists are on standby. They will adhere to your requirements and create artwork that meets your expectations.

The Gallery is named after its founder, Don Van Dyke. He has a good eye for art and is also a great artist. According to him, painting is an excellent escape from our tumultuous times. He immensely enjoys translating what is on his mind to canvas. He also believes artistry runs in his blood, as his father was an artist.

Don began his artistry journey in high school while working at a Halloween painting contest. However, he didn’t take the skill seriously until he retired from his corporate career and moved to Nantucket. While on the island, he enrolled in a learn-to-oil-paint class at AAN. “It quickly became an obsession,” he says, and has not stopped ever since. He went on to serve on AAN’s committees and eventually became the Association’s president.

Don’s experience in the art world has not only catapulted his career but also helped him mentor so many other artists. To view or purchase his work alongside other one-of-a-kind artworks, visit the Don Van Dyke Gallery. They accept several payment options for convenience, including cash, check, debit, and credit cards.

• Location: 15 Broad St, Nantucket, MA 02554, US
• Contact: 508-228-1894
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
• Website: nha.org

Nantucket Historical Association has been a caretaker of various properties and collections of historic interest and significance since its founding in 1894. The organization presently owns and maintains 18 properties comprising museums, galleries, and libraries that house collectibles, personal and institutional manuscripts, art, treasures, antiques, transcriptions, magazines, and books, among other items.

NHA is run by a sizeable team comprised of full-time and volunteer staff. A 27-member Board makes decisions of Trustees headed by Annabelle Fowlkes, the Board President, flanked by two Vice Presidents, Susan Blount, and Carla McDonald.

The NHA runs a donor program where History enthusiasts contribute to the organization’s operations. Donors interested in supporting the organization may do so by gifting collectibles of historical value to the island or donating to the organization’s trio of funds: the NHA Annual Fund, Summer Exhibition Fund, and Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum Fund.

In addition to the donor program, the organization generates revenue through ticket sales, membership subscriptions, and renting out its facilities to private functions.

Sites and Features

Facilities owned by the institution include the Hawden House, Old Mill, Oldest House, Greater Light, Old Jail, Fire Hose Cart House, Friends Meeting House, Tristram Coffin Homestead, Thomas Macy Warehouse, Eleanor Ham Pony Field, Folger-Franklin Memorial, 1800 House, Mill Hill, Research Library, and the Discovery Center. Many historical sites in the NHA portfolio were built as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries.

NHA’s signature property is the island-famous Whaling Museum in the Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle factory along 13 Broad Street. The factory building was acquired by the institution in 1929 following the closure of the factory after the collapse of the Nantucket whaling industry. NHA revamped the structure in 2005 to preserve and add more space to the facility.

The Whaling Museum has a diverse exhibition featuring a 46-foot skeleton of a sperm whale, relics, artifacts, and pieces of art that span four centuries. Sea-related items are especially prominent in the museum. Thus, if you’re a marine and maritime lover, you’ll enjoy the assortment of ship and whale figurines, navigation equipment, maps, weapons, whale oil, and well-preserved skeletons displayed at the museum.

In the two-story Oil and Candle factory building, you’ll also find a digital illustration of typical operations at the facility during the factory’s hay days. A Museum Shop with marine, maritime and locomotive figurines, historical books, art, photos, maps, gifts, home goods, Nantucket Lightship Basket merchandise, and NHA branded merchandise is also open to customers. Alternatively, customers can access and purchase the goods online by visiting the NHA’s website.

NHA rents the Whaling Museum main hall for private functions such as wedding receptions, cocktail parties, and town hall meetings. Customers can get detailed information about the rental service and book the space by contacting the NHA Events Rental Manager.

The upper floor of the factory building features a rentable Tucker’s Roofwalk, an open space with captivating views of the Nantucket Harbor.

Customers desiring to host their events in a garden can rent the Hawden House, a property with a picturesque 900ft garden with seating and standing capacities of 60 and 130, respectively.

Programs, Bookings & Memberships

The museums and NHA Museum Shop are open daily between 10 am and 5 pm. Other facilities are open daily from 11 am to 4 pm. Schedules may vary depending on season, weather, or private function bookings. To get up-to-speed with the schedules and plan your visit accordingly, NHA advises visiting its web and social platforms and subscribing to its mailing list.

Tours offered by NHA aren’t limited to sites owned by the institution. Rather, people interested in learning about Nantucket’s past and present can attend NHA’s in-person tours or watch the institution’s Virtual Walking Tours on the NHA website and YouTube Channel.

The NHA offers tickets for purchase on its website along with issuance rules. Island residents under 6 get tickets to the Whaling Museum at no cost, while tickets for children between 6 and 17 years cost $5 per child. Tickets for students and senior citizens go for $20 each, and individual adult tickets are priced at $25.

Nantucket Historical Association also offers a comprehensive Research program at its Research Library that is open on weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm. The Research Library is only accessible to readers that have scheduled appointments via email prior to their visit. Research tools include genealogical records, the Nantucket cemeteries database, Maps, books, and more. The institution provides research assistance at the library.

NHA conducts multiple community and family programs, including decorative arts, lectures, and symposiums as part of its educational program. The programs entail stories, discussions, and transcriptions. Many of these are accessible to general audiences, but some are a preserve of NHA Membership subscribers.

In addition to invitations to Member-only events, the NHA Membership program features other benefits, including unlimited admissions, free walking tours, a subscription to NHA’s Historic Nantucket magazine, and discounts on NHA’s products and services. Membership rates are $55 for individuals, $85 for Nantucket families, and $125 for visiting families. Donor membership rates range between $250 for Supporters and $10,000 for 1894 Founders Society Ambassadors. All subscriptions are tax-deductible. NHA provides detailed pricing along with a seamless subscription interface on its website.

The word Valentine makes many think of February 14, the day people celebrate love and friendship. You will, therefore, be forgiven for thinking that the Sailor’s Valentine has something to do with Valentine’s Day. A Sailors’ Valentine refers to a sentimental treasure that a sailor gave to their loved one in the past upon their return from long sea travels.

The treasure features a hinged wooden box made from Spanish cedar (cerdrella), measuring 8-15 inches wide. The box opens like a book exposing intricate decorative designs such as hearts, flowers, and anchors. The motifs were made using shells of different colors, shapes, and sizes glued onto a surface. Some included photographs, names, initials, or a special message such as ‘Never lose hope,’ ‘My dear mum,’ ‘I’ll never forget you,’ ‘With Love,’ ‘Do not forget me,’ et cetera. A glass pane protects the creation.

The Sailor’s Valentine was a common gift between the 1830s and 1890s. Due to its name, many believe the sailors made the souvenirs with shells they obtained from the sea. However, historians believe that women in Barbados were the brains behind them. They used local shells and those imported from Indonesia to design them.

According to John Fondas, a renowned historian and author, the women would mainly sell the sailor’s Valentines to the New Curiosity Shop, a famous souvenir shop in Bridgetown, Barbados, where sailors would buy them. He backs his theory with the fact that a sailor’s Valentine under repair had pieces of a Barbados newspaper.

Today, most of these sailors’ valentines are in Nantucket, where you may purchase them from craft shops and artifact collectors. Their beauty and uniqueness have inspired their comeback, with many artists creating newer designs. You may find these alongside the old ones.

Nantucket is simply beautiful. It boasts magnificent beaches, incredible landscapes, adorable flora and fauna, historical buildings, and remarkable streets. Naturally, you would want to take out your camera and capture its beauty. While you are allowed to take pictures, videos, and films on the island, there are several restrictions and rules governing the use of your camera.

Taking pictures and videos for private purposes is permissible and free of charge. You may snap photos or take videos of the surroundings, yourself, your family, and your friends as you frolic around the island and have the time of your lives. You can also take pictures or films at private social events such as weddings.

Workers under a non-profit organization based in Nantucket, newspaper, news service, radio, or television broadcasting station are also exempt from filming restrictions.

However, the exemptions only apply if the photographed or filmed activities do not cause any adverse impacts on adjacent properties or obstruct public access. Also, they should be within the designated time frame, usually between 7 am and 10 pm. Otherwise, you will need to obtain a permit beforehand.

You will also require a permit to use your photographs, videos, or films for commercial or educational purposes.

Rules on Commercial Filming on Nantucket

Nantucket is quite popular with filmmakers and photography companies. Some of the most popular productions filmed on the island include Moby Dick, One Crazy Summer, Wings, The Russians are Coming, This Old House, and Whispers in the Dark, to mention a few.

Nantucket’s authorities fully support video and photography companies using the island for such projects as it helps place Nantucket on the map and boosts its economy. Nevertheless, various regulations are implemented to ensure these projects cause the least possible disruption to the community. There are also fees charged that go towards developing and maintaining the island.

The fees usually depend on the type and size of the project, duration, required locations, and the likely impact on vehicle traffic, pedestrian traffic, and public property.

Students, non-profit organizations, and production companies must apply 60 days before the expected film date to obtain a permit. For small film shoots and student films, you may make an application 30 days before D-day.

Even though students and non-profits (based off the island) may not be charged any fee, applying is mandatory. Locally based non-profits do not need a permit.

The stipulated time frames allow the island’s authorities to analyze applications and make adequate arrangements, including providing parking privileges and police detail where necessary.

Permit Application Process

Nantucket authorities present you with three crucial documents when making an application. The first is the code of conduct film permit. It outlines the rules and regulations that must be followed before, during, and after filming on the island. You should make copies of this document for your team to ensure everyone is on board.

The second document is the Town of Nantucket Film Policy. It outlines the island’s film production policy and the process and requirements for application.

The last document is the Town of Nantucket Film Fees. It highlights how much you need to pay to obtain a permit, including application fees, daily license fees, commercial filming on public properties fees, not-for-profit filming on public property fees, et cetera.

Once you review the provided documents, ascertaining that you meet all the requirements, you may fill out a Filming Permit Application Form. You will need to provide details such as the type of equipment you will use, the number of cast and crew, filming locations, filming duration, and requests for still photography or b-roll shooting.

Upon receiving your application, the appropriate town staff will evaluate it to determine any concerns or special requirements. They will then approve it and list all required insurance and ancillary permits.

Besides the permit fees, you may be required to pay additional fees to use various properties and police services and compensate individual businesses whose business activities may be disrupted during filming.

• Location: 33 Main St, Nantucket, MA 02554, US
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest
• Website: hillhousehome.com

Hill House Home features a wide selection of clothing, accessories, and home goods. Their clothing inventory comprises dresses, swimwear, robes, pajamas, tops, matching sets, and bottoms. The shop also stocks children’s wear and nursery essentials for both sexes. This includes mother-daughter and mother-son matchy-matchy outfits.

The accessories section includes shoes, hair accessories, jewelry, and gifts. There are beddings, bed sheets, bath & robes, tabletops, and monograms for home goods.

The store’s overall theme and design heavily borrow from the Island’s charms. It combines Nantucket elements, including wicker, gingham, and shades of blue and red, to create a remarkable space. The store’s atmosphere is welcoming, with friendly, attentive, and helpful staff. They are committed to creating a wonderful and fruitful shopping experience.

Nell Diamond founded Hill House Home in Rock Center, New York. She recently opened Hill House’s Nantucket branch to expand its customer base. Since childhood, she has always spent her summers in Nantucket. Her paternal grandfather was the Principal of Nantucket high school and lives on the Island with most of his family. Nell often visits the Island to spend time with him, her uncles, aunts, and cousins. Due to her familiarity with the island and time there, opening a store locally was long overdue.

The brand is widely known for its quality products and signature clothing – the nap dress. It is a multipurpose dress that is breathable enough to sleep in, comfortable for chilling at home, and stylish enough to step out. The dress gained much popularity during the covid pandemic. With many people working from home, it was the perfect solution for those needing a dress you can wear at home yet still zoom-appropriate. Customers praise it for being loose-fitting, flowy, and feminine.

However, contrary to popular opinion, the dress wasn’t made for the pandemic. According to Nell Diamond, it had been on the market for two years before the pandemic hit and had already amassed its fair share of fans. She created it to help women creatively express themselves while maintaining a busy lifestyle.

Her motivation stemmed from her personal life. Being a mom, wife, and career woman, she had plenty to do daily. She often needed to change into different clothing for different tasks and occasions; it was pretty tiring. She sought to create a dress that would enable her to get through all her functions without changing. When she introduced it to her boutique, many people whose lifestyles resonated with hers quickly embraced it. With all areas of life merging during the lockdown, the dress cemented its place in the market.

Visit the store’s website to check out its nap dress selection, among other merchandise. You may shop from the site or visit their physical store in Nantucket, New York, or Palm Beach.

• Location: 14 Federal St # 3, Nantucket, MA 02554, US
• Contact: 508-228-1923
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram

A walk along Federal Street Nantucket will take you to the Eye of the Needle. It is a 40-year-old clothing and accessories store that stocks a wide selection of contemporary clothing, shoes, and accessories. You’ll find kimonos, Chanel jean jackets, lace skirts, hand-printed pants, and off-the-shoulder tops, among other fabulous clothing. Its accessories selection includes cute wooden & woven handbags, shoes, belts, clutches & purses, hats, and jewelry.

The shop’s overall theme and design can best be described as modern and exquisite. On the outside is a minimalistic sign with the shop’s name, hydrangea-lined stairs, and white clapboard. There are also large windows featuring superbly styled mannequins.

The shop’s interior is spacious and orderly and features a beautiful display allowing you to move around and easily spot an ideal outfit. In case you need help, the store’s staff are on standby. They will gladly recommend an outfit based on your needs.

If you regularly pass by the Eye of the Needle, you probably have noticed that they often change the display of the front windows. It will delight you to discover that the same happens inside the shop -they regularly update their inventory with the latest merchandise. Thus, you can rest assured that you will always find something new whenever you stop by the shop.

For convenience, Eye of the Needle allows for several payment options, including cash, debit cards, credit cards, Mastercard, and NFC mobile payments.