Nantucket A to Z
by Sarah Teach
The Beatles did it; the Rolling Stones followed, and now the Nantucket Historical Association is offering a “greatest hits” collection in their newest exhibit. “Nantucket A to Z: a Cabinet of Curiosities” showcases all of the NHA’s most prized and unusual artifacts—one for every letter of the alphabet. This enriching exhibition piques all the senses and provides enjoyment for inquisitive visitors of all ages.
Ben Simons, curator of the exhibition, unlocked the vast gallery containing the top treasures of the old Whaling Museum to give us a preview. Simons grinned widely as he uncorked an antiquated-looking glass bottle of genuine sperm whale oil, and a strange odor was released. You may have heard of this coveted substance that is only produced by sperm whales. The unprocessed ambergris smells terrible, making it hard to imagine that this was the base of the world’s finest perfumes. But after being processed, the aroma of the grayish chunk of matter becomes surprisingly pleasant.
Next Simons placed in my hands a mysterious white and waxy cake and said with great excitement, “I bet you’ve never touched spermaceti before!” Indeed I hadn’t. Actually, the Cabinet is full of 26 curiosities that I never would have encountered elsewhere. “G” stands for the eerie, original gravestone marked 1706 that belonged to one of Nantucket’s earliest settlers. You will recognize the name immediately, as it is still used extensively throughout the island. Can you guess the identity of the person whose body once lay under this stone?
Moving to the center of the room, you arrive at an impressive specimen. If you don’t remember the name P.T. Barnum, you might at least recall from your childhood those colorful little string-held boxes filled with animal crackers. The name thereon reads P.T. Barnum, the legendary circus mogul of the 1800s, who was arguably the greatest showman of all time. That same P.T. Barnum wrote an impassioned letter in 1866 to the Nantucketer who possessed an enormous whale jawbone, all but begging for the monstrosity (hint: can you guess what “J” stands for?) In the Cabinet, you can see every minute detail of a whale’s jawbone and teeth and experience its sheer enormity right before your eyes.
Though Nantucket is certainly the thickest thread running through the exhibition, a handful of the grand treasures are not native to the island. After all, Nantucket whale ships once traveled the globe, bringing back home not just precious whale oil but also exotic and unfamiliar novelties! Come see the most curious of what they collected from France, the Indian Ocean, the tropical islands of the Pacific, and beyond.
The exhibit is great fun for adults, but what about kids? “It is absolutely a family event,” remarks Simons as he sits down in a Golden Era-style living room, complete with an old-fashioned TV playing historic films and even a TV dinner. You can move on a few letters and have your portrait taken alongside the formidable Captain Baxter of ‘Sconset. Making silly faces is encouraged. Kids will also love the working model of the very first Nantucket railroad, which was commissioned to be crafted especially for this exhibit. Upon reaching letter “B” you come face-to-bell with the original iron fixture from the very first train that ran on the island rails.
Come invigorate your mind and satiate your curiosity for Nantucket’s history as you see, hear, touch, and smell 26 of the NHA’s “greatest hits of all time.” From A to Z, only the most intriguing of artifacts have made the cut. The Whaling Museum, located at 13 Broad St, is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with the exhibition premiering on Friday, May 27.
