Shipwrecks and Lifesaving Museum Re-Opening Celebration in Kid-Friendly Nantucket

On May 15, the Nantucket’s Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum will be opening its doors and celebrating a full season with a new exciting exhibit about a colorful local character “Madaket Millie“, who personally took over Coast Guard patrols of Madaket Harbor when the official Coast Guard was closed.

Museum exhibits, featuring over 5000 objects, are extremely kid-friendly and include “Marshall, the dog,” a character which helps educate kids about the Shipwrecks and Lifesaving history on Nantucket. Author Whitney Stewart tells Marshall’s story in her children’s book Marshall: A Nantucket Sea Rescue. The book and several vignettes throughout the museum were inspired by the real-life tale of Marshall, a friendly Newfoundland dog who was rescued by life-savers at the island’s Surfside Life-Saving Station in 1877. Celebrating the museum’s mascot, the book will be available at the museum’s gift shop and may be purchased with accompanying plush Newfoundland dog toy, or with accompanying CD.

In addition, the museum will host three Family Fun Days throughout the summer (Sundays, June 7th, July 5th, and August 23rd). Admission is $10 for the family. Events will include storytelling, a lightship basket weaving demonstration, and hands-on activities. On July 5th, Author Whitney Stewart will be on hand signing her new children’s book, Coffin’s Ghost, a new treasure hunt book for children. Check the website for other events.

In collaboration with The Trustees of Reservations, the museum will add guided Sunday tours to the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge and Great Point Lighthouse.

The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town. The museum and gift shop will open Friday, May 15 and close on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2009. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 5 – 18, and free to children under 5, and also includes admission to Egan Maritime Institute exhibits at the historic Coffin School, located at 4 Winter Street in Nantucket Town. For more information call (508) 228-1885, or visit online at www.nantucketshipwreck.org.