The Carnegie Heritage Center | Vineyard Preservation Trust — Attraction in Edgartown

We have been coming to the island for over 30 years but haven't been back since the start of the pandemic. We were so deeply delighted to stumble upon The Carnegie upon our return. The Carnegie is a brilliantly conceived testimony to the wonders of this island. While one might glance at the plain brick building and assume a subdued interior, upon entering this space, you are instantly enchanted. The Carnegie not only tells many important stories of the island's history and present day treasures, it captures the best of what you love about the Vineyard - beauty, grace, and charm. I love the beautiful depictions of the history circling around the edge of the upper level, the lovely permanent collection of island artists, the open spaces and overall embracing ambiance....

The Carnegie Heritage Center in Edgartown is a gem; think intimate, museum-like, and packed with well-curated local history. Exhibits are clear and engaging, with plenty of context to help you connect the dots on island life, architecture, and maritime heritage. The staff is warm and genuinely welcoming (Sissy and Nevette on their leadership team are the best!), happy to answer questions or point you to what’s most relevant.

Bonus: it’s also a calm place to catch your breath in the summer; there are quiet spots where you can sit, read for a bit, or even get a little work done. Thoughtful, educational, and a perfect stop in downtown Edgartown in between beach outings and...

We stumbled across this museum/gallery and it turned out to be one of the best parts of our trip. The place,while small, explained most of the open questions we had about Martha’s Vineyard, from why they renamed Holmes Hole (was just a bad name) to what happened to the Indians on the island ( some where put into school). There were many artifacts from the area. One thing about MV is all the things that moved. So many building have moved and this place has some...