Museum pieces: history in every corner

“The fact is that those of us who have been there for a long time occasionally feel stuck on the island and wonder if it is absolutely necessary to stay.” —Holly Nadler

Well, right? Many of us really escape during the dark days of island life, heading to the ski slopes or more tropical settings. Many of us use these days to rest, recuperate and research ways to improve for the upcoming peak season. MV Museum (your museum) has wonderful things planned to keep us connected to each other, excited about life, and full of new information that you can only get at our community museum. It is true that the cosmic changes that occur at this time of year have an effect on our mental health. Some of us go up, some of us go down. It’s important for us to take care of each other and find ways to stay engaged. Being with or around people, even if we like to sink in and out of sight, is exactly what we need.

Right now there’s a magical exhibit called “The Secret Life of Algae” in the Grain Family Gallery that spills into other nooks and crannies of the museum that you might never have experienced before. It seems to be beneath the surface of the ocean, with sights, sounds and smells that teach us the many reasons why we should care about algae. Experience the touch tank, where you can feel the different textures and see the different colors of the algae, of which there are three: red, green and brown. Create a piece of seaweed art, or just sit in a cozy chair and read about seaweed; you can even visit the museum shop to buy some seaweed-related items. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

On October 17th at 5pm we have a program with MVM Research Librarian Bow Van Riper called “Seaweed and Summer People: The History of a Victorian Pastime” that should blow your mind. Martha’s Vineyard was quite a haven of seaweed.

Other ways the museum will divert attention this October are through three fantastic island historians with unique personalities and insights into our chilling past. Retired Cemetery Commissioner Liz Villard, owner and founder of Vineyard History Tours, will take guests to some of her favorite cemeteries on Tuesday, October 22 at 3 p.m. Villard will also guide us through the Old Village Cemetery on Franklin Street in Vineyard Haven. On Tuesday, October 29th at 3pm, he will take you to “Dead Man’s Corner” in West Tisbury.

Martha’s Vineyard’s ancient burial grounds are filled with beautiful and unique tombstones commemorating islanders of the past. Want to find out the meaning of the urn? Or the rising sun? Why are some stones legible and others not? And what about those weird poems? Thursday, October 24th at 5pm is “Murder, Mayhem and Madness with Chris Baer”. Baer has created a unique storytelling event that brings the most haunting and dark tales to life, with chilling tales of unsolved crimes and mysterious events from the island’s history. From an unidentified man in a straw hat buried alive in South Beach to the murder of socialite Knight Owen in Vineyard Haven: hidden stories that have baffled historians and locals alike.

Finally, on Monday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m., Holly Nadler, the ghost lady of the island, will tell tales that include one from within the walls of the museum. You may have read it in the opening chapter of the 20th anniversary edition of “Haunted Island”: “Journey’s End at the Old Marine Hospital.” Three days before Halloween 2024, come hang out inside the haunted walls and corridors and ask the Ghost Lady about any of the ghosts here, there and everywhere on this endearing (and enduring ) terrifying. Holly Nadler will read and sign books, including her new memoir, “The Hobo Diaries: Down and Out on Martha’s Vineyard.”

Come to a pub night at the Cooke House in Edgartown to step back in time with old sea shacks with Molly and Mark, traditional pub games, drinks and a draw for some very exciting prizes. They will take place on Saturday, October 26 and Saturday, November 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. Fill your days and nights with museum stuff. It’s welcoming and fun for all ages. It’s sure to make you want to stay this fall and winter.

visit mvmuseum.org for more information on upcoming exhibitions and events. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is free for members; Admission for non-members is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $5 for children 7-17 and free for children 6 and under. Islander rates are available.