Fodor's Expert Review Martha's Vineyard Museum

Perched on 1 acre overlooking the Lagoon Pond and outer Vineyard Haven harbor, the museum is located in the formerly shuttered 1895 Marine Hospital, which the nonprofit organization purchased in 2011, renovated, and made its home in 2019. The expansive property includes 14 exhibition areas, a classroom, program room, research library, gift shop, and small café. Exhibits include “One Island, Many Stories,” which explores the history of the island; “Challenges of the Sea,” which gives an overview of island shipwrecks, navigation, and more; and “Flashes of Brilliance,” with an 1854 Fresnel lens from the Gay Head Light.