Martha’s Vineyard: A Revolutionary War Refuge
Martha’s Vineyard, known for its whaling heritage and maritime culture, played a unique and often overlooked role in the Revolutionary War. As a fiercely independent community it was both a refuge and a target, caught between British occupation on the mainland and the growing struggle for American independence. Join us for a walking tour of historic downtown Edgartown and discover the lasting impact of this pivotal time through the lens of the Trust’s historic properties. Tours offered seasonally Tuesdays-Saturdays 10:30am, July 1 – September 6. Tour image by Ray Ewing, courtesy of the Vineyard Gazette.
Tour Highlights Include:
The Cooke House (1766): The Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s historic property was home to generations of the Cooke family and the site of Great Harbor’s custom’s house. Learn how Edgartown’s residents’ livelihoods were altered by the conflict and how the infamous Grey’s Raid – the British seizure of nearly 10,000 sheep in 1778–forever altered the course of the island’s history.
The Old Whaling Church & Dr. Daniel Fisher House (Circa. 1840): Discover how the Revolutionary War impacted the whaling industry on the island.
Gen. Benjamin Smith Home/The Vineyard Gazette Building (1760): View the original home of Captain Benjamin Smith, a Patriot militia commander on Martha’s Vineyard. Now housing the Vineyard Gazette, one of the nation’s longest-running independent newspapers, this historic building reflects the island’s Revolutionary past and its ongoing role in public discourse.
The Vincent House (1672): What is a broad or a kingboard? Discover the significance of the Eastern White Pine trunks highly prized by the British Empire for their role in securing naval dominance – and how colonists cleverly hid these boards from British authorities.
And much more!
