What is Nantucket?

Nantucket is an island off the eastern coast of New England. During the early nineteenth century, it was one of the most prominent whaling ports in the United States and was the homeport for the Essex. By 1835, Nantucket was gradually losing its prominence in the whaling business to New Bedford and other deep-water ports.

In 1846, a fire ripped through town, destroying nearly a third of it, including the waterfront and oil warehouses. Although the town was rebuilt quickly, many residents left for California when gold was discovered there in 1848. The town's population shrank. In the twentieth century, the town came back as a thriving summer resort.