The 1820s Garden

The Museum, housed in a building dated to 1821, is surrounded by an “1820 Garden” which contains plants likely to have been available on Nantucket at this time in history. Plantings include a tanagram herb bed, antique roses, lavenders, high bush blueberries and rue.

In addition to collecting and maintaining plant materials our objectives include finding, purchasing and studying these plant varieties, their uses, their value and their relationships. We provide educational information by giving lectures, garden talks and demonstrations and occasionally even sell samples of the plants.

The Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum includes a reference library of original botanical works. The donation of these historical reference books has been enormously helpful in our research. Some books have already been donated, and others are being acquired as they become available and affordable.  When we find duplicates of out-of-print volumes, we will continue to offer them for sale in our museum shop.

For a complete list of books available for sale, please contact our office.