About

How would the Island be if historic landmarks like Old Whaling Church, The Flying Horses, and the Grange Hall were not there?

Forty-eight years ago, leaders in our community saved downtown Edgartown from becoming a parking lot. This pivotal moment marked the genesis of an ongoing commitment to safeguard historically significant sites. Today, the Vineyard Preservation Trust is your guardian entrusted with preserving and managing a cherished collection of iconic properties. These properties, integral to the rich culture and narrative of life on Martha’s Vineyard, continue to thrive under our devoted care.

Support VPT

Since 1975, the Vineyard Preservation Trust has acquired, restored, and cared for historic landmarks, preserving Martha’s Vineyard’s unique character and keeping its heritage as an integral part of the community’s daily life and the visitors’ experience.  

Martha’s Vineyard is a small island with a long, rich history dating back to the first Native Americans, followed by Colonial settlements in the 1600s. As a popular summer and vacation destination for people from across the United States and the world, the pressures of development and progress have, over time, threatened the central features of this vibrant island community. The iconic, irreplaceable landmarks now in the Trust’s care were badly deteriorated and, in many cases, threatened by demolition when the Trust assumed ownership and undertook their restoration and permanent care. Now saved, each of these landmarks continues to play a central role in contemporary life while preserving the authenticity and historical character of the island.

Over more than four decades, Vineyard Preservation Trust has grown from a small non-profit with one property in Edgartown to an organization responsible for the stewardship of 20 key properties in four towns, all of which are enjoyed by island residents and visitors alike. The organization’s membership now consists of more than 5,000 individuals, and it is estimated that members of the public visit our properties more than one million times each year.

Gretta Hehre
Office Manager

508-627-4440 x114
gretta@mvpreservation.org

Sandy Burt
Venue and Event Director

508-627-4440 x116
sandy@mvpreservation.org

Julie Hatt
Events & Cultivation Manager

508-627-4440 x 120
julie@mvpreservation.org

Tammy DeGregorio
Finance Director & HR Coordinator

508-627-4440 x 110
tammy@mvpreservation.org

Sissy Biggers
Programs & Tour Director: The Carnegie

774-549-9107
sissy@mvpreservation.org

Jaime Hiltz
Flying Horses Carousel Manager

508-693-9481 (in-season phone)
jaime@mvpreservation.org

Several of the landmarks in Vineyard Preservation Trust’s care are available to rent for weddings or performance venues. Please visit our Reserve a Property page for more information.