The Carnegie Heritage Center
About
The Carnegie library building was a gift to the town from Andrew Carnegie, among the more than 2,500 libraries he funded worldwide. The brick building was constructed in 1904 on land donated by Caroline Osborn Warren, a descendant of the Edgartown Osborn whaling family who lived next door. The handsome Neoclassical structure served as the town library from 1904 until 2016 when a newer, larger public library building was constructed on another site.
After an extensive restoration, the Vineyard Preservation Trust reopened the landmark and transformed the space into an island Heritage Center. Inside offers a reading library, heritage shop, and a dynamic revolving exhibit, Living Landmarks, which illustrates the historical development of Martha’s Vineyard through the lens of the landmarks in Vineyard Preservation Trust’s care.
Connect with this landmark
The Carnegie Heritage Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am-4pm with popular walking tours offered Thursday-Saturday at 11am through October 29th, 2022
In November the Carnegie is open Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm. Please join us at 11 am for a free historical talk in the Atrium this month.
For questions, please email rachel@mvpreservation.org.
Heritage Center
The restored landmark includes reading rooms, a gift shop, a library, and a revolving exhibition, Living Landmarks, which illustrates the historical development of Martha’s Vineyard through the lens of the landmarks in Vineyard Preservation Trust’s care.
October/November speaker series: Coffee & Conversation at The Carnegie.
Free to all with reservations encouraged: vineyardtrust.org/tours-events
- Tuesday, October 11th 10:30A-11:30AM: Adam Moore, Sheriff’s Meadow’s President and Executive Director and author of A Year on Martha’s Vineyard, will share his deep knowledge of the Island’s ever-changing landscape and trails. His book is filled with beautiful prose to inspire those residents who are embarking upon their first fall and winter season on the Island.
- Tuesday, October 18th 10:30A-11:30A: Thomas Dresser, Prolific Island Historian, will usher in the haunting season with tales of spectral happenings on Martha’s Vineyard from his book, Ghosts of Martha’s Vineyard. Participants are encouraged to share their own brushes with strange occurrences!
- Thursday, November 3rd 10:30AM-11:30AM: Hilary Wallcox, Vineyard Gazette and Vineyard Magazine Librarian and Archivist will guide participants through the discovery and archiving of family records on Martha’s Vineyard and elsewhere.
- Thursday, November 10th, 10:30 – 11:30AM Skip Finley, Vineyard Gazette Sales and Marketing Director and celebrated historian will share from his book, Tales of Oak Bluffs which chronicles the history of the uniquely diverse community of the Island’s famed seaside resort.
- Thursday, November 17th 10:30A-11:30AM Jane Seagrave, Vineyard Gazette Publisher will close out the series from her unique perspective at the helm of the award-winning broadsheet and share insights into the newspaper’s recent reporting on the Venezuelan migrants
Living Landmarks Exhibition
The Carnegie houses the permanent exhibition Living Landmarks, which illustrates the story of Martha’s Vineyard through the lens of the 20 landmarks in Vineyard Trust’s care.
There is a $5 suggested donation to view the Living Landmarks exhibition.
Reading Rooms
The Carnegie includes two reading rooms featuring historical literature and the Ray Ellis Maritime Collection of original art.
The light-filled furnished spaces also include cabinets of curiosities that reflect the inspiring people, places and landscapes that dynamically contribute to island life.
Gift Shop
The Carnegie’s artisan gift shop specializes in beautiful hand-crafted items that are inspired by the island and made by local artists.
Now available to purchase: Flying Horses Carousel masks
Keep the memories you’ve made at the Flying Horses Carousel alive this year with a souvenir mask. Available in both adult and child sizes.
Buy yours in person at The Carnegie Gift Shop or online.
Your purchase will directly support The Carnegie and the work of Vineyard Trust, and has an added bonus of supporting our thriving island community.
Buy A Brick
Support the preservation of The Carnegie with a purchase of a brick for the front walkway.
Each brick can be inscribed with an individual, family or organization name of your choice.
$1,000 per brick.
Those interested, should contact Sandy Burt in our office.
Edgartown, MA