Collections Tour
Perfect for those seeking a shorter, easier-paced experience, this focused 45-minute tour begins at the Old Whaling Church and explores three of the Vineyard Preservation Trust’s iconic historic buildings in the heart of Edgartown, including the Vincent House Museum, offering an intimate look at Island history, architecture, and treasured collections.
Step into the heart of Edgartown’s historic district with a special 60-minute guided tour exploring three of the Vineyard Preservation Trust’s most treasured properties: the Old Whaling Church, the Daniel Fisher House, and the Vincent House. Led by Trust educators, this campus-based tour offers an intimate look at the architecture, artistry, and stories that shaped the Island across three centuries.
Your experience begins inside the Old Whaling Church, one of New England’s finest examples of Greek Revival architecture. Here, you’ll learn the extraordinary story behind the building’s 1840s mural, originally painted by Carl Wendte and masterfully recreated by Island artist Margot Datz through remarkable detective work and artistic skill. From there, the tour continues next door into the Daniel Fisher House, the grand 1840 mansion of a prominent whaling merchant. The tour concludes at the Vincent House, the Island’s oldest surviving residence. Built in 1672, the home offers a rare window into domestic life in the early colonial period.
Together, these three remarkable buildings illuminate the Island’s layered past, from early settlement to maritime prosperity to ongoing preservation. This focused tour offers a meaningful, close-up encounter with the Trust’s mission: keeping the Vineyard’s living history alive for future generations.