Lightship Basket Museum

Museum of a Unique Craft

Description

This fascinating museum exhibits many examples--some antique and some contemporary--of the unique Nantucket art of making lightship baskets. While self-sufficient Nantucketers had long weaved baskets, the art of making lightship baskets got its name in the mid-19th century, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation that created a system of floating lighthouses, called lightships, to protect passing ships from the dangerous shoals near Nantucket. Islanders working to keep whale oil lamps burning on these lonely outposts took up the habit of weaving baskets to help pass the time. The museum offers exhibits of baskets, informative displays about the history of the craft, and demonstrations by artisans who continue to practice this traditional art.