One of the region’s top museums, this is a must see on Nantucket. The museum building is a former candle factory that was built by the Mitchell family immediately following Nantucket’s Great Fire of 1846. It was operated as a candleworks until the end of whaling in 1860. Included in the museum is an 1847 candle factory and a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton. Besides a comprehensive history of the island of Nantucket and also of whaling, the museum has fine collections of the island arts of Nantucket baskets, scrimshaw and sailor’s valentines. In season the museum offers twice daily historic walking tours of Nantucket Town ($15) which are also highly recommended.