The new Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum will open its doors on May 15, 2009 for its first full season and showcase its collection of over 5,000 objects – including period surfboats, beach carts, vintage photographs, and more. This year, the museum will debut a historical retrospective exhibit on “Madaket Millie,” a colorful local character, who personally took over Coast Guard patrols of Madaket Harbor. In addition, the museum will host three Family Fun Days throughout the summer, including a book signing with Whitney Stewart, author of Coffin’s Ghost, a new treasure hunt book for children. Stewart also authored Marshall, A Nantucket Sea Rescue, inspired by the real-life tale of a Newfoundland dog that was rescued by life-savers at the island’s Surfside Life-Saving Station in 1877, and this fall will release a new edition of Marshall for older children. In collaboration with The Trustees of Reservations, the museum will add guided Sunday tours to the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge and Great Point Lighthouse.

The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town. The museum and gift shop will open Friday, May 15 and close on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2009. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 5 – 18, and free to children under 5, and also includes admission to Egan Maritime Institute exhibits at the historic Coffin School, located at 4 Winter Street in Nantucket Town.