Town of Tisbury

Tisbury, the gateway to Martha’s Vineyard, is a charming, walkable destination connecting a historical harbor, main street village, two classic wooden shipbuilders, and a working waterfront. The numerous historic buildings give Vineyard Haven a unique sense of place, while art, culture, shops, galleries, and restaurants offer a touch of the modern. These diverse and accessible experiences attract visitors and residents alike.

This deep-water anchorage between headlands was formed by two converging glaciers 21,000 years ago. Since then, Tisbury — also known as Vineyard Haven — has known many names. Wampanoag people originally called the area Nobnocket or Takemmy. Later, settlers referred to the harbor as Home’s Hole (sometimes spelled Holme’s Hole). Martha’s Vineyard’s first governor, Thomas Mayhew, called the town Tisbury after his birthplace in Wiltshire, England. The village that sprung up along the harbor became known as Vineyard Haven. While Vineyard Haven still technically refers to the village, and Tisbury to the town, the two names are often used interchangeably.

The harbor has long been a refuge for oceangoing ships and small craft. In the Age of Sail, thousands of brigs and schooners paused here to rest, resupply, and wait for the wind or tide to turn. Today, the harbor is Martha’s Vineyard’s main port of entry, a maritime transport hub, and a mecca for recreational boaters.

The village of Vineyard Haven has been a ferry port since the late 1600s. It grew alongside the ship traffic in Vineyard Sound, which was once among the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Its waterfront was lined with grocery stores and taverns, ship chandleries and boatyards, a marine hospital, and a sailors’ chapel. Residents signed onto passing ships as pilots, fishermen, whalers, and privateers.

Credit: Bow Van Riper - Martha’s Vineyard Museum Research Librarian