May 13, 2021, 4:25 p.m.
May 13, 2021, 4:25 p.m.
Update: May 13, 2021, 4:26 a.m.
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Hyannis (dpa / tmn) The Massachusetts islands on the east coast of the United States are now a destination for the rich and famous. But there were other personalities who shaped the history of the region: whalers.
– The Kennedy House in Hyannis Port is still known to some in Germany from reports in the tabloid press.
Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod: These are the islands on the Massachusetts coast that delight many Americans. The rich and the beautiful live here.
At least they have a house on one of the islands that can be reached in around two hours from Boston. Unless it’s midsummer. When the townspeople then flee towards the sea, the traffic jam at the Sagamore Bridge to Cape Cod can take many times longer. Only this one road leads to the islands.
Arrival of the first settlers
Cape Cod, the peninsula that extends into the Atlantic, and the two islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are not just pretty tourist destinations. They also have an eventful past that dates back to the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers. That was in 1620, in Provincetown on the northern tip of Cape Cod.
“This is where the ‘Mayflower’ docked for the first time, and from Cape Cod the British around William Bradford finally found Plymouth on the mainland, where they founded the first settlement,” reports Stacy Stuart of the Nantucket Historical Association.
When tensions first arose in Plymouth, some of the settlers went back to Nantucket. There they came across indigenous people who had lived on the almost treeless island for thousands of years. The indigenous peoples had a skill that the English copied: they were very successful at hunting whales. And they were in demand. The whale oil was used to make candles and fill oil lamps.
Extremely dangerous work
In the 1750s Nantucket became the capital of the whalers, a second time between 1815 and 1850. But the whalers did not hunt off the coast of Massachusetts, but traveled halfway around the world to catch the large marine mammals. They were after sperm whales, from which most of the oil could be extracted.
“The people made a good living, but they also had dangerous jobs,” says local Buddy Vanderhoop, who goes to sea from Martha’s Vineyard. He belongs to the Wampanoag tribe and knows what he’s talking about. All of his ancestors caught whales, and later swordfish as well. “Our people were the best, every whale boat wanted Wampanoag on board,” says Vanderhoop.
The Whaling Museum in Nantucket has an old rowboat on display that the whalers used to hunt the animals on the open sea. Above it also hangs the skeleton of a sperm whale, which is significantly larger and longer than the boat. “That was an extremely dangerous job, but it was also extremely well paid,” says Buddy Vanderhoop.
Pleasant discretion
Today the seafarer mainly undertakes day trips. Vanderhoop knows the best places to catch perch, tuna and other tasty and large fish. He also knows where to see humpback and minke whales. It is not uncommon for celebrities to be guests on board. Musicians, actors, politicians. Buddy Vanderhoop doesn’t make a big fuss about it. “Everyone is the same at sea,” he says. The celebrities appreciate that.
Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod are hotspots for summer vacation. Season is between Memorial Day in May and Fall. That depends a little on the weather. Some vacationers only come over from Boston on a day tour. Celebrity spotters who absolutely want to see stars are also among them. Other, mostly much wealthier guests spend weeks on the islands.
What is particularly nice, however, is the quieter time when Americans do not have holidays: spring and autumn. The temperatures are not too high yet, the locals have time. For a coffee here and a chat there. You almost forget to be a tourist. And gives himself up to the illusion of living in this place himself.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210512-99-571917 / 3
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