Maria Mitchell Association

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization on the island of Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts. The association owns the Maria Mitchell Observatory, a second observatory (the Loines Observatory), a Natural History Museum, the Maria Mitchell Aquarium at Nantucket Harbor, a history museum that is the birthplace of Maria Mitchell, and a Science Library. Staff members of the Maria Mitchell Association conduct research into topics as varied as astrophysics and the American burying beetle,[1][2][3][4][5] amongst other scientific topics. The properties offer a variety of science and history-related programming and are on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the rest of the island.

Loines Observatory of the Maria Mitchell Association

Components and buildings

The Maria Mitchell Association's buildings are located in various areas on the island[6] including four that are adjacent to each other on the hill in Natucket town.[7] These include the Historic Mitchell House located at 1 Vestal Street. It preserves the birthplace of Maria Mitchell, and contains many heirlooms of Maria Mitchell and her family. The Science Library located at 2 Vestal Street houses archives and special collections. The Natural Science Museum, at the corner of Milk and Vestal Streets, has several rooms of permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as a shop with books and gifts. The main Vestal Street Observatory, at 3 Vestal Street, includes the offices of the two working astronomers and has a few exhibits such as Maria Mitchell's famed telescope. The Loines Observatory at 59 Milk Street is used primarily for research and on clear nights offers viewings to the public.[7] An aquarium and shop is located at 28 Washington Street, down the hill at Nantucket Harbor.

Admission is charged for the public to visit each site,[7] for programs, and for membership. A discounted special ticket is available during the summer for sale to the public to see the House, Museum, Vestal Observatory, and Aquarium for one price. Tours are offered every day during the summer at 11:00 a.m.

The Historic Mitchell House

The Historic Mitchell House preserves the birthplace of Maria Mitchell.[8][9] It was built in 1790, and occupied by the Mitchell family from 1818, the year of Maria Mitchell's birth.[8][9] The House contains many artifacts of Maria Mitchell and her family, including a tall-case clock, one of her telescopes, and other artifacts.[8][9]

The research library includes Mitchell's papers, as well as other historical and scientific material. The house remains very much in its original condition with original decorative paint. Guided tours are provided to the public in-season and children’s and adult history classes and historic preservation workshops are offered. The research library includes Mitchell's personal and work related papers, her personal library, the papers and libraries of her family, and the special collection library which includes rare books concerning astronomy, the natural sciences, and Nantucket, some dating back to the 1600s. The archives and special collections are open by appointment only for research purposes.

Natural Science Museum

The Natural Science Museum is across the street from Mitchell House. It showcases displays of animals such as snakes, frogs, and turtles. Furthermore, the museum features a gift shop and various displays related to natural science. The building containing the museum has three floors, of which only the first floor is accessible to the public.

MMA (Nantucket) Aquarium

See main article: Maria Mitchell Aquarium

The MMA Aquarium, also known as the Nantucket Aquarium, is on the site of the historic ticket office of the former Nantucket Railroad at 28 Washington Street.[10][11] It is located at directly on the shoreline of the Nantucket Harbor,[10] which empties out into the Nantucket Sound. Specimens are primarily drawn from the waters around Nantucket, and are released back to those waters at the end of each summer.[10][11] Because the Gulf Stream passes by the Atlantic Ocean side of the island, some tropical fish are frequently on exhibit.[10] The Aquarium offers programs, including a "feeding frenzy".[10]

Loines and Vestal Streets Observatories

Loines Observatory was built in 1968 and 1998, the two domes of this facility house a refurbished antique 8-inch Clark telescope and a new 24-inch research telescope. It serves as both an active research observatory and venue for public astronomical programs.

The Vestal Street Observatory has been the site of research, lectures, and other programs. since 1908.

Maria Mitchell Association’s observatories are open for regular public tours, programs, lectures, and also host to several special events throughout the year.

History

The Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native, astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first American Professor of Astronomy at Vassar College. Mitchell died in 1889.[12]

Programs

Each summer, the MMA offers the Summer Discovery Classes Program for children of various ages, and during the school year to the Nantucket Public Schools.[13] The MMA also offers environmental education programs for families [14] as well as astronomy and natural science programs for adults.[15]

The MMA also offers lesson plans, and programs to teachers in local school systems.[16]

Major staff and research

The staff members of the association continue to conduct research into a wide variety of topics from galaxy formation and star clusters, to spiders, molluscs, and the American burying beetle.[17] They have mentored many aspiring scientists.

The staff of the Maria Mitchell Association currently includes:

  • David Gagnon: Executive Director
  • Dr. Regina Jorgenson: Director of Astronomy
  • George Donnelly: Director of Development and Communications
  • Andrew McKenna-Foster: Director of the Maria Mitchell Natural Science Museum[1]
  • Jascin Leonardo Finger: Curator of the Mitchell House, Archives and Special Collections
  • Joan Stockman: Financial Administrator
  • Kim Botelho: Director of Education
  • Gary Walker: consultant
  • Sarah Erichsen: Development Coordinator
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References
  1. "Saving the Beetles", Yesterday's Island, June 18–24, 2009, found at Yesterday's Island website Archived 2009-09-16 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 2, 2009.
  2. "American Burying Beetle Project," found at Maria Mitchell Association website research webpage Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 2, 2009.
  3. Invertebrates In Education and Conservation Conference, July 24, 2009, found at SASI online Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. September 2, 2009.
  4. "Acknowledgments: Many contributed long hours, tireless research, and continuous dedication. Our team includes ... Andrew Mckenna Foster biologist with the Maria Mitchell Association for his work and dedication to the recovery effort....", "American Burying Beetle: First Terrestrial Invertebrate on the Species Survival Plan," found at Roger Williams park Zoo website Archived 2007-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 2, 2009.
  5. Andrew Mckenna-Foster, William T. Maple, and Robert S. Kennedy, "American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) survey and reintroduction on Nantucket 2005." found at St. Louis Zoo Archived 2010-12-14 at the Wayback Machine website]. Accessed September 2, 2009.
  6. Maria Mitchell Association official website Main page. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  7. Mitchell Association official website Facilities page Archived 2009-11-04 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  8. Discover Nantucket website Mitchell House page Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  9. Maria Mitchell Association official website House page Archived 2009-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  10. Mitchell Association official website Marine sciences page Archived 2009-09-05 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  11. Discover Nantucket website MMA Aquarium page Archived 2012-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  12. Maria Mitchell Association website About page Archived 2009-06-02 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  13. Maria Mitchell Association website Educational programs for children page Archived 2010-12-31 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  14. Maria Mitchell Association website Educational programs for families page Archived 2010-12-31 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  15. Maria Mitchell Association website Educational programs for adults page Archived 2010-12-31 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  16. Maria Mitchell Association website Teacher resources page Archived 2010-12-31 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed September 3, 2009.
  17. Maria Mitchell Association Research collections Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed March 8, 2012.
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