Shaded by venerable elms, paved with cobblestones and lined with captains' homes and shops, Main Street has preserved its colonial atmosphere despite the upscale boutiques and galleries that fill the storefronts.

The Whaling Museum contains wonderful collections of scrimshaw, harpoons, ships models and an impressive skeleton of a 46-foot sperm whale. Step inside the re-created blacksmith shop, sail loft, and cooper's shop to see trades and crafts relating to ..

This impressive dwelling, with its Neoclassical pediment and columns, was built in 1845 for the whale oil merchant William Hadwen. The house and its rich decor bear witness to the life of luxury led by its owner.