Martha's Vineyard, like Nantucket Island, was an early refuge and supply point for the coastal ship traffic that regularly rounded Cape Cod. Vineyard Haven blossomed as a port for such traffic during the 18th and 19th centuries. Edgartown, the island's oldest European settlement, became an important whaling center.
Its quaint atmosphere, beaches, and proximity to Cape Cod and the east coast make the island, and its six towns, a popular resort area.
