Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum


The cool collection here includes actual artifacts from 19th-century whaling ships: sharp flensing knives, battered pots for rendering blubber, delicate scrimshaw and more. It's a bit surreal to see photos of the giant mammals in a village that's now a cute resort town.

It occupies a striking 19th-century residential home that shares space with a Masonic Temple.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Channing Daughters Winery

2.71 MILES

This vineyard has 30 acres of vine trellises and grape plants. Step across the wide brick patio that looks out onto the property, and keep your eyes…

2. Mashomack Nature Preserve

3.27 MILES

The 2000 acres of this Shelter Island reserve, shot through with creeks and marshes, are great for kayaking, birding and hiking (no cycling allowed). Take…

3. Wölffer Estate

3.79 MILES

Stop by the graceful Tuscan-villa-style tasting room of Wölffer Estate, the whitewashed walls and massive wooden beams of which set the scene for cheese…

4. Wades Beach

4.03 MILES

A lovely stretch of Shelter Island sand that is popular with families. There are a few picnic tables as well as a roped-off swimming area that's calm and…

5. Thomas & Mary Nimmo Moran Studio

6.16 MILES

Built in 1884, the National Historic Landmark was the first artist studio built in East Hampton, making its beginning as an artist colony. The Queen Anne…

6. Crescent Beach

6.37 MILES

A half-mile of sun-kissed sands with numerous picnic tables, lifeguards on duty and at least two hotels with restaurant and bar services. It's known as…

7. Parrish Art Museum

7.31 MILES

In a sleek, long barn designed by Herzog & de Meuron, this institution spotlights local artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Chuck Close…

8. Pollock-Krasner House

7.65 MILES

Tour the home of husband-and-wife art stars Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner. While lacking in actual Pollock works (there's only one, 1938's Composition…