Oldest House

The Jethro Coffin House, also known as the Oldest House on Sunset Hill, dates back to 1686, making it arguably the oldest dwelling still standing on its original site in Nantucket. At the time of its construction, Nantucket's English population numbered in the hundreds, while the native Wampanoag people outnumbered them by a considerable margin. Constructed as a wedding gift for Jethro Coffin (1663–1727) and Mary Gardner (1670–1767), the house symbolizes the union of two prominent Nantucket families. Jethro, being the grandson of one of the island's original landowners, Tristram Coffin, and Mary, the daughter of John Gardner, a key figure in the island's Half-Share Revolt. Despite historical tensions between the Gardners and the Coffins, Mary and Jethro's marriage helped bridge divides and bring the families together. Situated on Gardner land and built with Coffin lumber, the house serves as a tangible representation of this familial unity. In the late 19th century, the house fell into disuse and disrepair until a Coffin family reunion in 1881 sparked renewed interest. The Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) acquired the property in 1923, and the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England) began extensive restoration work in 1927 to restore the house to its original state. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1968, the house faced further challenges in 1987 when it was struck by lightning, leading to significant damage requiring extensive repairs and partial reconstruction of the roof and chimney. Today, the Oldest House stands as a tribute to Nantucket's earliest English settlers, offering visitors a window into life on the island in the 17th century. Efforts have been undertaken to recreate the historical landscape surrounding the Oldest House. The kitchen garden, situated behind the house, is a reconstruction of a circa-1700 herb and vegetable garden, maintained without modern fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Using a raised-bed system typical of the era, the garden features common vegetables such as carrots, onions, cabbages, and parsnips, alongside around thirty varieties of herbs used for culinary, medicinal, or household purposes.