Martha's Vineyard Jaws Tour: Walk the Real Amity Island with a Local Guide
Take a guided Jaws tour of Martha's Vineyard with local guide Mike Currid. Walk the real Amity Island in Edgartown and book the "Amity" Walking Tour.
The Old Whaling Church at 89 Main Street in Edgartown is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in New England — a soaring 1843 masterpiece built by Methodist whaling captains at the height of Edgartown's maritime prosperity.
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History and Construction
The church was built in 1843 when the original congregation of whaling captains and their families outgrew their earlier church (now Edgartown Town Hall). The architect was Frederick Baylies Jr., born in Edgartown in 1795 and Harvard-educated, who also designed multiple Edgartown public buildings. Construction was supervised by Ellis Lewis using local carpenters and shipwrights — craftsmen equally skilled in building churches and ships. The wood was brought from Maine on the vessel Rhine, captained by John O. Morse.
Architecture
The façade features six massive tapered Doric columns supporting a cantilevered entablature with triangular pediment. The 92-foot clock tower is crowned with Gothic Revival elements including crenellations, rounded arches, and four spires capped with gilded acanthus leaf finials. The interior features an elegantly curved ceiling supported by massive trusses fashioned from ship-building timbers. Original whale oil lamps remain in the main hall. Seating capacity is approximately 470–500 in the sanctuary.
The Trompe l'Oeil Murals
The murals were originally painted by Carl Wendte, a Swiss-born artist who worked closely with Baylies and died at age 28. Margot Datz restored and recreated these murals between January 2013 and December 2022 — nearly a decade of meticulous work. She worked from a single grainy photograph from c.1865, using approximately 24 shades of gray for the full-scale trompe l'oeil arch that transforms a flat rear wall into what appears to be a light-filled antechamber.
Visiting Today
The Methodist congregation transferred ownership to the Vineyard Preservation Trust in 1980. The church now serves as a performing arts center and community event venue hosting concerts, weddings, lectures, and town meetings. The Edgartown United Methodist Church still holds Sunday morning services at 9 AM during summer. Ticketed events vary in price. The Vineyard Trust also offers 75-minute guided Historic Walking Tours through their Carnegie Heritage Center.
Dr. Daniel Fisher House
Located immediately adjacent at 99 Main Street, this Federal-style house was built c.1840 by Dr. Daniel Fisher, a wealthy whale oil industrialist who operated one of the largest whale oil processing factories in the country. The house is now used for events and is the site of the famous July 4th BBQ — see our 4th of July Edgartown Guide.
The church is part of the Edgartown Village Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. For a complete guide to Edgartown, see our Edgartown Town Guide (2026).
⛴️ Island Tip of the Day — Ferry
The Island Queen from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs is just $20 one-way (35 min). Reservations are now required — book at islandqueen.com. Passengers only, no cars.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general guidance only and was accurate at the time of writing. Beach conditions, hours, prices, lifeguard schedules, ferry fares, and business operations change frequently and without notice. Ocean swimming carries inherent risks including rip currents, undertow, and cold water shock. Always verify current conditions with official local sources before your visit. MV Vacation assumes no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience resulting from the use of this information. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, supervise children at all times near water, and follow all posted safety signs.
