Nantucket << nan TUHK uht >>, Massachusetts (pop. 10,166), is a summer resort on Nantucket Island, off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The name Nantucket was taken from the Native American word Nanticut, meaning The Faraway Land. There are many summer homes in Nantucket because of the scenery and mild climate. Nantucket’s beaches, bicycle paths, shops, and restaurants also attract tourists.
During the late 1700’s, Nantucket became one of the greatest whaling centers in the world. As many as 125 whaling ships had their home port there. Charles I of England granted Nantucket Island to his brother the Duke of York in 1641. The island belonged to the province of New York from 1660 to 1692, when it became a part of Massachusetts.
