Jared Coffin House, a former whaling shipowner's home located in the heart of Nantucket, expanded on August 15, 2020 with the opening of five new accommodations. Additionally, the Tap Room, a fixture in the downtown dining scene for more than four decades, re-opened earlier this season after a 14-year hiatus. Celebrating 175 years, the three-story brick mansion offers a total immersion into Nantucket’s whaling history.
Nantucket-local and interior designer Audrey Sterk was selected to ensure careful preservation of the pre-civil war landmark while incorporating the island’s nautical feel into the design. While the property’s footprint remained the same to retain the historic architecture of the 19th-century building, portions of the ground floor have been transformed from a former restaurant space into the new accommodations. Inspired by the colors of the sea and sand, the interiors feature a color palette of foggy greys, robin-egg blues and soft neutrals. In the individually designed rooms, custom furniture including four-poster King Beds, tulip-style coffee tables and walnut brown desks with lacquered inlay are paired with original refurbished wood floors from the 1840s. For those looking for extra privacy, one suite features a private entrance that can be connected with the guest room to create a two-bedroom option. To complement views of Nantucket’s historic streetscape, an extensive collection of original oil paintings is also on display – each piece hand-selected by the hotel’s owners to highlight Nantucket’s whaling days.
The Jared Coffin House is steps away from what historically was called "Petticoat Row." Men of the whaling heydey were out to sea for years at a time, spurring the ladies to become entrepreneurs that operated in the area close to the hotel. As a nod to the island’s history-making females, each of the four new suites are named after influential women. The rooms pay homage to Anna Gardner, who was instrumental in calling an anti-slavery meeting in 1841 in which Frederick Douglass gave his first speech as an abolitionist speaker, as well as Lucretia Coffin Mott. She participated in the country's first meeting about women's rights in 1848. Guests can opt for the Maria Mitchell suite, honoring the first professional female astronomer who opened her own school in 1835 that was desegregated, a controversial move at the time. Lastly, the Mary Coffin Starbuck suite celebrates the woman recognized as the individual who brought Quakerism to Nantucket in the early 1700s. She ran the family’s trading post that served as the island’s commercial center.
The 2020 season also brought changes in dining at the hotel. The Tap Room, located on the lower level of the hotel beneath the lobby, has been resurrected. A popular gathering spot for locals and visitors alike for more than 40 years, the restaurant shuttered in the early 2000s. Boston-based, Carroll Design Studio was brought on to re-imagine and re-design the pub-style outpost, which now offers indoor and outdoor dining. The two-toned interiors embody the essence of modern dining. An exposed brick wall is paired with ocean blue and cream shiplap that provides the backdrop for hanging bare bulbs and original dark wood ceiling beams. The semi-circle bar is at the heart of the space, while camel tan colored dining booths line the perimeter. The menu offers a modern interpretation on celebrated Tap Room staples including traditional New England clam chowder, French dip sandwiches, grilled local swordfish and Welsh Rarebit, consisting of melted cheese poured over slices of toasted bread. A full-service bar with beers from local Cisco Brewery and craft cocktails like Nantucket Red Margaritas are also offered.
"The Jared Coffin House has been a beloved Nantucket getaway for years and we're excited to unveil our refreshed look and new restaurant. Preservation was at the heart of the project. Ensuring the historical feel remained, while peppering in modern touches," said Jason Curtis, General Manager of Jared Coffin House.
Originally constructed in 1845, the Jared Coffin House was the first mansion built on Nantucket. In it's almost 200-year history, many distinguished guests have passed through the doors, including Moby Dick author, Herman Melville and President Ulysees S. Grant. The Jared Coffin House as we know it today officially arrived on the scene in 2004 when it became part of White Elephant Resorts. Today it's one of the most cherished properties on island and serves as a centerpiece of the Nantucket Historic District. Guests enjoy access to a complimentary BMW courtesy car and use of Priority Bicycles.
The starting rate for a guest room is $195 per night and the starting rate for a new suite is $395 per night. The Jared Coffin House's main building closes for the season on December 7, while the next door Daniel Webster building - with 13 rooms - is open year-round. For more information, please visit https://www.jaredcoffinhouse.com.
About White Elephant Resorts
White Elephant Resorts is a collection of premier hotels on Nantucket and in Palm Beach, Florida that specialize in bringing the unique Nantucket lifestyle to all guests. From boating to fine dining to a large number of island festivals and events, White Elephant Resorts caters to its visitors and offers vacation planning that lets you get the most out of a Nantucket vacation while staying in a fantastic array of accommodations. Properties include The Wauwinet, ideal for romance with access and views of both bay and ocean beaches and home to the award-winning TOPPER’S restaurant; White Elephant, the iconic hotel located right on Nantucket Harbor that offers a lovely arrangement of rooms, suites, cottages, residences and two stunning in-town luxury lofts as well as the Brant Point Grill; Jared Coffin House, a historic and charming hotel located in Nantucket Town; The Cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin, waterfront cottages with full kitchens located on three wharves jutting out into Nantucket Harbor and featuring 12 pet-friendly accommodations; and Nantucket Boat Basin, a 240-slip full-service award-winning marina. From one vacation destination to another, White Elephant Resorts will also expand to Palm Beach, Florida on November 4th with the debut of White Elephant Palm Beach, a 32-room and suite hotel that represents the total restoration of the historic Bradley Park Hotel building.
Each of the new accommodations honor influential, historic women on Nantucket