Known as the ‘The Place of Peace’ by the native Wamponoag people, Nantucket Island lies to the south of Cape Cod and, with the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard, marks the geographical limits of Nantucket Sound. Formed from glacial moraine that was deposited during the last ice age, the island is noted for its wind-swept, sandy beaches, numerous ponds and lagoons, and generally mild summer weather. The Coatue, a barrier beach that divides Nantucket Harbor from Nantucket Sound, has long been considered one of the most scenic locations in all of New England and, along with many of Nantucket’s other natural formations, including Hummock Pond and the Popsquatchet Hills, has been a favorite subject of master painters for centuries. The island’s long and storied history, which has included turns as the world’s busiest whaling station, has even inspired America’s most revered maritime novels and adventure stories. Today, this past seems to have effortlessly moved into the present and, given the popularity of the island’s various historical attractions, including the nation’s largest concentration of pre-Civil War buildings, will continue to provide for its future as one of New England’s most preferred locations for holiday and summer excursions for generations to come. Listed by Forbes as possessing the highest median property value in the state of Massachusetts, Nantucket Island hosts a vibrant social and cultural scene, especially within the visual arts and literary world. Though its galleries are filled with paintings of the lighthouses and windmills that are synonymous with the island, they also display artists with more modern interest and subjects. Indeed, though most of the island’s housing stock is derived from the eponymous Nantucket Shingle and Cape Cod styles, Nantucket is also home to estates that were crafted according to more modern lines. Whether intended as a summer getaway or permanent place of residence, however, Nantucket Island is perfect for anyone who seeks a true place of peace.