The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association's Biggest Event of the Season: The Stargazer Gala

July 12, 2024

Nantucket, MA – Join the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) on July 25, 2024 for its annual fundraiser, The Stargazer Gala. Embark with the MMA on a mid-summer evening and journey along the shores of Polpis Harbor! Partygoers will enjoy the beautiful colors of the evening sky as the sun sets, the rhythm of a Jimmy Buffet tribute band, delicious food by Island Kitchen, personalized poems by Typewriter Rodeo, and more! The Stargazer Gala is the MMA’s biggest fundraising event of the year and is made possible thanks to our sponsors, attendees, and supporters. Come dance the night away all while celebrating and supporting the MMA and enjoying a good old-fashioned Nantucket gala.  

 

All proceeds from the Stargazer Gala support the MMA’s mission to create opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. Support enables the MMA to develop a cutting-edge Discovery Center and Aquarium at 33 Washington Street. This campaign will aid us as we continue serving 22,000 learners of all ages each year, cultivating generations of scientists and environmental stewards who will shape our future. 

 

The MMA would like to thank its wonderful Gala Co-Chairs, Tanya Forman and Elizabeth Georgantas; our Event Committee; our Host Committee, and our generous Stargazer Gala sponsors for making this event possible! We hope you will join us in supporting our biggest event of the year.  

 

Tickets and sponsorships are available online at mariamitchell.org/the-stargazer-gala or by calling the MMA at 508-228-9198.  

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. 


### 


For Immediate Release

July 12, 2024

Contact: Allison Lowe

marketinginterns@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • September 21, 2026
Sept. 24, 1881. . . . Mr. I. {van Ingen} thinks that not a person on the Board of Trustees would approve of the clause in Mr. Vassar’s will which objected to women as occupants of chairs. Just months before, Maria Mitchell had written a letter describing the controversy surrounding the bequest of Matthew Vassar to the college he founded. The large sum was separated out within his will, including the establishment of department chairs. The bequest for this action, however, did not allow for women professors to have a chair. Quite shocking for a women’s college but then, there were early trustees in the College’s founding who believed that women professors should not exist at Vassar! Maria would be the first professor Vassar hired – male OR female. JNLF

Hoop Rolling

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • September 14, 2026
Do you know what these Mitchell House Junior Historians are doing? It is a good old-fashioned round of hoop rolling. And, they had a lot of fun learning how to use them down at the Coffin School one day. Hoop rolling or hoop trundling were popular from very early on and well into the twentieth century. By early on I mean Ancient Greece even. It’s on ancient pottery and was not limited to children! Native Americans, ancient Rome, 16 th century England – it’s been known by different names, taken various formats, played by various ages, and played through various ages. In the nineteenth century, both boys and girls did hoop rolling – and it was likely seen as a more “ladylike” active game that girls could play. I’m assuming that is likely the reason why several women’s colleges still have I tradition of rolling hoops. We use these sometimes in the summer during our weeklong Mitchell House children’s program – Junior Historians. Do not be too surprised if you see me out on the lawn on Vestal Street practicing on warm days this fall, winter, and spring! Got to get up to speed! JNLF

Keep Calm and Bird On: September 2026

September 1, 2026
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews
Show More