Chappaquiddick Island

island, Massachusetts, United States

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June 24, 2026

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Chappaquiddick Island is a small island located in Nantucket Sound, off the southeastern coast of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the town of Edgartown, which was first settled in 1642.12

Historically, Edgartown was a significant home port for whaling vessels in the 18th century. Today, the area relies heavily on tourism and offers recreational activities like yachting and access to beaches. Chappaquiddick Island is connected to Martha's Vineyard by ferry.2

In 1969, Chappaquiddick gained national attention due to an incident involving U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, where a car he was driving went off a bridge, resulting in the drowning of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.2

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Edgartown
The town comprises Chappaquiddick Island and the eastern tip of the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The oldest settlement on the island, Edgartown dates from 1642 and was incorporated in 1671 and named for Edgar, son of James II of England; the town had previously been called Nunnepog (Algonquian…
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The town comprises Chappaquiddick Island and the eastern tip of the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The oldest settlement on the island, Edgartown dates from 1642 and was incorporated in 1671 and named for Edgar, son of James II of England; the town had previously been called Nunnepog (Algonquian…
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Martha’s Vineyard
with the Elizabeth Islands [west], Chappaquiddick Island [east], and the island called Nomans Land [or No Man’s Land; southwest]). Early attempts at farming, brickmaking, and fish smoking gave way in the 18th and 19th centuries to the development of whaling and fishing enterprises based at Edgartown (incorporated 1671), which once…
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with the Elizabeth Islands [west], Chappaquiddick Island [east], and the island called Nomans Land [or No Man’s Land; southwest]). Early attempts at farming, brickmaking, and fish smoking gave way in the 18th and 19th centuries to the development of whaling and fishing enterprises based at Edgartown (incorporated 1671), which once…
Read More