History of Martha's Vineyard in Timeline

Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA. It's a well-known, affluent summer destination and includes Chappaquiddick Island. With a land area of approximately 96 square miles, it's the 58th largest island in the U.S. and the third-largest on the East Coast. The island forms the majority of Dukes County, Massachusetts, which also encompasses the Elizabeth Islands and Nomans Land.

1927: Heath Hen Population Decline

By 1927, the population of heath hens on Martha's Vineyard had dropped to 13, despite efforts to protect the species.

1932: Death of Booming Ben

In 1932, "Booming Ben", the last known heath hen, an extinct subspecies of the greater prairie chicken, perished on Martha's Vineyard.

1941: Military Training Missions Begin

In 1941, Martha's Vineyard was used by the Army, Navy and Air Force for training missions.

1945: Military Training Missions End

In 1945, the Army, Navy and Air Force ended their training missions on Martha's Vineyard.

August 27, 1948: Highest Daily Maximum Temperature

On August 27, 1948, the highest daily maximum temperature recorded on Martha's Vineyard was 99 °F (37.2 °C).

1952: Death of Katie West

In 1952, Katie West, the last deaf person born into the island's sign-language tradition, died.

1961: Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature

In 1961, on February 2 and 3, the lowest daily minimum temperature recorded on Martha's Vineyard was −9 °F (−22.8 °C).

1963: William Labov's Study

In 1963, William Labov wrote his master's thesis on changes in the Martha's Vineyard dialect of English, a study recognized as a seminal work in sociolinguistics.

July 18, 1969: Chappaquiddick Incident

On July 18, 1969, the "Chappaquiddick incident" occurred, resulting in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne after a car driven by U.S. Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy went off the Dike Bridge.

November 23, 1970: Simas Kudirka's Defection Attempt

On November 23, 1970, Simas Kudirka, a Soviet seaman, attempted to defect to the United States by leaping onto a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, but was forcibly returned to the Soviet vessel.

1974: Filming of Jaws

In 1974, Steven Spielberg filmed the movie Jaws on Martha's Vineyard, using island natives as extras.

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1977: Secession Consideration

In 1977, inhabitants of Martha's Vineyard considered seceding from Massachusetts due to losing their guaranteed seat in the Massachusetts General Court.

December 26, 1980: Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature

On December 26, 1980, the lowest daily maximum temperature recorded on Martha's Vineyard was 7 °F (−13.9 °C).

March 5, 1982: Death of John Belushi

On March 5, 1982, John Belushi died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles and was buried in Abel's Hill Cemetery in Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard.

1985: Martha's Vineyard AVA Designation

In 1985, Martha's Vineyard and Chappaquiddick Island were included in the Martha's Vineyard AVA designation for wine appellation.

1994: Death of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

In 1994, John F. Kennedy's mother, former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, died. She maintained a home in Aquinnah.

1994: Release of The Inkwell film

In 1994, The Inkwell, a film directed by Matty Rich, was released. The film deals with the close-knit African-American community on Martha's Vineyard, particularly around Oak Bluffs.

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1995: Death of Alfred Eisenstaedt

In 1995, Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, a fifty-year summer resident, died on Martha's Vineyard.

1998: African American Heritage Trail Founded

In 1998, the African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard was founded by Carrie Camillo Tankard and Elaine Cawley Weintraub.

July 16, 1999: Plane Crash off Martha's Vineyard

On July 16, 1999, a small plane crashed off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, killing John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette.

2000: Tularemia Outbreak

In the summer of 2000, an outbreak of tularemia occurred on Martha's Vineyard, resulting in one death and drawing the attention of the CDC.

June 2005: 30th Anniversary of Jaws

In June 2005, Martha's Vineyard celebrated the 30th anniversary of Jaws with a weekend-long Jawsfest.

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2006: Cost of Living Study

In 2006, a study by the Martha's Vineyard Commission revealed that the cost of living on the island was 60 percent higher than the national average and housing prices were 96 percent higher.

2006: Geraldine Brooks' Residence

Since 2006, the Australian-born author Geraldine Brooks, writer of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel March, has lived on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Tony Horwitz, and their two sons.