General Info

Any account of the Harbor View's history must begin with Edgartown, its legendary birthplace. Settled in 1671, this early colony steadily came to be known as a prime port for whaling. And as that enterprise grew, so too did Edgartown, in both prominence and influence. In fact, by mid-1800, this bustling municipality had become the Vineyard's wealthiest. But as the whaling industry began to ebb, Edgartown officials turned their attention to a new source of prosperity: tourism. With ambitions of building the finest resort of its kind, local leaders set about creating an infrastructure â?? starting with light rail that connected the ferry port of Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, where a proposed hotel would welcome guests from around the world.