Nantucket

Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. With Tuckernuck and Muskeget Islands, it forms Nantucket County. It was formerly the leading whaling port in the world. Although now primarily a tourist destination, it still houses a small fishing industry. It also is the root of the famous rhyme: "There once was a man from Nantucket...".

Along with the island of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket voted in 1977 secede from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The secession movement was sparked by a proposed change to the Massachusetts Constitution, which would cut eighty members from the 240-strong state House of Representatives, reducing the islands' representation. Needless to say, the movement was not carried to fruition, as the islands remain a part of Massachusetts.

45 miles south of Nantucket on July 25, 1956, the Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria sunk after colliding with the SS Stockholm in heavy fog. 51 were killed in the crash but none lost their lives in the sinking.

On October 31, 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990 traveling from New York City to Cairo crashed off the coast of Nantucket, killing all 217 on-board.

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