The islands of Martha\'s Vineyard and Nantucket, off the Cape Cod coast of Massachusetts, were first inhabited by members of the Wampanoag tribe.
Al.
In 1818, the little steamer Eagle was the first to cross Nantucket Sound.
The islands were first served by privately owned sailing vessels, but things began to change with the introduction of marine steam power.
As the populations and commerce grew, so did the need for reliable transportation.
English settlements were established in the mid-1600s.
The islands of Martha\'s Vineyard and Nantucket, off the Cape Cod coast of Massachusetts, were first inhabited by members of the Wampanoag tribe