Vanderhoop, Edwin DeVries, Homestead
Also known as: Vanderhoop Homestead
Why it's listed
Perched on the windswept moors above the Gay Head Cliffs at the western end of South Road in Aquinnah, this shingled house was built or assembled between 1890 and 1897 for Edwin DeVries Vanderhoop. It consists of two offset Cape-style blocks with steep gable roofs, wide cornices and corbelled brick chimneys, joined by a cross-gabled connector and surrounded by porches. Inside, the plan shows signs of having been put together from separate building units. Vanderhoop, born in 1848, was a whaling captain, the only Wampanoag elected to the state legislature, and the town enumerator for the 1900 census. The house stayed in his family for generations and was used as a home for more than a century. It is valued for its link to the Vanderhoop family of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, for its place in local social life, and as a well-preserved example of late 19th-century vernacular architecture on Martha's Vineyard. It is being rehabilitated as a museum and community center.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the prominent Vanderhoop family of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and to the civic and social life of the town. Its complex plan and late 19th-century vernacular form illustrate residential design on Martha's Vineyard. It retains a high level of integrity and has changed little since the early 20th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000784, listed September 6, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 35 South Rd., Aquinnah |
|---|---|
| County | Dukes County |
| Listed | September 6, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000784 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1890/97 - 1956 |
| Architectural style | No style (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Native American, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and undergoing rehabilitation for new use as a museum and community center; it had over a century of continuous residential use. |
| Acreage | 3.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.34576, -70.83511 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000784.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5346351
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.