The Vanessa Noel Shoe Museum in Nantucket, located at the historic 1720 building 'The Seven Seas' on 46 Center Street, welcomes visitors free of charge from July 1 to August 11. Housed in the historic 1720 building once occupied by Captain George Pollard Jr., known for inspiring Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick through his ill-fated voyage on the Essex, the museum explores the evolution of footwear as a reflection of human culture.

The summer exhibit features a remarkable array of shoes, including ancient Inca footwear from the Tenth Century and cutting-edge Korean shoes crafted with 3D printing technology from the 22nd century. The Icon Collection includes notable shoes worn by Greta Garbo, George H. W. Bush, Harlem Globetrotters, model Kim Alexis, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams, among others.

Additionally, visitors can view over 500 designer shoes from hostess Susan Gutfreund's collection and explore displays highlighting sustainable production techniques with leather skins and plant-based leathers. Operating seven days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM, the museum invites everyone to discover the historical and cultural significance of footwear, celebrating their role as symbols of creativity, resilience, and social identity across centuries.