The Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) is excited to announce the launch of the first-ever Nantucket Lightship Basketmaking online Heritage Craft workshop, the first of its kind to teach the process from start to finish. The lightship basket is often viewed as the most notable craft form originating from Nantucket, and a cornerstone workshop at the NHA. Online Heritage Craft workshops, designed to be accessible to all, first launched by the NHA during the pandemic, allowed students to enjoy Heritage Craft programming from the comfort of their own home. This new Nantucket basketmaking workshop has been in high demand since the NHA launched online workshops. It includes pre-recorded video lessons and all materials packaged into a kit. The workshop is taught by master basketmaker, Kathleen Myers, who effortlessly shares over three decades of weaving knowledge throughout the course. The online workshop will become available on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
“The NHA prides itself on our collection of information, and we want to share it with the world. Online workshops are the perfect way to offer our knowledge and care to those who are searching for it but cannot travel here. The traditions and history of our island are worth learning, and we hope this workshop can open more doors for people to see that. We thank Kathleen for her willingness to lend her knowledge and talent to this online offering for one of Nantucket’s most notable crafts,” said Niles Parker, NHA Gosnell Executive Director.
After examining the UK Red List of Endangered Crafts 2025, an archive focused on lost crafts, it was apparent that traditional Nantucket arts were on the list. Many handcrafts are endangered due to a lack of trained artisans able to continue these traditions. The mission of the NHA’s Heritage Craft programming is to preserve these skills rooted in Nantucket’s history through hands-on learning for all skill levels and audiences. Online workshops are a key part of this initiative, transforming a physical lesson into a digital workshop, ensuring that the skills and information are preserved and accessible for audiences on Nantucket and beyond for years to come.
Nantucket lightship baskets have significance to Nantucket Island on multiple levels. The original craft began on Nantucket lightships. The South Shoals just southeast of Nantucket were hazardous, and a lightship—a floating lighthouse—was first stationed there in 1854. Nantucket mariner Thomas S. James became first mate of the lightship in the 1860s, and he is traditionally credited with introducing the practice of basketmaking to the lightship’s crew. Most of the men hired to work the South Shoal Lightship were Nantucketers, and many continued to weave baskets after their time aboard. Later, the evolution of lightship baskets continued with José Formoso Reyes’s adaptation of the basket into a purse, in which he added a lid to the open face. These are now known as friendship baskets, and the once-traditional basket, built for functionality, has become an iconic symbol recognized globally.
“The NHA’s Heritage Craft program offers in-person basket weaving classes throughout the year, and each one sells out. We have been working for a long time to make this course available to those who haven’t been able to attend an in-person workshop. I am so pleased that the day is finally here, and more people get to experience all the wonderful work we are doing through the program, especially with a talent like Kathleen Myers. We are constantly evolving, and we want to make sure those who want to learn these skills are involved every step of the way,” said Artistic Director of Heritage Craft, Mary Lacoursiere.
Program instructor Kathleen Myers has been weaving baskets for 30 years. In 2021 and 2022, Myers guest curated the basket exhibitions at the NHA’s Hadwen House; previously, she had assisted with the annual exhibitions at the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. She works alongside other notable Nantucket basketmakers, including Tim Parsons, Nap Plank, Karol Lindquist, and Alan Reed. Myers’ skill set runs deep, and she is best known for her elaborate basket nests.
The NHA Heritage Craft program is the focal point of preserving at-risk arts on Nantucket. It has become the blueprint for inspiration, creativity, and tradition over more than two decades of activation. Grounded in Nantucket history, this program has a mission to continue the art of artisanal skills for generations to come.
This year, the Heritage Craft program is offering over 100 different in-person workshops to the public and 17 online workshops to audiences worldwide. To view a brief video introduction to the Nantucket Lightship Basketmaking workshop, visit here. To learn more about the NHA’s Heritage Craft programming and to register for a workshop, visit heritagecraftonline.nha.org/
The Nantucket Historical Association preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse stories of Nantucket with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research.