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East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars

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East Wing of the Captain Morse House
Front Door
The Captain Morse House - front porches
Front Porch - 1st floor
View down Morse to the harbor

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14292.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Gym
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Edgartown, MA
  • Edgartown Lighthouse
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Lighthouse Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Edgartown Beach
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom #2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom #3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom #4

1 King Bed

Bedroom #10

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom #12

1 Double Sofa Bed

Master Bedroom #1

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bath #1

Toilet · Shower only

Bath #3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bath #4

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars

The Captain Morse House is located in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. The East Wing of the house is a totally private home and a part of the 26 room Captain Morse House. The Wings are 100% private just like a townhouse is. There is no shared interior space; each 6-bedroom wing has its own kitchen, entrances, and rooms. See below for detailed information.

The Captain Morse House is one of Edgartown's premier homes. It was built by the island's most successful whaler, Captain John Osbourne Morse, in 1840. The Captain Morse House has a superb location on the waterfront and is a short walk to Edgartown's shopping and beaches. The Captain Morse House is located at the corner of Morse and North Water Streets. The town of Edgartown is defined by its Main Street. To the south is South Water Street, which winds by the giant pagoda tree and towards the road to Katama and South Beach. North Water Street runs the opposite way, and the Captain Morse House is located about halfway between Main Street and the Harbor View Hotel, which overlooks the Edgartown Lighthouse and the outer harbor.

On the North Water Street side of the house, there are two spacious porches framed by 10 Doric columns, offering views of Edgartown Harbor. They create an ideal place to spend time with friends. The large patio, backyard, and garden offer a private oasis. Three magnificent Linden trees grace the yard. Edgartown's North Wharf lies steps away at the end of Morse Street. It is a great place to go and enjoy the waterfront or perhaps some fishing.

As you might be able to guess, we specialize in large families, family reunions, weddings, and anniversaries. Changing demand from our guests has led us to offer the home in Wings. Wing rentals are now fully 50% of our rental business. East Wing Rental (The property you are currently viewing)

Accommodations: 10 rooms, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, sleeps up to 12 people.

The East Wing 1st Floor of the house is the larger and more luxurious of the two. There is a large front living room with access to the large front porch facing North Water Street with water views of Edgartown Harbor. Just off the living room, there is an en-suite bedroom with a sleeper sofa equipped with an "air-dream" mattress. The large dining room can seat 12, and there is a large gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances.
The 2nd floor features a king bedroom that can be made en-suite, two Queen Bedrooms, a large double twin bedroom, and two baths.
The 3rd floor includes a small sitting area and a large front bedroom with a Queen bed and two twin beds.

The stairs in this 1840 home are steep. People with mobility issues should stay on the 1st floor or use the elevator. West Wing Rental (If you want this Wing you will need to exit this property and search for it)

Accommodations: 9 rooms, 6 bedrooms plus a sleeping loft, 4 bathrooms, sleeps up to 12.

The 1st-floor consists of an open-plan living room and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, a private bar, a Queen bedroom, and an en-suite bath. The west door exits right onto the large patio and lawn.
At the top of the 2nd-floor staircase is a loft with a bunk bed and a twin bed for three people, plus a shared bath. Through the hall is a single bedroom, a large king bedroom, and an en-suite bath.
The 3rd-floor has a double bedroom for two, two single bedrooms, and a full bathroom.

Please note that the stairs in this 1840s house are steep. People with mobility issues should sleep on the 1st floor. Shared Amenities

EXTERIOR
When you rent a Wing of the house, you share the large backyard, patio, and driveway. On the patio are two large 8-person teak tables, each with a large market umbrella. There are two large BBQ grills. On the lawn are eight chaise lounges. The tool shed has shared bikes and a toy box with beach chairs and umbrellas. We have space for four cars in our single-lane driveway. There is available parking one block away for another two cars. When the other Wing has guests, the East Wing has the driveway, and the West Wing has the two off-site parking spots just down the street. There is no overnight street parking except for the two town parking lots at the foot of Main Street and Mayhew Lane.

On the side of the property is a single-file driveway with off-street parking for one car for each wing. There is free parking on the street during the day. No parking from 2:00 am to 7:00 am. There are other parking locations around town, but none within walking distance of the house during the summer.

We have developed a system to allow a guest to have a patio party during one evening of their stay. Please see the EVENTS section below.

We have a 12-passenger Ford Transit van available as a separate rental. Please inquire. EVENTS:

We are happy to have events, but you must apply for written permission. For large events, we suggest renting the entire house.

We are committed to doing whatever we can to make your stay in our family home on Martha's Vineyard special. We think that our house is the best in town and offers our guests a truly unique experience. More detailed information on The Captain Morse House is on our website. Just search for Captain Morse house.

Summary of Standard East Wing Accommodations
Floor Description of accommodations by floor Bedrooms Beds Bed Types Sleeping Baths
1st 1 Bedroom with Queen Sofa Sleeper which will sleep 2 people (Bedrooms 12) 1 1 1QSofa 2 1
2nd 4 Bedrooms (Bedrooms 1 through 4 / 4's King can be made into 2 twins) 4 5 1K 2Q 2t 8 2
3rd 1 Bedroom and sitting area with 1 Queen and two twins (Bedroom 10) 1 3 1Q 2t 4
Total 6 10 1Q 1F 4t 14 3 Adding Accommodations to Wing Rentals

Changing the Accommodations in a Wing Rental
We have some flexibility in the way we split the house to add or subtract bedrooms. Please inquire if you are interested in this option.
Also, consider renting the entire home if you need more space.

Summary
We are committed to doing whatever we can to make your stay in our family home on Martha's Vineyard a special one. We think that our house is the best in town and offers our guests a truly unique experience.
More detailed information on The Captain Morse House is on our website. Just search for captainmorsehouse.

EXPECTATIONS
This is where, in the interest of transparency, we divulge everything you ought to know about the house.
This may repeat what is on Airbnb.

PARKING
The fewer cars you bring to the island the better. That said....
We have space for up to 4 cars in our single-lane driveway.
We also have rented guaranteed available additional parking one block away for another two cars and possibly more.
When the Wings are both rented the East Wing gets the driveway and the West Wing gets the two spots down the street. This way no one gets blocked in.

There is free parking on the street during the day for up to two hours in the season and all day off-season.
There is no parking overnight from 2:00 am to 7:00 am.
There are two town parking lots with overnight parking at the foot of Main Street and at nearby Mayhew Lane.
There is another lot up at the Triangle called the Dark Woods Lot.

WATER
You are 200 feet from Edgartown Harbor. Walk out of the house and down Morse Street to Edgartown's North Wharf. This is a public wharf and also houses the harbormaster and a marine store. We have a Boston Whaler that is docked here and available as a separate rental. We mention this because some may consider that a hazard.

STAIRS & RAILING
This house was built in 1840 before modern building standards. There are steep stairs from the West Wing of the 1st floor to the 3rd floor and from the East Wing's 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. There are also low railings on the porches and at the West Wing 2nd-floor landing. Small children will need supervision. People with mobility issues should stay on the 1st floor or use the elevator in the East Wing.

CAMERAS
Two exterior cameras and three doorbell cameras cover entrances and patio. The interior camera can be turned towards the wall when you come in.
These are for your protection only.

NOISE
You are three blocks away from Main Street. This is an "in-town" location with all the advantages of walking to pretty much anything you want. The disadvantage is that traffic will be sometimes heard at the corner of Morse Street and North Water Street. The other Wings Guests can sometimes be heard.

TERMS AND RATES:

All pricing, availability, and terms are subject to change without notice. We use dynamic pricing that adjusts to market demand and other factors.
A booking is confirmed only when we receive a payment and a signed lease.
All rentals are subject to our lease, manual, and house rules whether you have expressly signed a lease or not.
Each guest making a booking must sign our lease and provide your personal email, cell phone, legal mailing address (no PO Boxes), picture of a valid government ID, and a selfie showing the ID next to your face.
We reserve the right to cancel any booking where we feel the rates are inaccurate or when the guest fails to adhere to our house rules.

Unauthorized Late Check-Out or Early Check-Ins seriously disrupt our existing guests, cleaners, and caretakers. The fee for these is $100 per quarter hour

REV: 2025-01

Property manager

Platt Johnson
Premier Host

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please note that the stairs to the second and thir
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Events

Events allowed
Only with separate written permission from host.
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Pets

Pets allowed
When you pay a pet fee you can bring your pet/anim
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Tenant is required to sign our rental agreement. If you want permission to bring an animal then you must pay a pet fee.
A Security Deposit (not a payment but a Credit Hold) will be placed on your Credit Card / No events at the house without landlords written permission.
Always report any accidental damages or breakages in a timely manner before you check-out. There is insurance for that possibility.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Only with separate written permission from host.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number C0028280890

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Edgartown

Located in Edgartown, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Edgartown Lighthouse and Old Whaling Church are local landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Circuit Avenue and Main Street. Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier and Flying Horses Carousel are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Edgartown, MA

What's nearby

  • Edgartown Lighthouse - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Lighthouse Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Edgartown Beach - 7 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust Historic Buildings - 8 min drive - 6.9 km
  • South Beach - 12 min drive - 6.3 km

Getting around

  • Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY-Martha's Vineyard) - 11 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Seafood Shanty - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Nomans - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Wharf Pub & Restaurant - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Katama General Store - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Espresso Love - ‬8 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is East Wing of Captain Morse House Luxury Waterfront, Town & Beach, Pets - 5 stars located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Vincent House Museum, Old Whaling Church and Edgartown Lighthouse. Lighthouse Beach and Edgartown Public Library are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 10 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 10 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 10 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 10 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Katherine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, spacious property

This was a beautiful property in a prime location on the vineyard. The home is enormous, with lots of room for a group to enjoy. Communication with the owner was excellent, he was very informative throughout our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Matthew M.

Stunning

Beautiful property! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their stay at this charming historic house. The mothers were especially delighted, as they were able to check off their bucket list item of staying in a historic home. The updated bathrooms were a hit with everyone – the one with the waterfall shower was particularly popular. Thank you for hosting us; it truly felt like a home away from home after our busy days exploring Martha’s Vineyard.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jayne B.

Great gathering place for large family

The house was beautiful and spacious. We loved having all ten of us in the same home, without feeling crowded. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook for Thanksgiving. We will plan to stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Candice K.

Friends weekend

Property was lovely and well stocked with everything you need to enjoy your stay from bikes, beach chairs, yoga mat’s and pack n plays if you have little ones. We loved sitting on the deck and people watching while we sipped coffee.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Thaddeus E.

Great Historic Home.

The property is great. Location is great. Lots of rules for the house because it is an historic mansion. The water view from the East Wing is totally blocked by neighbors trees and bushes. So don’t select expecting a water view. The balconies with Street views are great for morning coffee and waving to friendly people walking by. Loved the free bikes onsite. Greatly enjoyed our stay. But no water view from inside the house or from balconies. The management is off site but very responsive.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan K.

Historic and comfortable house in the perfect location!

We stayed in the East wing of the house comfortably with 8 people. The house has nice beds and everyone is provided a plush robe to use during their stay. We felt right at home. We did a fair amount of cooking at the house and the kitchen is very well equipped with suitable pots of all sizes, dishes and top notch appliances. The house has amazing antiques and artwork throughout. We had use of nice bicycles and helmets and used the gas grill a few of the nights. The backyard is beautiful and private and has lounges and tables with umbrellas for al fresco dining. We enjoyed sitting on the upper and lower porches and looking out to the soothing water view. Five stars!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Thomas S.

Fantastic Trip All Around

Our week in the vineyard exceeded our expectations due in part to the fantastic location of the Captain Morse House in the center of Edgartown. Everything was in walking distance and the when we opted for porch sitting instead, it felt like we were at home. The rooms were well appointed and we even had a concierge visit when we arrived to assist with settling in and who came by almost daily to check in on our needs - we even had two bottles of wine ready to greet us! It was these extra comforts that made the stay exceed our expectations. Also, the backyard was huge and that’s something because in town center you just don’t see that kind of green space available for private use. We didn’t bring our pet this time, but understand that the rental is pet friendly which is also a rarity for this quality of a home. If we ever visit Edgartown again we would stay here without question. Thanks again!

10/10 Excellent

Dianne F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach road festival

Great location close to ferry, bars and restaurants. Very clean and accessible.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Derek D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heart of Edgartown

The Captain Morse house will not disappoint. We stayed in the lovely East Wing and enjoyed the exceptional detail in the preserved historic home. The owner and property manager were helpful and responsive, and anticipated our every need. The house is situated within walking distance of the best Edgartown has to offer, including the Chappy Ferry. If you are hesitant in renting a historic home, rest assured that you will find every comfort and amenity, including beautiful state-of-the-art kitchen and baths, comfortable beds and even a cozy study. The house is also fully equipped with WiFi for those who need to stay connected. If we could give this a six star review, we would.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Paul C., New York, United States

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Historic home in Edgartown

This property is a large former sea captain’s home located in the heart of historic Edgartown. It is beautifully maintained and has the best equipped kitchen I have ever experienced in a vacation rental. We were a group of 10 friends so we cooked and ate in most days as it was not easy to get such a large group into any of the local restaurants. We enjoyed sitting on the large upstairs and downstairs porches in the evenings after dinner. On cooler nights, we enjoyed the spacious living room. The house has a large, formal dining room that could accommodate our entire group for dinner and there are tables in the back yard which we used for bbq dinners and when we pâté lobsters, as these are too messy for the dining room. Whenever we had the slightest question or issue, these were promptly addressed. All in all, we had a great time and would highly recommend this house.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020

About the host

Hosted by Platt Johnson

Host profile image
The Captain Morse House has been in our family since my father purchased it in 1955. I spent my summers at the house until I graduated from Tufts University. In 1973 I started Island Sports, a boat rigging and windsurfing shop. I expanded it to Newport RI in 1979 and ran it there until 2007 when we sold it. In 2008 I entered the vacation business and converted the Captain Morse House into a successful vacation rental. Since 2008 we have rented the home to over 200 families and groups.

Our most recent project is Vacation Rental MV. This is a full-service vacation management business designed to assist busy homeowners with listing and managing their on-island rental properties. 2021 will be our second season in business.

In the winter my wife and I live in Florida. Each spring we drive up to the island where we open up the house and prepare it for the season. We spend about a month doing this and then travel to Oregon where we spend the summer windsurfing, kitesurfing, and enjoying all that the Northwest has to offer. In the fall we return to the island and help close the house and prepare it for the winter. There are always jobs to do on a house this large and so this allows us more hands-on time. In the late fall, we travel back down to Florida with the geese. I have built several homes and enjoy the challenge of maintaining this old house and of creating wonderful living spaces suitable for large or small numbers of guests.

Due to my long time on the island. I can help to plan your vacation. I can provide you the best possible service if we communicate via telephone or email. Our guests aren't clients so much as they are friends assisting us in maintaining the property and keeping it in our family for future generations. The vacation rental business has allowed our family to continue to own the house and to share it with other people that love the island and the unique architecture and heritage of this wonderful building.

Why they chose this property

My father often visited Edgartown on his father's sailboat, the Gertrude. In 1955 my parents purchased the Captain Morse House in order to have a summer home to raise their growing family. Back in 1955 Edgartown was still a failed whaling town without the top reputation it now enjoys. Shortly after the purchase they added a separate kitchen and changed the house so that they could divide it into wings. This allowed them to rent them out separately. We have kept this configuration and you can still rent out the home Complete or as an East Wing or as a West Wing.

and I then spent every summer there until I moved to Newport Rhode Island in 1979. I continued to visit my parents each summer until 2007. I now spend as much time as I can on the island attending to the house and maintaining it. When it was built in 1840 it was perhaps the best home in Edgartown. Now movie stars and celebrities have built larger homes but non with the style and class of the Captain Morse House.

What makes this property unique

There are lots of modern and redone houses around but there are very few of these homes. Built in 1840 and filled with charm and character you will be enthralled by the beauty and simplicity of the home and it's surroundings.

Our guests say this is the perfect location. You are close to town and right up from the harbor. Park the car for the week or leave it on the mainland. Our location allows for freedom from car pooling and shuttles. Everything is literally a walk away. We love walking down Morse Street to the boatyard to see what's happening on the waterfront and to talk to the boaters and fisherman.
The large open home offers privacy and retreat no matter how many people fill the house.
The large backyard can serve as a base for quiet afternoons as well as an evening party.
The restaurants and shops are all an easy walk away but it is the waterfront that is the best part of living at the Captain Morse House. After all - it is a whaling Captain's home

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests