Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Announces New Habitats for Their Tortoise Ambassadors at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum By Nantucket Pack 92 Cub Scouts

January 27, 2025

NANTUCKET, MA—The Maria Mitchell Association is thrilled to announce the generous contribution of time, talent, and hard work from the Nantucket Pack 92 Cub Scouts, who have graciously lent their efforts to create new, custom homes for our beloved tortoises at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, Mzee and Melvin.

 

Over the course of 2024, both Mzee and Melvin experienced considerable growth, and it quickly became apparent that their current habitat would no longer meet their needs. Recognizing this, Pack 92 eagerly rose to the occasion, taking on the task of designing and constructing two new, spacious enclosures. Through their ingenuity and craftsmanship, the Scouts meticulously resized, lined, and decorated wooden crates to transform them into ideal homes for the tortoises, ensuring a comfortable and secure environment for them to thrive in for years to come.

 

On Sunday, January 18th, the Scouts gathered at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum to assist in the relocation of Mzee and Melvin into their new homes. It was a busy morning filled with activity, as the Scouts moved rocks, prepared a suitable substrate, constructed protective covers, and—inevitably—got a little muddy in the process. Throughout the day, their enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork shone brightly, as they worked tirelessly to ensure the tortoises' comfort and well-being.


Mzee and Melvin have since settled into their new enclosures and are enjoying the extra space and improved surroundings. The tortoises, as always, are eager to welcome visitors to their new homes. The Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, at 7 Milk Street, invites all to stop by and see Mzee and Melvin in their new habitats, with visiting hours on Fridays from 3 – 7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 2pm. The Maria Mitchell Association extends its heartfelt thanks to the Cub Scouts of Pack 92 for their selfless dedication to this project, which will undoubtedly benefit Mzee and Melvin for many years to come.


Image by Christy Baker.


The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages


###

For Immediate Release

January 27, 2025

Contact: Christina Norman

cnorman@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

At Long Last!

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 9, 2025
After several yes’s and then several no’s, not going to have time, we have indeed received the final layer of asphalt on Vestal Street. This goes back to last March and April when we finally had our sewer and waterlines replaced. While I am all about preservation, 1903 piping is a bit old and tired and filled with tree roots to make the passage of sewer sludge quick and easy. While we still await some fixes to curbing – we have our original concrete curbs from 1946/1947 when Vestal Street was first paved – it was dirt until then! – some of them have been buried by time and just need some suavity to pull them up and get them back where they go. Thank you to the Town, N&M, and Victor Braden for completing the work thus far. But, with the paving completed, we may possible begin the replacement of some of our picket fencing and we have permission to restore our fences to what originally existed along the street in the 1920s and earlier – the rail was a rolled, thick top – and we are excited to use some grant funding to make that happen. Stay tuned! JNLF

A Graceful Lady

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 3, 2025
We have finally gotten out of significant drought status into mild drought. I would say we had nothing to do with it, but with climate change, we do. However, I appreciate Mother Nature’s recent gifts though these days they come hard, fast, and extreme. I always say that the May rains create a “whoomph factor.” With each rain, it seems the leaves grow over night to a new stage, of the underbrush does, of the plants in your garden. Its several “whoomphs” over the month as it rains. One “whoomph” brought about the Pink Lady Slippers. They seem a bit early this year – I usually look for them in early June – but on a walk the other morning at 6AM with our Siberian Husky, I decided to look at two places – one along the street behind where an old pine tree, now dead and gone, was located, and along our driveway in the scrub oak. And low and behold, they were there – one at the pine tree stump and two in our driveway. These are endangered in many places, including here on island. These are all plants that Maria Mitchell would have found in abundance depending on where she was walking on the island. Unfortunately with overdevelopment and someone thinking, “Oh what a lovely flower, I will take it home,” and over mowing along roads, these are quickly disappearing along with other plants like the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, Pearly Everlasting, Sea Lavender – the list goes on and its depressing. So please, make yourself aware, and try and find ways to avoid mowing or digging these up. Mow AROUND them instead. Leave their areas undisturbed. They are not just lovely to look at; they are important parts of our ecosystem.  JNLF

Keep Calm and Bird On: June 2025

June 1, 2025
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews
Show More