On November 20, 1820, an enraged sperm whale wrecked the whaleship Essex in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, leaving 20 sailors afloat in three small boats, 1,300 miles from land.

Fearing cannibals on the closest islands—20 to 30 days’ sail away—the officers set course instead for South America, hoping to run 3,000 miles against contrary winds before exhausting their limited food and water.

Three months later, passing ships picked up five emaciated survivors. Three others remained stranded on a remote island, and 12 men were dead—seven of them eaten by their starving shipmates.

The 2015 exhibition at the Nantucket Whaling Museum recounts the story of the Essex and its crew and explores where these men came from, what happened to them, and how their tragic tale has fascinated storytellers for 200 years.

This remastered video features Michael Harrison, then Robyn & John Davis Chief Curator of the Nantucket Historical Association, discussing the exhibition and how it came to be.

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