Place Information
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Aquinnah is a town located on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Prior to 1998 the town was known as Gay Head. The population was 344 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is known for its beautiful clay cliffs and quiet natural serenity, which has become less common in the heavily populated Northeastern United States. The clay cliffs/beach are one of the few nude beaches left in the U.S. More recently, it has become celebrated as a center of Wampanoag culture and a center of pride and tradition among members of the tribe, who make up about one-third of the town's voters. History
Before the arrival of English colonists, Aquinnah was inhabited by the Wampanoag, a Native American people. First settled by English colonists in 1669, it was officially separated from Chilmark and incorporated in 1870 as Gay Head, Massachusetts. In 1997, by popular vote of 39 to 36, the town changed its name to Aquinnah, which is Wampanoag for "land under the hill." Throughout its history, the town has been home to a Wampanoag community, which gained federal recognition in 1987 and controls tribal lands in the town. Research Tips
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