Shearer Cottage has been recognized both locally and nationally for its participation in the thriving Black community on Martha’s Vineyard:

Museums and Historical Societies

• The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. celebrates the Inn’s significance by featuring its story in a permanent exhibit called “The Power of Place.”

• Henrietta and Charles Shearer are also prominently featured in the Martha’s Vineyard Museum for their entrepreneurship and impact on island communities.

• Shearer Cottage was dedicated as the first landmark on the African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard.

“Shearer Cottage has remained one of Martha’s Vineyard’s landmark institutions and an integral component of the rich history of African American life, commerce and culture in Oak Bluffs.”

Kevin Strait, Museum Curator

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

“There is no island history without Oak Bluffs, and there is no Oak Bluffs history without Shearer Cottage.”

Heather L. Seger, Executive Director

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

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