The Martha's Vineyard was a sidewheel steamer

Paddle steamer

A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...

 operating as a ferry

Ferry

A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...

 serving the island of Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....

 during the second half of the nineteenth century.

It was built in 1871 in Brooklyn, NY. It was a 515-ton vessel, 185 feet long, with a 29' beam.

A 1961 Vineyard Gazette article noted the beauty of the vessel: "The Martha's Vineyard...had decorated paddleboxes that made large, rhythmic and beautiful half-circles on the sides." as well as how exposed it was: " The Martha's Vineyard at first had no hurricane deck open to passengers, and eventually only a partial one." The same article also adds a quotation from 1871:

"The cabins, saloons, ante-rooms, etc., are comfortable and roomy, and finished in a handsome manner. The lower cabin, which extends from the stern to the after end of the engine, has locker seats on the sides, and the kitchen and stewards' rooms are adjoining, on each side of the engine. There is a flight of stairs, black walnut, from the after part of the cabin to the ladies' saloon, as well as a similar flight from the forward part. This saloon is nearly double the size of that of the Monohansett, and its ample space is handsomely carpeted and finished in a very tasteful manner. A flight of double circular stairs, of black walnut, aft of the engine, connects with the promenade saloon, which is 90 feet in length, extending from the stern to the forward gangway. The saloon is enclosed with broad handsome windows, opening on the guards and there is an open promenade deck fore and aft. A handsome carpet covers the floor of the saloon, and black walnut seats encompass the magnificent room. There is a handsome dome over the stairway with fancy glass windows. The painting and panel work of the saloon is particularly outstanding."

From 1871 until 1886, the Martha's Vineyard and the Monohansett

Monohansett (steamboat)

The Monohansett was a sidewheel steamer operating as a ferry serving the island of Martha's Vineyard during the end of the nineteenth century. It was named after Monohansett Island, a tiny twelve-acre island off Naushon.-Construction:...

 were the only two ferries serving Martha's Vineyard.

In March 1886 the Martha's Vineyard became one of the initial four steamers operating for the newly organized New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co. (The other three were River Queen

River Queen (steamboat)

The River Queen was a sidewheel steamer operating as a ferry serving the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket during the late 19th century. It is closely associated with President Abraham Lincoln and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.-Construction:...

, Island Home

Island Home (steamboat)

The Island Home was a sidewheel steamer operating as a ferry serving the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket during the second half of the nineteenth century.-Nantucket Ferry Service:...

 and the Monohansett.)

In 1922, a new ferry Martha's Vineyard began service to the island. It operated until at least the 1940s.

In 1993, a third steamship , started its service to Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole. It was named after this 19th-century steamer.