Aquinnah, Massachusetts

"Aquinnah" redirects here. For the federally-recognized tribe of that name, see Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head.

"Gay Head" redirects here. For the 1891 sidewheel steamer, see Gay Head (steamboat).

Aquinnah, Massachusetts Âhqunah
Town
Town of Aquinnah
The Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah and the Gay Head Lighthouse on the western end of Martha's Vineyard.
Flag Seal
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°20′4″N 70°47′45″W
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Dukes
Settled	1669
Incorporated	April 13, 1870 (as Gay Head)
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
• Town Manager	Jeffrey Madison
Area
• Total	40.8 sq mi (105.6 km2)
• Land	5.4 sq mi (13.9 km2)
• Water	35.4 sq mi (91.7 km2)
Elevation	98 ft (30 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	439
• Density	82/sq mi (31.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	02535
Area code	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-01585
GNIS feature ID	0618289
Website	aquinnah-ma.gov

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Aquinnah (/əˈkwɪnə/ ə-KWIN-ə; Wampanoag: Âhqunah) is a town on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. From 1870 to 1997, the town was incorporated as Gay Head. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 439. Aquinnah is known for its beautiful clay cliffs and natural serenity, as well as its historical importance to the native Wampanoag people. In 1965, Gay Head Cliffs were designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

Aquinnah is celebrated as a center of Wampanoag culture and a center of pride and tradition among members of the federally recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. They comprise approximately one-third of the town's voters and are one of two federally recognized tribes of Wampanoag people in Massachusetts. This area is one of the earliest sites of whaling, with the Wampanoag harpooning their catch long before commercial whaling became the major maritime industry of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the 19th century.