Nantucket shipbuilding began in the late 1700s and culminated in the construction of notable whaling ships during the early 19th century. Shipbuilding was predominantly sited at Brant Point. Whaling ship construction concluded in 1838.
Shipbuilding at Brant Point.
Nantucket lies 30 miles off the southern coastline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. By the late 17th century, the few groves of forest trees on Nantucket were gone except for small numbers of isolated oak and beech trees. These relatively few Nantucket forest trees were cut for firewood, fence posts, and short boards for diverse construction projects. Land was taken for agriculture and stock raising. Any timbers needed for architectural and shipbuilding use were imported from the mainland, with the result that most Nantucket whaling, fishing, and maritime trade was carried on in vessels purchased from shipbuilders elsewhere in New England.
Brant Point on the north side of Nantucket harbor still has the sandy beach that was a good site for building large wooden ships and it is the location of Brant Point Light.
The first ship built on Nantucket after the town moved to Great Harbor was the brig "Dolphin", a West Indies trader launched in 1770. 
In 1802, the trading ship 'Rose' was built at Nantucket for use in the China trade. On her last voyage under the United States flag, the 'Rose' was captured by the British and finished her days as a dispatch ship for the Royal Navy.
Whaling ships.
The "Charles Carroll".
In 1832, the whaler 'Charles Carroll' was built for captain and 1/32 share owner Owen Chase the first mate and survivor of the Essex tragedy. This history is confirmed by other references to Capt. Owen Chase.
The "Nantucket".
At 350 tons, "Nantucket" was the first Nantucket Island ship built of Live oak with copper fastenings. The construction cost for the vessel was $52,000. "Nantucket's" short life ended when she was wrecked in 1859.
The "Lexington".
Also built in 1838 of live oak and copper fastenings was the whaler 'Lexington' at 399 tons. She was valued at $24,000 and ended her life when wrecked in 1859. Mrs. Eliza Spenser Brock wrote a detailed and important history of a whaling voyage when she accompanied he husband, and Lexington's captain, on a Lexington whaling voyage in 1853.
The "Joseph Starbuck".
In 1838, Joseph Starbuck built the last whaler constructed at Brant Point and named it after himself – the 'Joseph Starbuck'.
Whaling Voyage of the "Joseph Starbuck" –
Footnotes.
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