Honestly, if you go to Martha’s Vineyard looking for "Amity Island," you’re going to find it. But it won't be on a map. You’ll find it in the salt air at Menemsha and the way the light hits the Edgartown Town Hall.
Most people think of Jaws as a movie about a shark. Locals? They remember it as the summer Hollywood invaded and basically forgot how tides work.
In 1974, a 27-year-old Steven Spielberg showed up with a mechanical shark that didn't work and a schedule that was more of a suggestion than a plan. He wanted authenticity. He refused to shoot in a tank. So, he dragged a 1.2-ton "great white turd" named Bruce into the Atlantic, and the rest is cinematic history—and a lot of local headaches.
The Bridge Everyone Jumps Off (Even Though They Shouldn't)
If you’ve seen the movie, you know the scene. The shark enters the "pond," and the guy in the rowboat doesn't have a great Tuesday. That happened at the American Legion Memorial Bridge.
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Today, everyone just calls it the Jaws Bridge.
It connects Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. On any given July afternoon, you’ll see a line of teenagers and brave (or tipsy) adults lined up on the railing. There’s a big sign that says "No Jumping." Nobody cares. It’s a rite of passage.
The water beneath is usually about 12 to 15 feet deep, depending on the tide. If you time it wrong at low tide, you might hit the sandy bottom, which sucks. But looking out at Sengekontacket Pond from that railing? You can almost hear the John Williams cello notes.
Edgartown is Amity, Period.
Walking down Main Street in Edgartown feels like a fever dream for fans. The white clapboard buildings haven't changed much since 1974.
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The production team chose the Vineyard because the ocean floor stays shallow—about 35 feet deep—for miles offshore. This was crucial for the heavy mechanical rigs that held the shark up. But on land, they needed a place that looked like a "pristine" resort town.
- The Town Hall: It’s at 70 Main Street. It’s still the actual town hall. You can stand right where Quint scraped his fingernails down the chalkboard.
- The Hardware Store: Remember where Brody buys the yellow paint? That’s at the corner of South Water and Main. It’s a restaurant now, but the exterior is unmistakable.
- The Chappy Ferry: It’s still there, running back and forth to Chappaquiddick. The "On Time" ferry is exactly as small as it looks on screen.
The "Real" Quint Lived Here
Robert Shaw’s performance as Quint is legendary, but he didn't invent that character out of thin air. He based a lot of it on a local guy named Craig Kingsbury.
Kingsbury was a Vineyard fisherman who was "larger than life," according to everyone who knew him. He actually taught Shaw how to talk like a real New Englander. He even got a part in the movie as Ben Gardner—the guy whose head pops out of the hole in the boat.
That jump-scare? That’s a local legend’s head.
The production also built Quint’s shack in Menemsha. It was the only major set built for the film. Because of strict local zoning laws, the crew had to tear it down immediately after filming. They even had to promise to leave no trace. If you go to Menemsha today, the shack is gone, but the "salty" fishing village vibe is still 100% intact.
Why the Shark Sinking Was the Best Thing to Happen
Spielberg was miserable. The shoot was supposed to take 55 days; it took 159.
The mechanical sharks—there were three of them—hated the salt water. They sank. They broke. They looked fake. This forced Spielberg to shoot "from the shark's POV."
He used yellow barrels and music to show where the shark was because the actual shark was usually being repaired by a guy named Roy Arbogast. This "limitation" is why the movie is actually scary. It’s the suspense of what you don’t see.
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Locals like Charlie Blair, who was in his 20s during the shoot, remember the chaos. He worked on the "SS Garage Sale," a barge that held the dressing rooms. He saw the Orca II—the sinkable stunt boat—actually sink about 24 times.
Finding the Locations Today
You can’t just do a "studio tour." You have to explore.
- South Beach (Katama): This is where the opening bonfire happened. It’s still a huge, beautiful public beach.
- Cow Beach: Just down the way, this is where Chrissie Watkins took her final swim. The water is shallow and chilly.
- East Chop Drive: This is where Brody’s house was. The original house is gone (replaced by a newer one), but the garage is still there.
- The "Tear-Away" Dock: This was in Harthaven. It’s private property now, so don't go trespassing, but you can see the area from the road.
Actionable Tips for Your Jaws Pilgrimage
If you’re planning a trip to see the world of Jaws on Martha's Vineyard, do it right.
- Go in September: The water is still warm enough for a bridge jump, but the 150,000 summer tourists have mostly cleared out.
- Rent a Bike: You can ride from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along the beach road. It’s flat, and you’ll pass the Jaws Bridge and the Alex Kintner beach (State Beach) along the way.
- Visit the Museum: The Martha's Vineyard Museum often has "Jaws at 50" exhibits. They have real props, including one of the original yellow barrels.
- Check the Cinema: The Edgartown Cinema often plays the movie on a loop during the summer. There is nothing like watching that film while sitting 200 yards from where they filmed the hardware store scene.
Don't expect a theme park. The Vineyard is a real place with real people who are mostly proud of their connection to the film, even if they're tired of hearing the "bigger boat" quote. Respect the private properties, jump off the bridge at your own risk, and keep an eye on the horizon.