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The Ultimate Jaws Filming Location Map of Martha's Vineyard

By Jazmine Hogan Donaldson
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By Jazmine Hogan Donaldson
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Back in 1974, a few malfunctioning pneumatically powered prop sharks, water logged cameras, unwanted sailboats drifting into frame, seasick actors, a blown schedule, a really blown budget, and an up-and-coming director named Steven Spielberg made movie magic on Martha's Vineyard with Jaws. The film, based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, went on to win multiple Academy Awards and is considered the original summer blockbuster. Just why was one of the most successful motion pictures of all time filmed on the Vineyard?

Well, long before state's began offering film tax incentives, turning the Carolina's into the default stand-in for the Cape & Islands, the production went in search of "a vacation area that was lower middle class enough so that an appearance of a shark would destroy the tourist business." As we said, it was a long time ago. Anyway, cue Martha's Vineyard - and the John Williams score - for the fictional island of Amity. These days, the real island celebrates the fake island being terrorized by an enormous great white shark with the occasional JawsFest and plenty of readily-available "You're gonna need a bigger boat" type of swag. Since the movie was released almost 40 years ago, on June 1, 1975, here's hoping there's some sort of huge anniversary event being planned. In the meantime, we've mapped out many of the Amity filming locations, with help from Then & Now Movie Locations, The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations, and this IGN round-up. Take the Jaws tour this way:


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Opening Scene

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"Jaws" begins here with a beach bonfire and the demise of poor Chrissie Watkins.

South Beach, Edgartown, MA 02539

Brody House

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The house featured in the production has been completely renovated, but this is still Chief Martin Brody's address.

265 East Chop Drive, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Amity Police Department

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Brody types up the first "shark attack" police report here just before the secretary tells him about a far more serious crime, some nine-year-olds karate-chopping fences. Ugh, kids. Oh, well, it's off to Amity Hardware for shark warning sign supplies.

South Water Street & Davis Lane, Edgartown, MA 02539

Keisel's Bicycle Rental & Amity Gazette

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The Amity Gazette and Keisel's Bicycle Rental are a stone's throw away from one another on S. Water Street. Here, shop owner Keisel complains to Brody about the karate-choppers damaging his bicycles and said fence.

2 South Water Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Amity Hardware

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Brody grabs supplies for his "Beach Closed" mission at Amity Hardware and then walks through the center of town.

South Water Street & Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Chappy Ferry

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The ferry worked as both a principal camera boat for the production and starred in the scene where Brody is browbeaten by the mayor into keeping the beaches open for the Fourth. You know, for the tourists. "Martin, it's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July."

53 Dock Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Amity Town Hall

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Sure, things have changed some at Edgartown's actual Town Hall, but there's no doubt still a blackboard around awaiting a Quint-style scrape.

70 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Billboard/Lighthouse

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This is where the Mayor, Brody and Hooper argue about keeping the beaches open, referencing the defaced "Amity Island Welcomes You" billboard.You should probably check out Gay Head Light while you can, the place is battling erosion and there's a fundraising effort underway to move the lighthouse back from the crumbling clay cliffs.

35 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, MA 02535

Swimming Beach/Alex Kintner Attack

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"Alex...?""Alex...?"

Joseph Sylvia State Beach, Oak Bluffs, MA 02539

The Bridge!

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If there's one can't-miss "Jaws" location, it's the bridge between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. What makes it special? Well, there's the "Jaws" connection and the fact that you're not actually supposed to jump off. Thus, the Jaws Bridge (officially it's the American Legion Memorial Bridge) is pretty much the most popular 12-20 foot jump you'll find.

Sengekontacket Pond, Massachusetts 02539

Quint's Shop

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Mayor Vaughn finally asks Brody to hire an expert to hunt down and kill the shark. Cue Captain "here's ta swimmin' with bow-legged women" Quint. While his workshop was built for the production and no longer standing, the adorable fishing village/tourist haven of Menemsha remains, unlike the "Orca."

Menemsha Inn Road, Chilmark, MA 02535
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Opening Scene

South Beach, Edgartown, MA 02539

"Jaws" begins here with a beach bonfire and the demise of poor Chrissie Watkins.

South Beach, Edgartown, MA 02539

Brody House

265 East Chop Drive, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

The house featured in the production has been completely renovated, but this is still Chief Martin Brody's address.

265 East Chop Drive, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Amity Police Department

South Water Street & Davis Lane, Edgartown, MA 02539

Brody types up the first "shark attack" police report here just before the secretary tells him about a far more serious crime, some nine-year-olds karate-chopping fences. Ugh, kids. Oh, well, it's off to Amity Hardware for shark warning sign supplies.

South Water Street & Davis Lane, Edgartown, MA 02539

Keisel's Bicycle Rental & Amity Gazette

2 South Water Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

The Amity Gazette and Keisel's Bicycle Rental are a stone's throw away from one another on S. Water Street. Here, shop owner Keisel complains to Brody about the karate-choppers damaging his bicycles and said fence.

2 South Water Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Amity Hardware

South Water Street & Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Brody grabs supplies for his "Beach Closed" mission at Amity Hardware and then walks through the center of town.

South Water Street & Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Chappy Ferry

53 Dock Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

The ferry worked as both a principal camera boat for the production and starred in the scene where Brody is browbeaten by the mayor into keeping the beaches open for the Fourth. You know, for the tourists. "Martin, it's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July."

53 Dock Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Amity Town Hall

70 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Sure, things have changed some at Edgartown's actual Town Hall, but there's no doubt still a blackboard around awaiting a Quint-style scrape.

70 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539

Billboard/Lighthouse

35 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, MA 02535

This is where the Mayor, Brody and Hooper argue about keeping the beaches open, referencing the defaced "Amity Island Welcomes You" billboard.You should probably check out Gay Head Light while you can, the place is battling erosion and there's a fundraising effort underway to move the lighthouse back from the crumbling clay cliffs.

35 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, MA 02535

Swimming Beach/Alex Kintner Attack

Joseph Sylvia State Beach, Oak Bluffs, MA 02539

"Alex...?""Alex...?"

Joseph Sylvia State Beach, Oak Bluffs, MA 02539

The Bridge!

Sengekontacket Pond, Massachusetts 02539

If there's one can't-miss "Jaws" location, it's the bridge between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. What makes it special? Well, there's the "Jaws" connection and the fact that you're not actually supposed to jump off. Thus, the Jaws Bridge (officially it's the American Legion Memorial Bridge) is pretty much the most popular 12-20 foot jump you'll find.

Sengekontacket Pond, Massachusetts 02539

Quint's Shop

Menemsha Inn Road, Chilmark, MA 02535

Mayor Vaughn finally asks Brody to hire an expert to hunt down and kill the shark. Cue Captain "here's ta swimmin' with bow-legged women" Quint. While his workshop was built for the production and no longer standing, the adorable fishing village/tourist haven of Menemsha remains, unlike the "Orca."

Menemsha Inn Road, Chilmark, MA 02535