Monday, November 25, 2013

From the Archives: The Nantucket Sea Monster

We can't wait for the parade! Last week we featured some Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade history, and today our 34th Street archivist Anne Kumer covers float designer Tony Sarg and one of his Macy's balloons. This post also appears on NYC Circa.


Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float designer Tony Sarg owned a curiosity shop in Nantucket, Massachusetts. In the summer of 1937, and with the help of many others, he staged an unusual sighting off the coast using one of his Macy's balloons, the Nantucket Sea Monster.

The initial sighting off the coast of Nantucket, MA

Footprints are found and measured on the shore.

Spectators examine the beast

Some are more daring than others

Tony Sarg with fellow spectators and the Nantucket Sea Serpent.
The Nantucket Sea Serpent made its debut the following November in the 1938 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.


 All of the following images, plus more, can be viewed on the Nantucket Historical Association's flickr page.

Here is a video of the "discovery" from the NHA YouTube channel.



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