Any account of the Harbor View's history must begin with Edgartown, its legendary birthplace. Settled in 1671, this early colony steadily came to be known as a prime port for whaling. And as that enterprise grew, so too did Edgartown, in both prominence and influence. In fact, by mid-1800, this bustling municipality had become the Vineyard's wealthiest. But as the whaling industry began to ebb, Edgartown officials turned their attention to a new source of prosperity: tourism. With ambitions of building the finest resort of its kind, local leaders set about creating an infrastructure – starting with light rail that connected the ferry port of Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, where a proposed hotel would welcome guests from around the world.