It was the best night in recent memory. That was the feedback Martha’s Vineyard Museum executive director David Nathans said he received following the annual Evening of Discovery fundraiser on Saturday night. Held at the site of the museum’s future home, the old marine hospital overlooking the Lagoon Pond in Vineyard Haven, the event sold out for the first time in recent years and the mood was festive and upbeat.

An old tradition met with a new location, the Old Marine Hospital in Vineyard Haven. — Mark Alan Lovewell

On a warm, clear evening, the cocktail hour stretched on as people were clearly in no hurry to move inside the tent for dinner. Some toured the ground floor of the hospital itself, where a display showed how the timeworn building might be renovated. The building itself had been cleared of debris, but walls and ceilings were damaged and paint was peeling. The attire was more Edgartown than Tisbury, as men in ties and women in cocktail dresses strolled in and out of tents sampling oysters and lobster-filled hors d’oeuvres and perusing dozens of silent auction items.

Executive director David Nathans called it the best night in recent memory. — Mark Alan Lovewell

A buffet dinner included filet mignon, swordfish, potatoes, squash and asparagus spears, and key lime pie for dessert.

Unlike past years, the formal program was short. The museum dispensed with the usual live auction, and instead offered a few inventive packages for silent auction, including the opportunity to rent the hospital for a Halloween party.

Mr. Nathans addressed the crowd briefly, then Denys Wortman described how the museum came to purchase the marine hospital and showed a humorous short film of the landscaping that had been done to prepare the hospital grounds for the party. Filmed using his iPhone, the movie compressed nine days of work into 3 1/2 minutes of what appeared to be frenzied activity. Museum president Sheldon Hackney told the assembled guests they could experience a beautiful sunrise if they remained in their seats for 12 more hours.

Museum board of directors member Gail Farrish. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“Everyone seemed to be very excited about the new location, the weather cooperated, the site looked great, the food was terrific . . . people stayed later, it’s a good sign when people sit and stay after things are done,” Mr. Nathans said later.

He said the museum grossed $60,000 from ticket sales and netted about $30,000 from the silent auction.