Boston Harbor Islands National Park
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[edit] Boston Harbor Islands, National Park
The Boston Harbor Islands NP includes 34 islands. Many are open to the public and nearly all have sites of historic significance. Since so much information on these islands is readily available on the internet, I provide only a few brief observations about the islands that I have visited. Please feel free to add additional information or make corrections as you find necessary.
[edit] Launch Site
The most common launch site is Pemberton Point in Hull, MA. Enter by the high school just under the windmill. The windmill makes an excellent landmark when you’re out on the harbor. Parking is along the street opposite the high school.
The ¼-mile wide channel between Pemberton Point and Peddocks Island is know as the Hull Gut. The Gut has swift currents, heavy boat traffic, and is often lined with anglers. Use caution in the Gut.
[edit] On the Water
Distances & Bearings are from Pemberton Point and were estimated using Delorme Topozone 5.0 and are not intended for navigation. Distance's are straight line distances in statute miles the actual distance paddled will be longer.
[edit] George’s Island (Distance: 1.1 miles Bearing: 355°)
Take out on the gravel beach next to the pier on the southwest side of the island. The 39-acre island has regular Boston and is a very busy island. Fort Warren, which dominates the island, guarded Boston between 1843 and 1947. During the Civil War Fort Warren served as both a training ground for Union troops and as a prison for confederate POWs most famously the confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens. The island also has picnic areas, a snack bar, and bathrooms. Voromuro a piece by the artistic team called Office Da is on display in the Powder Magazine and is definitely worth a visit.
[edit] Lovell’s Island (Distance: 1.8 miles Bearing: 4.5°)
Like many of the islands, Lovell’s was once heavily fortified and occupied by military forces intermittently between Spanish-American War and World War II. Camping is available on the island for a fee of $10 a night plus a $9.25 reservation fee charged by ReserveAmerica.com. The sites were quite nice. The inter-island water taxi and private boats visit the island regularly, so don’t expect a seclude camp site.
Other facilities include a gravel beach, a pier, and composting toilets. “Waterslide” an exhibit of the art of Anna Schuleit is on display in a yurt by the pier until 9/3/07.
[edit] Gallop’s Island (Distance: 1.76 miles Bearing: 345°)
Gallop’s island was closed to the public in 2002 due to asbestos in the remaining buildings. The island remains closed at this time.
[edit] Long Island (Distance: 2.5 miles Bearing: 331°)
Long Island is not opened to the public. A new addition to this island is Camp Harbor View a camp for Boston’s low income youth. The camp was opened in June 2007 and the facilities look first rate. The remainder of the island is site to a former military hospital.
[edit] Nix’s Mate (Distance 2.2 Miles Bearing: 346°)
This antiquated black and white stripped marker, located on a gravel bar, would be easily overlooked if not for it’s gruesome history. In the 1700’s the corpses of executed pirates were hung on this island as a warning to all those entering the harbor.
[edit] Spectacle Island (Distance: 4.2 miles Bearing: 311°)
Spectacle Island served as Boston’s garbage dump until 1959. Between 1992 and 1997 tons of material removed from Boston’s “Big Dig” tunnel project was used to cover the landfill and enlarge the island. Today Spectacle hosts a visitor’s center, snack bar, swimming beach, pier, and hiking trails. The few of Boston from the 155’ North Drumlin is best of any island. If you are a fan of sea glass, the South Beach is treasure trove.
[edit] Little Brewster Island (Distance: 2.31 miles Bearing: 60°)
Little Brewster is home to Boston Light the first and last manned lighthouse in the US. The Boston Light is the oldest operating light station in the US but not the oldest operating lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1716. However, the British destroyed the lighthouse as they evacuated Boston in 1776. The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1783 but in the meantime, a lighthouse had been constructed at Sandy Hook, NJ.
Dr. Sally Snowman, a civilian employee of the Coast Guard, and a dedicated group of volunteer assistant light keepers, staffs the lighthouse. Little Brewster is worth a stop just to visit the friendly and knowledgeable staff. They are well versed not just about Boston light but also about the harbor and lighthouses in general.
Due to recent renovation work, the lighthouse tower is not open for tours during 2007 but should be open next year. There is still a lot of history on display in the small museum in the base of the lighthouse.
The best landing spot is on the southwest end of the island on a rocky beach next to the pier.
[edit] Great Brewster Island (Distance: 2.27 miles Bearing: 50°)
A composting toilet is located near the area of broken seawall on the southeast side of the island. Several World War II fortifications remain on the island but are off limits because of exposed asbestos in the crumbling buildings. The islands, like many of the islands are a nesting site for a variety of gulls, terns, ducks, and other birds. The birds may respond aggressively and nosily during nesting season, which lasts most of the summer months.
Landing is easiest at low tide when the nearly mile long spit, located at the south end of the island emerges from the water. At other times, the shore is extremely rocky and a seawall surrounds most of the island. At low tide Little Brewster and Great Brewster are connected by a muddy flat.
[edit] Middle Brewster (Distance: 2.97 miles Bearing: 50°)
Little remains of either the humble fisherman’s huts or the great estates that once graced this 13.6 acre island. An arch that once housed a bell is visible on top of the island.
[edit] Outer Brewster (Distance: 3.37 miles Bearing: 55°)
Although an abandoned World War II area bunker is visible on southwest end of the island a much better landing spot is a gravel beach on the west side. From the grave beach follow an unimproved but visible trail towards the islands highest points to visit the abandoned remains of Battery Jewell. Jewell was a former radar controlled artillery emplacement and home to 125 men at its peak. Besides the battery, the island offers great views of the Harbor, Little Brewster, and the Graves Island Lighthouse.
[edit] Cautions
Heavy boat traffic including high-speed ferries, pleasure craft, and cargo ships.
[edit] References
