Boston Harbor Islands

https://www.nps.gov/boha/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Harbor_Islands_National_Recreation_Area The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is situated among the islands of Boston Harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The area is made up of a collection of islands, together with a former island and a peninsula, many of which are open for public recreation and some of which are very small and best suited for wildlife. Attractions include hiking trails, beaches, the Civil War-era Fort Warren on Georges Island and Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, the oldest lighthouse in the United States. Georges Island and Spectacle Island are served seasonally by ferries to and from Boston and Quincy, connecting on weekends and summer weekdays with a shuttle boat to several other islands, Hull, and Hingham. . . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. There are many ways to enjoy Boston Harbor Islands and many ways to get there. For more information on how to get to the park by ferry, car, or private boat, please visit www.bostonharborislands.org. Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center Located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center offers visitor information and serves as a waypoint before beginning your journey to the Boston Harbor Islands. The Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center is located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Georges Island Visitor Center The Visitor Center on Georges Island occupies a 1906 historic brick building that originally stored and serviced mines for the minefield located in Boston Harbor. The Visitor Center has a ranger-staffed desk, island and harbor information, a short informative movie about Fort Warren, an exhibit on the island's history, and restrooms. All are available during operating hours. Peddocks Island Visitor Center The former Guardhouse for Fort Andrews, the Peddocks Island Visitor Center is located near the dock. An information desk and seating are available with restrooms located on the lower level. Spectacle Island Visitor Center The Spectacle Island Visitor Center has a staffed information desk, a small island exhibit and informative island movie, and restrooms. Beach Dancing A child dancing on the beach at dusk A child dancing on the beach at dusk Kayaking Boston Harbor Islands A man on a kayak in Boston Harbor Kayaking in Boston Harbor Islands National Recreational Area Sunset Over Boston An image of the sun setting over the Boston skyline from the Islands Watch the sunset from Boston Harbor Islands Come Explore The Islands Children looking out at Boston from the Harbor Islands Looking out at the city from the Boston Harbor Islands Fort Warren Historic Fort Warren on Georges Island Visit historic Fort Warren on Georges Island in Boston Harbor National Park Getaway: Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Imagine a place where you can explore tide pools, walk through a Civil War-era fort, climb a lighthouse, hike lush trails and salt marshes, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming... all within reach of downtown Boston. What better place to start than Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area? Kids sitting around table with park ranger. Citizen Science in the Digital Age With well over 100 citizen-science based apps now available for smartphones, there is no lack of opportunity for people of all ages and affectations to significantly add to the collective knowledge base about many aspects of the natural world. The phrase “there is an app for that” has perhaps never been more true for natural resource monitoring. Students use microscopes to identify pond species at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP Bioblitz. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Massachusetts Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. low relief island Designing the Parks: Learning in Action The Designing the Parks program is not your typical internship. Each year since 2013, this program at the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation has introduced a cohort of college students and recent graduates to NPS design and planning professions through projects related to cultural landscape stewardship. In the internships, made possible by partner organizations, participants focus on an in-depth project that directly engages with a national park unit. A group of young people stand on forest trail and listen to two maintenance employees The Positive Side of Zero For something that essentially represents "nothingness", the number zero carries a lot of weight when collecting data. a stone zero What’s the Buzz? How Bees Interrelate with Birds, Wildflowers, and Deer Ecosystems are complex and intricate and sometimes have a surprising web of relationships. Learn how deer, bees, birds, and wildflowers connect in the park ecosystems of the northeast. A bee pollinates a wildflower Wild, Wacky, and Weird Weather. What the? A look at the difference between weather and climate. A Vermont blizzard. Species Spotlight - Crazy Snakeworm Because of the scouring action of the ice age, earthworms are not native to the northeast. One species in particular, the crazy snake worm, has the potential to greatly alter the natural forest ecosystems in our region. An earthworm held in a person's hand Species Spotlight - American Oystercatcher American Oystercatchers are one of the many coastal breeding bird species that citizen scientist volunteers help to monitor among Boston Harbor Islands NRA. Learn more about this fascinating bird and how it is fairing off the coast of a large eastern seaboard city. Volunteers help to monitor coastal breeding birds off the coast of Boston. NPS photo. NETN Field Note: Deer, Worms, and Invasives When too many deer, earthworms, and invasive plant species work i concert, detrimental effects happen to the health of northeastern forests. Forest health monitoring NETN Species Spotlight - Sharp-shinned Hawk About the size of a Blue-Jay, Sharp-shinned Hawks are aerial acrobats and are the smallest of three North American agile hawks known as the accipiters (ah-sip-it-ers). Learn more about this amazing and oft misunderstood hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on a branch Preserving Places of Captivity: Civil War Military Prisons in the National Parks During the Civil War, over 400,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were held prisoner at more than 150 diff erent prison sites. Approximately 56,000 of these died in captivity. Although Andersonville is the most famous Civil War prison, it is only one of many Civil War military prisons that are preserved by the National Park Service. Disability History: The NPS and Accessibility The National Park Service strives to make its parks, monuments, and historic sites available to all. Programs, services, and products, such as Braille alternatives of print material, sign language interpretation of tours, accessible camping sites and trails, ramps and elevators make parks more accessible. These are essential to allowing the public to fully enjoy NPS resources. exterior of a log cabin Third System of Coastal Forts How should a country protect its borders? The United States had to consider this question when the War of 1812 ended in 1815. One year later, the federal government believed it had an answer. The nation created a broad national defense strategy that included a new generation of waterfront defenses called the Third System of Coastal Fortifications. The setting sun lights a stone fort wall where a US flag flies high. Seacoast Ordnance Cannon manufactured for use in Third System forts are called seacoast ordnance. These were some of the largest and heaviest cannon available at the time. Cannon at forts Pickens, McRee, Barrancas, Massachusetts, and Advanced Redoubt fell into three categories: guns, howitzers, and mortars. Each had a specific purpose. Rocky Intertidal Research in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Along coastlines, where the land meets the sea, is an area known as the intertidal zone -- the region between the lowest low tide and the highest high tide. How do relationships between organisms affect where different species are found, and how important are local environmental conditions in controlling the distributions of species? Drs. Jane Lubchenco and Bruce Menge, two marine ecologists, set out to answer these questions. A rocky shoreline surrounded by blue ocean water with white sea birds and boat in the distance Safe Harbor: The Maritime Underground Railroad in Boston During the years preceding the American Civil War, Boston served as one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad. Many of the freedom seekers escaping slavery came to Boston by stowing away on ships from southern ports. Painting of ships in Boston Harbor with the sun rising. Series: Disability History: An Overview Disability History: An Overview brings attention to some of the many disability stories interwoven across the National Park Service’s 400+ units and its programs. “Disability stories” refer to the array of experiences by, from, and about people with disabilities represented across our nation. People with disabilities are the largest minority in the United States, but their stories often remain untold. Statue of FDR in his wheelchair Series: Parks in Science History Parks in Science History is a series of articles and videos made in cooperation with graduate students from various universities. They highlight the roles that national parks have played in the history of science and, therefore, the world's intellectual heritage. A woman looking through binoculars The Precambrian The Precambrian was the "Age of Early Life." During the Precambrian, continents formed and our modern atmosphere developed, while early life evolved and flourished. Soft-bodied creatures like worms and jellyfish lived in the world's oceans, but the land remained barren. Common Precambrian fossils include stromatolites and similar structures, which are traces of mats of algae-like microorganisms, and microfossils of other microorganisms. fossil stromatolites in a cliff face Proterozoic Eon—2.5 Billion to 541 MYA The Proterozoic Eon is the most recent division of the Precambrian. It is also the longest geologic eon, beginning 2.5 billion years ago and ending 541 million years ago fossil stromatolites in a cliff face Green Island Plants Plant list for Green Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Georges Island Plants Plant list for Georges Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Grape Island Plants Plant list for Grape Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Great Brewster Island Plants Plant list for Great Brewster Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Hangman Island Plants Plant list for Hangman Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Calf Island Plants Plant list for Calf Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Deer Island Plants Plant list for Deer Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Langlee Island Plants Plant list for Langlee Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Outer Brewster Island Plants Plant list for Outer Brewster Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Ragged Island Plants Plant list for Ragged Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Slate Island Plants Plant list for Slate Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Rainsford Island Plants Plant list for Rainsford Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. World's End Plants Plant list for World's End surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Little Calf Island Plants Plant list for Little Calf Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Long Island Plants Plant list for Long Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Middle Brewster Island Plants Plant list for Middle Brewster Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Lovells Island Plants Plant list for Lovell Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Little Brewster Island Plants Plant list for Little Brewster Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Nut Island Plants Plant list for Nut Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Raccoon Island Plants Plant list for Raccoon Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Spectacle Island Plants Plant list for Spectacle Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Sheep Island Plants Plant list for Sheep Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Sarah Island Plants Plant list for Sarah Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Peddocks Island Plants Plant list for Peddocks Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Snake Island Plants Plant list for Snake Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Webb State Park Plants Plant list for Webb State Park surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Thompson Island Plants Plant list for Thompson Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Bumpkin Island Plants Plant list for Bumpkin Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Button Island Plants Plant list for Button Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Invasion of the Biome Bashers Invasive plants are a concerning and growing issue for eastern national parks. Learn what is spreading, and how some parks are seeing success in managing them. Glossy buckthron Gallops Island Plants Plant list for Gallops Island surveyed during a two-year project funded by the Island Alliance to study the vegetation of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Unfinished: America at 250 Unfinished: America at 250 is a partnership of historical and cultural institutions, National Park Service sites, historians, and changemakers. This partnership harnesses the stories of the past and activates historic spaces to provoke community conversations about the ongoing American Revolution. Unfinished: America at 250 graphic with people along the bottom Species Spotlight - Deer Tick Deer ticks are an increasing problem in the northeast. Learn more about why they are increasing, the way they spread Lyme disease, and how to prevent getting a tick bite. And there are also lizards. Warm lizard. Pollinators in peril? A multipark approach to evaluating bee communities in habitats vulnerable to effects from climate change Can you name five bees in your park? Ten? Twenty? Will they all be there 50 years from now? We know that pollinators are key to maintaining healthy ecosystems—from managed almond orchards to wild mountain meadows. We have heard about dramatic population declines of the agricultural workhorse, the honey bee. Yet what do we really know about the remarkable diversity and resilience of native bees in our national parks? Southeastern polyester bee, Colletes titusensis. Species Spotlight - Dragonflies Dragonflies have incredible powers of flight and vision. Learn how they use these to catch just about anything they want on the wing. Dragonfly nymph. Species Spotlight - Oaks Oaks appear so often in the story of humanity that it could scarcely have been written without them. Learn more about this amazing trees species and how it has shaped cultures across the world. A white oak branch with acorns American Elm Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring American Elms at the Charlestown Navy Yard. bright green serrated leaves Black Walnut Trees Learn about the Black Walnut. long green ridged leaves coming out of branches Pin Oak Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring Pin Oaks at the Charlestown Navy Yard. green pointed, lobed leaves Eastern Red Cedar Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring Eastern Red Cedar at the Charlestown Navy Yard. scaly evergreen leaves of the Eastern Red Cedar American Basswood Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring American Basswoods at the Charlestown Navy Yard. heart shaped dark green leaves with bunches of light green fruits. Horse Chestnut Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring Horse Chestnut Trees at the Charlestown Navy Yard. green paddle-shaped leaves meeting at a central point. Tuliptree or Tulip Poplar Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring Tuliptrees at the Charlestown Navy Yard. large broad leaves with pointed lobes and a v-shaped notch at the top Red Maple Learn about the Red Maple. tri-pointed green leaves with slightly serated edges Tree Phenology at the Charlestown Navy Yard Learn about phenology, or the changing of seasons, through monitoring Horse Chestnut trees at the Charlestown Navy Yard. green paddle-shaped leaves growing from a central point. Species Spotlight - Flying Squirrels Tiny and cute, flying squirrels are efficient gliders with a few surprises tucked away under their furry sleeves. A Southern Flying Squirrel. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Species Spotlight - Red Fox Legendary for their cunning cleverness, red fox are equally at home in the trackless wilderness as they are in a tract-housing development. It has established itself world-wide, and it's very particular set of skills makes it a nightmare for hapless meadow voles. A Red Fox. Species Spotlight - Black Bear Bears have endured a paradoxical reputation for centuries. At once being associated with cuddly teddy bears and the helpful Smokey Bear, as well as a ferocious, blood-thirsty beast. As we learn more about their mind-boggling biology however, they may start to occupy a new niche in the popular mind - that of a natural marvel. A sitting black bear Species Spotlight - Woodland Box Turtle Box turtles have evolved the familiar turtle shell to near perfection, holding the ability to close of its head and legs within its hinged under shell. A turtle supports the Earh on its back BLACK in the cradle of liberty BLACK in the cradle of liberty is a declaration featuring: DJ WhySham, Nnenna Loveth, Ryan-Rei Fielder, Crystal Valentine, Tim Hall, Ifé Franklin, Danny Rivera, Porsha Olayiwola, Anastasia Wade, Cakeswagg, Javonna Corbin, and Kenard Williams. The performance explores agency, voice, and the power of place. Group of people in a dancing processional in Faneuil Hall Capture of USS Chesapeake In New England, the War of 1812 took place primarily on the water, with the British Navy blocking trading ships from accessing ports and coastal towns such as Boston fortifying their defenses in anticipation of an attack. The British and US Navies clashed off the coast in naval battles. One of these clashes became known as the Battle of Boston Harbor, or the capture of USS Chesapeake. A crew of British soldiers in red coming aboard and attacking other sailors in blue. The John Brown Song (John Brown's Body) Did you know the origins of "John Brown's Body," also known as the "John Brown Song," came from soldiers at Fort Warren on Georges Island? Learn about the history of this recognizable Civil War-era song. A poster with the words to to the song John Brown's Body An Escape Attempt at Fort Warren Read about an 1863 escape attempt from Fort Warren on Georges Island. group of Confederate prisoners of war sitting and standing Italian Service Units of Boston During World War II, many Italian POWs in the United States joined Italian Service Units. Among these were 1,800 ISU members who stayed in Boston, many of those on Peddocks Island. group of Italian prisoners-of-war on Peddocks Island. The Trent Affair In 1861, an international incident during the Civil War occurred known as "The Trent Affair." A US ship captured the British mail ship RMS Trent and arrested two Confederates on their way to England and France to seek legitimacy for the Confederacy. These men were brought to Boston and briefly held at Fort Warren on Georges Island. newspaper page with portraits of the two Confederate representatives and the US ship captain. The Garrison of Fort Warren during the Civil War During the US Civil War, the first soldiers arrived at Fort Warren on April 29, 1861. Under the command of several officers, soldiers remained on the island throughout the war as it served as a prisoner-of-war camp. Image of Officers around a Rodman cannon. There is a woman in the photo on the right. Design and Armament of Fort Warren Following the War of 1812, Georges Island was selected as a site to build a coastal fortification to protect Boston and its harbor. Construction began in the early 1830s and took almost twenty years to complete. The remnants of construction remained when soldiers arrived and began arming Fort Warren shortly after the start of the US Civil War in 1861. parade ground interior of Fort Warren Flying Santa Captain William Wincapaw started a nearly hundred-year tradition when he loaded his plane with dozens of packages containing items such as newspapers, candy, and coffee, and dropped them off to various lighthouse stations along the coast of Maine on December 25, 1929. Through this well-received gesture to show his appreciation for the lighthouse keepers he frequently worked with, Wincapaw became known as the first “Flying Santa.” Black and White photo of a propeller plane flying in front of a light house Historic Health in the Harbor Several of the 34 islands and peninsulas of Boston have been home to quarantine stations and hospitals. Learn about the public health history of the Boston Harbor Islands. pier with a multi-story steamer docked and sign "Boston Floating Hospital" Rainsford Island: A Resting Place for Civil War Veterans In 1872, the City of Boston purchased Rainsford Island from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $40,000 dollars. The city converted the existing facilities into an almshouse and hospital for Civil War veterans. The facility served primarily Black and Irish veterans, including members of the first all-Black G.A.R. post in the country, the Robert A. Bell Post, 134. Scan of a Military Dependent Card listing Stephen Ennis's widow and minor The Big Dig and Spectacle Island's Environmental Restoration When construction on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (known as “The Big Dig”), began in 1991, the city of Boston undertook one of the largest infrastructure projects in its history. The project had two main goals: to alleviate traffic on an overburdened, elevated highway that had begun deteriorating, and to extend I-90 from south of downtown Boston. To achieve these goals, engineers planned to create an underground highway mostly consisting of tunnels. Photo of Spectacle Island under construction, there are no hills and large machinery surrounds it Species Spotlight - Moose Moose have long been revered animal by native peoples. In recent decades it has been suffering from a combination of warming winters, parasitic brainworms, and winter ticks. Biologists across its range are working on ways to hwlp. A moose in thick forest. The Snetind Throughout the 1930s and 40s, a derelict schooner called Snetind became a fixture of Boston Harbor. Ann Winsor Sherwin and her son, William, called this vessel their home, and despite numerous attempts to displace them, they refused to "give up the ship." woman and young man hold onto rigging as they stand on the edge of the ship Island Histories that Inspired "Shutter Island" Inspired by the history of the Boston Harbor Islands, Bostonian Dennis Lehane published his book Shutter Island in 2003. In this thriller, Lehane created a fictitious hospital island with nefarious happenings. Though the later film used Peddocks Island as the backdrop, Lehane’s true inspiration likely comes from other islands that have long histories in institutions and social services, such as Rainsford Island and Long Island. wide view of long island from pier, with hospital and almshouse mentioned in the caption. Controlled Submarine Mines in Boston Harbor Facing advances in military technology and weaponry, the US looked to upgrade coastal defense systems around the turn of the 20th century. In many harbors, controlled submarine mines were installed. Learn about the role of the Boston Harbor Islands in monitoring the controlled submarine mine system during the World Wars. Map of Boston Harbor outlining the locations of submarine mines. Event Recap - Empowering Our Future Conservation and Climate Stewards The National Park Service Youth and Young Adult Programs Division co-hosted the virtual event “Then/Now/Tomorrow: Empowering Our Future Conservation and Climate Stewards” on April 24, 2024, for National Park Week, alongside The Corps Network, the National Park Foundation, and AmeriCorps. A panel of six current and former corps members shared their experiences working and serving on public lands. A screenshot of eight individuals in boxes on the Zoom Platform. How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower. The Great Brewster Island Adventure On July 15, 1891, four intrepid women from Lowell, Massachusetts, set sail to Great Brewster Island on an adventure they would remember for their lifetime. During their two-week-long trip, these four women, calling themselves the “Merrie Trippers,” wrote a 58-page journal on their excursion titled, “Ye log of Ye Square Partie at Ye Great Brewster in ye pleasant month of July 1891.” watercolor painting of great brewster island Island Interviews: Killdeer If we could interview our islands’ non-human residents, what would we learn from them? Enjoy this light-hearted imagined interview between a ranger and a killdeer. small bird with brown and white coloring The DESIRE and the Beginnings of the Massachusetts Slave Trade In 1638, the DESIRE's return to Boston became the first documented instance of Massachusetts’s long history with the slave trade. historical sketch of boston and boston harbor from ca. 1730 Racing Mile-A-Minute Learn about the ongoing work of the Boston Harbor Islands’ Science and Stewardship team, partners, and volunteers to eradicate Mile-A-Minute from Grape Island. overgrown ivy plant with green arrow leaves There's More to Invasives An NPS intern reflects on what it means for plants to be invasive and our reactions towards them. Indigenous people and the plants themselves can be our teachers. people stand amongst overgrown leafy vegetation on an island against a foggy gray sky. Lighthouse Keepers The typical image of a lighthouse keeper is a solitary, grizzled white man in a rain slicker, but the reality was more complex. 2024 Coastal Waterbird Monitoring Season at Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park A group of staff, volunteers, and partners have spent the last several months through the spring and summer of 2024 monitoring coastal waterbirds at the Boston Harbor Islands. Read this summary of their work! a white gull flies in the sky, in the background is a white lighthouse Protecting Our Pollinators Pollinators make life as we know it possible. Yet, their populations are in decline. To take action, the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park works with researchers to track pollinator populations. A black and yellow bee in flight with a blurred background of greenery Project Profile: Reverse Seagrass Meadow Decline: Identify Heat-Tolerant Variants, Seed Sources and Outplanting Sites The National Park Service will identify seagrass meadows and map optimal areas for future seagrass restoration to support decisions that will enhance restoration and resilience of seagrass meadows. The goal of the project is to develop scientific information needed to chart a course of action in effort to reverse declining seagrass meadows that harbor biodiversity, strengthen shorelines, improve water quality and are vital to fish nurseries at coastal parks from North Carolin Scuba diver transplanting seagrass Project Profile: Conserve and Restore Coastal Marsh Systems In Northeast Parks Accounting for Future Sea Level Rise The National Park Service will improve resiliency of coastal marsh ecosystems in Northeast parks through marsh restoration, facilitated marsh migration, and planning for inevitable changes from increases in sea level and storm surge. A view of a salt marsh from an overlook area. Least Terns of the Boston Harbor Learn about Boston Harbor's small but mighty seasonal residents, the Least Terns. a least tern sitting on a shore. Citizen Science Data Inform Park Managers of Ecological Threats National park visitors are using mobile-friendly platforms like iNaturalist to collect valuable data on biodiversity. Their observations help park managers monitor and respond to emerging threats, from stinknet in Saguaro National Park to the hemlock woolly adelgid in Acadia. People on the shore smiling at the camera Schools on the Boston Harbor Islands Learn about the unique history of schooling on six of the islands within the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.  10 boys stand with shovels leaning on their shoulders. Some wear overalls. Island Interviews: Eastern Oyster If we could interview our islands’ non-human residents, what would we learn from them? In the "Island Interviews" series, we imagine that fictional scenario to help readers learn about the real-world interactions between people and ecosystems. Read a Boston Harbor Islands ranger's conversation with an eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). group of oyster shells of varying colors Peddocks Island: Repointing at Fort Andrews Through the Peddocks Island repointing project at Fort Andrews, the Student Conservation Corps Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps trained the next generation of preservationists while also giving them the opportunity to serve their community. A crew member wearing a hard hat, mask, glasses, holds an angle grinder up to an old brick wall. Coastal Climate Messaging Essentials: It’s All in the Telling Extreme weather events like nor’easters may be unavoidable and challenging. But learning effective ways to share information about their impacts can have far-reaching benefits. A small wooden building with storm water completely surrounding the base, and up the road. A History of Fort Warren Seated on Georges Island at the entrance of Boston Harbor, the walls of Fort Warren protected the city of Boston from naval attack for one hundred years. The Fort is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to visitors throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Interior of Fort Warren with cannon in a line on the ground and soldiers standing on the fort wall. Forts of Boston Harbor Throughout its history, Boston Harbor held a strategic importance in wartime. First the British and later the United States government built military outposts and forts across the Boston Harbor Islands to prevent an attack from the sea. From behind imposing walls, the heavy guns of the island forts overlooked the harbor and protected it for centuries. aerial view of Fort Warren, a star fort, looking at Boston Harbor, islands, and the city skyline Women at Fort Warren: Civil War A historical military installation like Fort Warren on Georges Island is often imagined as a masculine space. But during the Civil War, women lived and worked within the Fort’s walls, caring for the soldiers and the prisoners they guarded. Man and woman in civil-war era clothing standing on the sallyport to Fort Warren. Women at Fort Warren: World War II When the United States entered World War II in 1941, women looked to do their part on the home front. Their contributions extended into the forts of Boston Harbor, including Fort Warren on Georges Island. two couples dancing the jitterbug, with one of the men lifting his partner in the air. Bumpkin Island's Tremendous Trees-of-Heaven Learn about Tree-of-Heaven, its role as a host to the Spotted Lantern Fly, and the park’s efforts to combat both in order to support native biodiversity at the Boston Harbor Islands. removed trees and brush in piles along a trail Saving Precious Salt Marsh The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law bolster climate resilience at nine East Coast parks through funding of salt marsh restoration. An aerial view of a green, tan and brown marsh along a coastline. A New Species of Fungus Discovered at World's End A glimpse at the newly discovered species of fungus quietly thriving on a peninsula of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park & perspective from the park fungi junkie who studies it. small, brown-and-white fungus Community Volunteer Ambassadors: National Early Service Training Held at National Parks of Boston From November 11 to November 15, 29 Community Volunteer Ambassadors (CVAs) participated in National Early Service Training at National Parks of Boston in Massachusetts. For three days, members connected in-person and received robust training to prepare them for their roles in assisting their site’s Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program and in building lasting connections to local communities. Winter Holidays on the Boston Harbor Islands Holidays on the Boston Harbor Islands had the potential of being cold, dark, and lonely. But residents of the Boston Harbor found community and light wherever they could. Enjoy some stories of how winter holidays were celebrated on the islands. man in santa suit carrying packages and waving as he stands on a wing of a plane. Green Beetle Hangers, the “Banana-Balloon” Microfungi of the Boston Harbor Islands A dive into the vibrant life of the bright yellow, banana-balloon-shaped fungi that flourish in the Boston Harbor Islands & a journey into the islands’ vast microwilderness. head of a ladybug with banana-shaped yellow fungi “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. History of Lighthouses in the United States Learn more about the history of lighthouses and other navigational aids in the United States. Species Spotlight - Tree and Plant Communication From underground mycorrhizal networks to ultrasonic sound emissions and chemical signaling through the air. The plants and trees of the forest have a language and ability to communicate that science is only beginning to understand. A tree with roots that go deep into the soil