Duxbury Beach facts for kids

Duxbury Beach is a beautiful six-mile-long sandy beach in Duxbury, Massachusetts. It's a special place where the land meets the ocean, acting like a natural shield for the coast. You can reach this beach by crossing the famous Powder Point Bridge from Duxbury or by using Gurnet Road from Marshfield.

Most of Duxbury Beach, about 4.5 miles, is owned by a group called Duxbury Beach Reservation, Inc. This group works with the town of Duxbury, letting the town use part of the beach each year. In return, the town helps keep the beach safe by providing special officers called Harbormasters.

What is Duxbury Beach Like?

Duxbury Beach is a type of landform called a barrier beach. This means it's a long, narrow strip of land that runs parallel to the coast, protecting the mainland from ocean waves and storms. It's made up of soft sand dunes, covered with tough plants like Rosa rugosa (also known as beach rose) and beach grass. These plants help hold the sand in place.

At some points, the beach is about 50 yards wide. It's the only way to get to the small villages of Saquish and Gurnet Point, which are actually in the nearby town of Plymouth. The northern part of the beach, where some homes are located, is protected by a strong concrete wall built by the Army Corps of Engineers.

History and Landmarks

Duxbury Beach is close to some interesting historical sites. You can find Plymouth Light, a lighthouse that guides ships, and the remains of old forts from the Civil War, like Fort Andrew and Fort Standish. Before these, there was an even older fort called Gurnet Fort, used during the Revolutionary War. You can usually only visit these old fort areas when the lighthouse has special open house days.

Did you know that one of the very first underwater cables that connected continents came ashore here? It landed at a spot called Rouse's Hummock. The first phone call made using this cable was to President James A. Garfield by Napoleon III, a famous French leader.

Wildlife and Nature

Duxbury Beach is a very important home for many animals, especially birds. One special bird that nests here is the Piping plover. These birds are protected because their numbers are low. Both the town's conservation officers and the Duxbury Beach Reservation work hard to keep them safe.

The beach has different areas: a town beach for local residents and a public beach for everyone to enjoy. The northern part of the beach is more developed, while the southern end is mostly natural, with just an access road.

How Storms Affect the Beach

Duxbury Beach can be greatly affected by strong storms like hurricanes and nor'easters. These powerful storms bring high winds and big waves that can cause a lot of damage to the beach. For example, the beach was hit very hard during the famous Blizzard of '78 and the 1991 Perfect Storm. These events showed how important Duxbury Beach is as a natural barrier protecting the land behind it.

Images for kids

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  Duxbury Beach

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  Powder Point Bridge connecting Duxbury Beach with the town of Duxbury. Bridge was in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world, until it was damaged by fire and completely rebuilt in 1986.