Georges Island (Massachusetts) facts for kids
Georges Island is a cool place to visit in Boston Harbor. It's about 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Boston. The island is 39 acres (16 hectares) big, with an extra 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of land that shows up at low tide. It rises 50 feet (15 m) above the sea level.
The island is home to the historic Fort Warren. Because of the fort and easy ferry access, Georges Island is a very popular spot. It's one of the easiest islands to reach in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.
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Exploring Georges Island's Past
When European settlers first arrived, Georges Island was made of two natural hills called drumlins. These hills rose out of the bay, just like other islands nearby. For about 200 years, people used the island for farming.
Building Fort Warren
In 1825, the U.S. Government bought the island. They wanted to use it for coastal defense, to protect the area from attacks. Over the next 20 years, the island changed a lot. Workers built one of the country's best forts there.
Fort Warren was finished in 1847. Even though it was a great fort, its design was already a bit old-fashioned by then. Still, the fort was very useful. It served as a training spot for soldiers and a patrol point.
Fort Warren During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Fort Warren became a prison. It held Confederate prisoners. The fort gained a good name for treating its prisoners kindly. After 100 years of military use, the fort closed down in 1947. In 1958, the Metropolitan District Commission took it over. They wanted to protect its history and open it for fun activities.
The Legend of the Lady in Black
A famous story about Fort Warren is the legend of "The Lady in Black." People say she is the ghost of a Confederate prisoner's wife. The story says she tried to help her husband escape by dressing as a male soldier. She was caught and sentenced to death. Her last wish was to be executed in female clothing. The soldiers could only find a black robe for her.
This myth was actually created by an author named Edward Rowe Snow. He wanted to bring attention to Fort Warren. He hoped the story would help protect and preserve the fort.
Georges Island Today
Today, Georges Island is a fun place for everyone. It has open fields where you can play games. There's also a small place to buy food and drinks. You can even find twenty-one mooring balls for boats, which you can reserve.
Getting to the Island
Ferries travel to and from Boston throughout the summer and early fall. During the summer, a shuttle boat also connects Georges Island to other nearby islands in the park. This makes Georges Island a central spot for exploring the harbor.
Island Rules and Rangers
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation owns and manages the island. Park rangers are always there. They patrol the island and give interesting tours. Georges Island is open to visitors from May through October.
To keep the island safe and clean, there are some rules. You are not allowed to bring alcohol, fireworks, or firearms onto the island. Also, the island has a strict "carry on–carry off" policy for trash. This means you must take all your trash with you when you leave.
Confederate Memorial on Georges Island
In 1963, a memorial was placed on Georges Island. It was put there by the Boston Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. This memorial honored 13 southern Civil War soldiers. They had died while being held as prisoners at Fort Warren.
The memorial stayed on display for many years. However, in June 2017, Governor Charlie Baker asked for it to be removed. The memorial was then covered up. In October 2017, it was taken off the island. It is now kept in storage at the Massachusetts Archives.
