Grape Island (Massachusetts) facts for kids
Grape Island in 2012
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Boston Harbor |
| Coordinates | 42°16′08.44″N 70°55′15.05″W / 42.2690111°N 70.9208472°W |
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United States
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Grape Island is a lovely island found in Hingham Bay, which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. This island is located within the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts. Grape Island is about 54 acres (22 hectares) in size, and when the tide is low, an extra 46 acres (19 hectares) of land appears. The island is made up of two small hills called drumlins, which reach about 70 feet (21 meters) above sea level. These hills are connected by a low, marshy area.
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Visiting Grape Island
Grape Island is a fun place to visit! It has walking trails, rocky beaches, and places where you can camp among the trees. On weekends and during summer weekdays, a special boat takes visitors to and from Georges Island. From Georges Island, you can catch ferries to Boston and Quincy.
A Glimpse into History
For about 300 years, until the 1940s, people used Grape Island for farming and grazing animals.
The Battle of Grape Island
Right before the American Revolution began in 1775, a man named Elisha Leavitt owned the island. He was a Loyalist, meaning he was loyal to the British king. During the siege of Boston, British soldiers tried to take hay from Grape Island.
On May 24, 1775, a small fight happened on the island. Abigail Adams, whose husband was John Adams, wrote about it. The British soldiers wanted Leavitt's hay. The American colonists fought back, forcing the British to leave. After the British left, the angry colonists burned Leavitt's barn. Not much damage was done to either side in the end, and the British only managed to take a small amount of hay.
Plants and Berries
Since farming stopped in the 1940s, the island has become covered in trees and shrubs. You can find many types of plants here, including staghorn sumac, gray birch, and quaking aspen.
Abundant Berries
Grape Island is famous for its many berries! You can find blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, blueberries, huckleberries, and American elderberries. The marshy parts of the island have plants that like salty water, such as saltspray rose, cordgrass, purple loosestrife, honeysuckle, and seaside goldenrod.
Freshwater Springs
Grape Island has two freshwater springs. One spring is on the north side of the western hill, under a large rock that faces Peddock's Island. The other spring is behind the marsh, in the low area between the two hills. These spring areas are not on the main trails.
