Little Brewster Island facts for kids
Little Brewster Island is a small, rocky island located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It's most famous for being the home of Boston Light, a very old and important lighthouse. Boston Light is special because it's one of the few lighthouses in the United States that still has people from the Coast Guard working there all the time! This lighthouse helps ships find their way safely to and from the busy Port of Boston. The island is about 9 miles (14 km) away from downtown Boston. It's about 3 acres (12,000 m2) in size when the tide is high, and an extra 4 acres (16,000 m2) of land appears when the tide is low (this is called the intertidal zone).
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Discovering Little Brewster Island
Little Brewster Island is part of a group of islands in Boston Harbor. It's a great place to learn about history and how lighthouses work. Even though it's small, it plays a big role in guiding ships.
Home of Boston Light
The main reason Little Brewster Island is so well-known is because of Boston Light. This lighthouse isn't just old; it's the oldest lighthouse in the United States! It was first lit way back in 1716. Imagine how many ships it has guided over the centuries! Today, it's still an active lighthouse, meaning it's still used every day to help boats navigate.
Why Visit Little Brewster?
Because Boston Light is still an active facility for the United States Coast Guard, you can't just visit Little Brewster Island whenever you want. However, there are special guided tours available. These tours let you explore the island and even go inside the historic lighthouse. It's a unique chance to see how a real lighthouse operates and learn about its past.
Naming the Island
Little Brewster Island, along with its neighbors like Great Brewster, Middle Brewster, and Outer Brewster, got its name from an important historical figure. These islands are named after William Brewster. He was a very important person in the early days of the Plymouth Colony, serving as their first preacher and teacher.
