Nixes Mate facts for kids

Nixes Mate is a small island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It's also known as Nixes Island or Nix's Mate. This tiny island is located in the outer part of Boston Harbor. It's about 5 miles from downtown Boston. The island is special because it disappears and reappears with the ocean tides. Because of this, it's not open for people to visit. It has a unique black and white pyramid-shaped marker on it.

What is Nixes Mate?

Nixes Mate has a tall, pyramid-shaped marker. This marker is called a daybeacon. It is made of wood and covered in stucco, painted black and white. The daybeacon sits on a strong granite base. The Boston Marine Society built this base in 1805.

The beacon is about 20 feet tall. It helps guide ships safely through the harbor. It warns them about dangerous shallow areas. The pyramid was first covered in slate shingles. Later, it was covered with concrete, likely between World War I and World War II. You can reach the pyramid by a granite stairway on its south side. Inside, the pyramid has a wooden frame that supports its shape.

The Story of Nixes Mate Island

In 1636, a man named John Gallop owned Nixes Mate. He was a harbor pilot and lived on a nearby island. He used Nixes Mate to let his sheep graze. Back then, the island was much bigger, about 12 acres.

Over time, people took rocks from the island. In the 17th century, they used rocks for ship's ballast. In the 18th century, they quarried slate. This made the island much smaller than it used to be.

Pirates and Warnings

In 1726, a pirate captain named William Fly was captured. He was brought to Boston. After his trial, his body was placed on Nixes Mate. This was a warning to other sailors not to become pirates. Before his execution, Captain Fly even helped the hangman fix the rope! His body, along with two other pirates, is said to be buried on the island.

Building the Beacon

As the island got smaller, it became a danger to ships. In 1803, the Boston Marine Society asked the government for help. They wanted a stone wall and a beacon built around the island. When the U.S. Congress didn't act, the state of Massachusetts bought the island. They spent $3,000 to build the wall and the beacon.

By 1832, the U.S. government bought the island. They started building the stone platform and the wooden pyramid. In 1841, lightning struck the pyramid, and it burned down. But it was quickly rebuilt!

Keeping the Beacon Safe

By 2001, the daybeacon was in rough shape. The Coast Guard is in charge of it. They first planned to replace it. But people wanted the original beacon saved. So, in 2003, the Coast Guard rebuilt it instead.

Nixes Mate was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 2004. This means it's an important historical site.

Recent Events

On August 25, 2012, a ferry boat called the Provincetown III hit Nixes Mate. The boat was carrying 145 passengers. Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident.