Sipson Island facts for kids

Sipson Island is a small island located off the eastern coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It sits within a beautiful area called Pleasant Bay, near the town of Orleans, Massachusetts. The island is about 25 acres in size, which is roughly the size of 20 football fields!

Discovering Sipson Island

Sipson Island has a long and interesting history. For hundreds of years, it was owned by private families. This meant that most people couldn't visit it. But that all changed recently!

A Look Back: Island History

The island has been privately owned since 1711. It was first sold by the Monomoyick people, who were the Native Americans living in the area, to English settlers from the Plymouth Colony.

For a very long time, Sipson Island was the only whole island on Cape Cod that was completely private. This means no one but the owners could go there.

In June 2020, a group called the Sipson Island Trust bought 22 acres of the island. This was a big deal because it meant the island could finally be opened to the public for the first time in over 300 years! The money to buy the island came from many people who cared about nature and wanted to share the island.

Before the island was bought by the Trust, the local government in Orleans had a chance to help keep it open to the public. In 2019, they decided not to buy a special right that would have made sure everyone could visit. But thanks to the Sipson Island Trust and many donations, the island is now a place for everyone to enjoy.

Visiting the Island

Since Sipson Island is an island, you need a boat to get there! You can reach the eastern shore by private boat. If you're coming from the west, you can use a kayak or a paddleboard.

The new owners want to protect the plants and animals that live around the island. So, they ask that only smaller boats (under 22 feet long) that don't go very deep in the water land on the shore. This helps keep the natural marine life safe and healthy.