Winthrop Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winthrop Shore Reservation |
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Winthrop Beach, looking south
with three of the "Five Sisters" on the left |
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 Winthrop Shore Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Winthrop, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.91 m) |
| Established | 1900 |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Winthrop Shore Reservation |
Winthrop Beach is the main beach in Winthrop, Massachusetts. It stretches along Winthrop Shore Drive. The beach starts near Crest Avenue at a spot called the "Green Bars." This name comes from the green railings along the seawall there. The beach then goes all the way to the bottom of Water Tower Hill.
Out in the ocean, there are five structures called "the Five Sisters." These are like walls that break the waves. They help protect nearby homes from big waves during storms. Winthrop Beach is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Lifeguards are usually on duty from late June to early September.
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A Look Back: Winthrop Beach History
For a long time, from the mid-1600s to the late 1800s, people used Winthrop Beach for everyday tasks. They would dig for clams and fish for lobsters. They even collected seaweed from the rocks to use as fertilizer for plants.
How Winthrop Beach Became Popular
In the 1890s, a train line called the Winthrop Branch of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad reached Winthrop Beach. This made it easy for people from Boston and other cities to visit. The beach quickly became a popular spot for city dwellers. In 1900, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bought the Winthrop Shore Reservation area. Unlike Revere Beach nearby, Winthrop Beach did not become a big amusement area with a boardwalk.
Protecting the Beach: Restoration Efforts
In September 2012, a big project began to fix parts of Winthrop Beach. This restoration cost about $17 million. Over two years, the Department of Conservation and Recreation worked to repair the shoreline. The shoreline had worn away badly over time.
Why the Beach Needed Repair
Since the 1930s, structures called "the Five Sisters" were built offshore. These structures caused a lot of sand and gravel to build up behind them. This created a large sandbar connecting to the land, called a tombolo. However, these same structures also caused more erosion on the southern part of Winthrop Beach. This left the seawall, Winthrop Shore Drive, and nearby houses open to damage from storms.
What the Restoration Project Did
The restoration project fixed damaged "groin structures," which are like small walls that stick out into the water to control sand movement. The final part of the project also made the sidewalks on Winthrop Shore Drive wider. New lights, benches, and sand-rinsing stations were added. The entrances to the beach were also improved.
