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You’re Invited: Boston Harbor Islands Anniversary

You’re invited!

Join us this year as we celebrate Boston Harbor Islands’ 25th anniversary as a National Park and 50th anniversary as a State Park! Every week will offer new and popular opportunities to explore and grow on the waterfront and islands.

The story of how the Harbor Islands came to be an official park area can be traced back to at least the 1950s, when people like Edward Rowe Snow, along with organizations like the Metropolitan District Commission, advocated for the preservation and public appreciation of the Boston Harbor Islands. In the early 1970s, thirteen islands were designated as a State Park under the direction of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, later to become the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The early years of the park saw revolutionary changes in how the islands and the harbor itself were cared for and made accessible to the public. During this time, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority was established, beginning the much-needed process of improving the water quality, taking it from a “Harbor of Shame” to one of the cleanest harbors in the world. Transportation on and through the harbor was also revitalized with improvements to Long Wharf in Boston and Hewitt’s Cove in Hingham, bringing people to the harbor for their morning commutes, their water taxis across town, and their free time spent sailing, kayaking, and otherwise enjoying the unique beauty and energy of being on the water.

The Boston Harbor Islands community grew when, in 1996, they became a National Park Unit through an Act of Congress. This Act also included the unique establishment of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, creating a platform for federal, state, city, public, and private organizations to share their respective views and interests in the islands, and to work collaboratively to preserve and manage the park area.

Since the formation of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, the park has seen significant changes; Spectacle Island transformed from a forgotten landfill to a beloved spot for reflection and relaxation; a Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center was built on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, greeting Downtown Boston and beyond with friendly faces, fun facts, and a warm invitation to the islands; and thousands of people have experienced the history, the nature, and the wonder of the Harbor Islands.

In recognition of all the progress and memories that have been made on the Harbor Islands over the past quarter and half century, and in celebration of what is yet to come, we hope to welcome you back to the islands. The festivities kick off on May 21st with free ferry service to Spectacle Island and Georges Island.

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