Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
| Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park | |
|---|---|
View of Spectacle Island showing trails, visitor center, and pier from the island's north side. | |
| Location | Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties, Massachusetts |
| Nearest city | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°19′7″N 70°56′45″W / 42.31861°N 70.94583°W |
| Area | 1,482 acres (6.00 km2) |
| Established | November 12, 1996 |
| Governing body | Boston Harbor Islands Partnership which includes the National Park Service together with other federal, state, city, and nonprofit agencies. |
| Website | Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area |
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is a combination national recreation area and state park situated among the islands of Boston Harbor. The park is made up of 34 islands and peninsulas and is managed by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. Twenty-one of the islands are also included in the Boston Harbor Islands Archeological District.
The park is significant for a wide range of natural and cultural resources, including three national historic landmarks, unique geological features, archaeological resources resulting from thousands of years of occupation of the islands by indigenous people of Massachusetts, and complex natural communities.
Attractions include hiking trails, beaches, the Civil War-era Fort Warren, and Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse station in the United States. Georges Island and Spectacle Island are served seasonally by ferries to and from Boston, and Peddocks Island is served by a ferry from Hingham.