Knowledge (XXG)

Spectacle Island (Massachusetts)

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151: 330: 318: 282: 270: 306: 22: 69: 61: 294: 197: 113: 143:. George was discovered as a stowaway aboard the Ottoman, a ship from New Orleans, in Boston Harbor. Upon this discovery, Captain James Hannum of the Ottoman took George to Spectacle Island under guard. While Captain Hannum stopped at one of the island's hotels for a drink, George seized the opportunity to escape, stealing Hannum's small boat and headed towards South Boston. 185:, began work in Boston in 1992, some of the project's excavated dirt and clay was used to resurface the island. The island was covered and built up by dirt, capped with two feet (0.6 m) of clay, and covered with two to five feet (0.6 to 1.5 m) of topsoil. Thousands of trees were planted, and paths, buildings, and a dock were built. 146:
Captain Hannum quickly realized George's escape and pursued him by boat and on foot. After a two-mile (3 km) chase through cornfields and over fences, Hannum captured George just as he reached a bridge. This event sparked outrage within Boston's abolitionist community, leading to Hannum's arrest
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on charges of kidnapping. In a desperate bid to return George to enslavement, Captain Hannum transferred him to another ship bound for New Orleans, but abolitionists intercepted Hannum's vessel. Despite a tense confrontation at sea, George's fate remained uncertain.
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that remained active until 1935. When the incinerator closed, trash was simply dumped on the island for the next thirty years. A bulldozer was supposedly swallowed up by the trash sometime during the 1950s. The island remained a trash dump until the 1990s.
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of 157 feet (48 m), Spectacle Island is now one of the highest points on Boston Harbor. The island's inner harbor acreage is 114 (46 ha), with 85.5 upland acres (34.6 ha) and 28.4 intertidal acres (11.5 ha).
48:. It is part of the city of Boston. The island has a varied history, and today is a public park with a marina, visitor center, cafe, lifeguarded swimming beach, and five miles of walking trails, forming part of the 216:. The marina was closed for almost two years in the late 2010s due to repairs required as the result of a storm in the winter of 2015. As of July 2017, the marina is open and public moorings are available. 656: 150: 188:
Spectacle Island opened to the public in June 2006 for use as a recreational area with hiking trails, a beach, a visitors' center with cafe, and a marina with 38 boat slips for visitors.
649: 1750: 642: 1411: 1432: 49: 882: 605: 430: 975: 771: 329: 564: 257:. It is described as a quarantine island used especially during the smallpox epidemic as a place for ships carrying disease to unload ill passengers. 92:, together with subsequent landscaping, have resulted in a significantly larger island with a permanent size of 85 acres (340,000 m), plus an 99:
The island is now composed of two artificial earth mounds, terraced with retaining walls, roads and newly planted vegetation. With a height above
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connected by a spit, with an approximate size of 49 acres (200,000 m). The name is believed to derive from its then-resemblance to a pair of
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Klein, Christopher. Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands: a guide to the city's hidden shores. Boston, MA: Union Park Press, 2008. Print.
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were first lit in 1903 and discontinued around 1950; these indicated the middle leg of the trip. No trace of any of these lights remains.
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OS2U Kingfisher from NAS Squantum flying near Spectacle Island's Western shore, April-May 1942. Schooner Snetind off shore of island.
1745: 1147: 953: 52:. It is served all year by ferries from Boston, and on weekends and summer weekdays by a shuttle boat to and from nearby islands. 1626: 1487: 1202: 959: 862: 776: 665: 517: 163: 562:"The Other Islands: The Harbor Islands make for an easy day trip for sunbathers, history buffs—and especially the traffic-weary" 1565: 1225: 822: 714: 201: 182: 1740: 1659: 1481: 1397: 1253: 1157: 948: 812: 213: 1598: 1588: 1463: 1301: 1162: 867: 837: 802: 750: 305: 167: 117: 293: 1705: 1682: 1677: 1603: 1503: 1451: 1192: 1177: 1117: 1010: 995: 985: 970: 965: 872: 852: 847: 745: 708: 691: 140: 1649: 1518: 1470: 1457: 1353: 1323: 1263: 1142: 1102: 1060: 1025: 990: 938: 918: 895: 887: 817: 807: 766: 123:
Starting in the early 19th century, the island was used exclusively for its relative remoteness from Boston. A horse
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or to private watercraft at the island's marina. Ferries run from and to Boston as well as from and to
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The marina on Spectacle Island in summer as viewed from one of the foot-trails from the North Summit.
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In September 1846, Spectacle Island became a pivotal location in the story of George, a
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were established in 1897 to mark the last leg of the channel into Boston itself, past
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Spectacle Island is accessible to the public either through a ferry from
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plant was built on Spectacle Island in 1857, followed by a city trash
1442: 677: 33: 518:"Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Massachusetts" 195: 149: 111: 85: 67: 59: 20: 89: 1393: 638: 520:. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from 434: 174:; they were not long-lived and were discontinued in 1913. The 431:"Spectacle Island offers spectacular views of Boston Harbor" 181:
When the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project, or the
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Boston Harbor Islands video: A History of Spectacle Island
1696: 1668: 1635: 1612: 1574: 1441: 1282: 676: 234:The island plays an important role in the novel 493:"Spectacle Island (U.S. National Park Service)" 225:Spectacle Island is featured in the video game 76:The island was initially composed of two small 1433:Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area 593:Boston Harbor Islands page on Spectacle Island 50:Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area 1405: 650: 40:, 4 miles (6.4 km) offshore of downtown 8: 1412: 1398: 1390: 657: 643: 635: 247:Spectacle Island is mentioned in the book 355: 353: 351: 349: 1751:Islands of Suffolk County, Massachusetts 537:"Broad Sound Channel Inner Range Lights" 96:of a further 28 acres (110,000 m). 400: 398: 345: 265: 372: 370: 176:Broad Sound Channel Inner Range Lights 7: 460:Klein, Christopher (June 22, 2008). 335:Cormorants on abandoned pier pilings 323:Visitors on the ferry pier at sunset 287:Boston skyline from Spectacle Island 437:.com. July 26, 2007. Archived from 275:Shoreline trail with Boston skyline 162:were erected on the island by the 14: 406:"Island Escape With a City View" 328: 316: 304: 292: 280: 268: 164:United States Lighthouse Service 1230:Three and One-half Fathom Ledge 116:The island in 1907 showing the 204:can be seen in the background. 1: 168:Spectacle Island Range Lights 118:Spectacle Island Range Lights 16:Island in Massachusetts, USA 883:Cormorant Rock (Marblehead) 32:is a 114-acre (46 ha) 1767: 1714: 1428: 464:. Globe Newspaper Company 410:Boston Harbor CityCruises 1746:Islands of Massachusetts 72:Spectacle Island in 2013 64:Spectacle Island in 1909 1721:indicate former islands 1307:Charles River Peninsula 971:Grape Island (Weymouth) 541:New England Lighthouses 382:Bostonharborislands.org 237:Zodiac: An Eco-Thriller 1046:Middle Brewster Island 1021:Little Brewster Island 976:Grape Island (Ipswich) 914:Deer Island (Amesbury) 205: 155: 120: 84:. However, dumping of 73: 65: 26: 1741:Boston Harbor islands 1344:Popponesset Peninsula 1123:Outer Brewster Island 981:Great Brewster Island 828:Chappaquiddick Island 621:42.32500°N 70.98611°W 588:National Park Service 535:D'Entremont, Jeremy. 299:Visitors on the beach 199: 153: 115: 71: 63: 24: 901:Crowninshield Island 567:May 6, 2008, at the 462:"A harbor Spectacle" 255:Jennifer Lee Carrell 250:The Speckled Monster 798:Busta Rhymes Island 762:Billingsgate Island 729:Bar Rock (Scituate) 626:42.32500; -70.98611 617: /  1249:Veckatimest Island 1148:Popponesset Island 924:Egg Rock (Concord) 686:Abnecotants Island 668:and peninsulas of 378:"Spectacle Island" 206: 156: 121: 74: 66: 27: 1728: 1727: 1387: 1386: 1369:Shawmut Peninsula 1259:Weepecket Islands 1239:Tuckernuck Island 1208:Stall Hill Island 1108:Nonamesset Island 1041:Martha's Vineyard 954:Gooseberry Island 934:Elizabeth Islands 929:Egg Rock (Nahant) 878:Conspiracy Island 833:Children's Island 575:, May 2007 issue. 441:on August 6, 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Island 998: 993: 988: 983: 978: 973: 968: 963: 956: 951: 949:Georges Island 946: 944:Gallops Island 941: 936: 931: 926: 921: 916: 911: 908: 903: 898: 893: 890: 885: 880: 875: 870: 865: 860: 858:Clark's Island 855: 850: 845: 840: 835: 830: 825: 820: 815: 813:Carrick Island 810: 805: 800: 795: 793:Bumpkin Island 790: 785: 782: 779: 774: 769: 764: 759: 756: 753: 748: 743: 738: 733: 730: 727: 722: 717: 712: 705: 700: 695: 688: 682: 680: 674: 673: 664: 662: 661: 654: 647: 639: 601: 600: 595: 590: 583: 582:External links 580: 578: 577: 553: 527: 509: 484: 475: 452: 422: 394: 366: 344: 342: 339: 338: 337: 334: 327: 325: 322: 315: 313: 311:Ferry arriving 310: 303: 301: 298: 291: 289: 286: 279: 277: 274: 267: 263: 260: 259: 258: 245: 232: 221: 218: 214:Georges Island 193: 192:Transportation 190: 139:escaping from 137:freedom seeker 109: 106: 57: 54: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1763: 1752: 1749: 1747: 1744: 1742: 1739: 1738: 1736: 1720: 1717: 1716: 1713: 1707: 1704: 1703: 1701: 1699: 1695: 1689: 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Island 841: 839: 838:Childs Island 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 824: 821: 819: 816: 814: 811: 809: 806: 804: 803:Button Island 801: 799: 796: 794: 791: 789: 786: 783: 780: 778: 775: 773: 770: 768: 765: 763: 760: 757: 754: 752: 751:Beaver Island 749: 747: 744: 742: 739: 737: 736:Barton Island 734: 731: 728: 726: 725:Bakers Island 723: 721: 718: 716: 713: 711: 710: 706: 704: 703:Angelica Rock 701: 699: 698:Amrita Island 696: 694: 693: 689: 687: 684: 683: 681: 679: 675: 671: 670:Massachusetts 667: 660: 655: 653: 648: 646: 641: 640: 637: 633: 630: 599: 596: 594: 591: 589: 586: 585: 581: 574: 570: 566: 563: 557: 554: 542: 538: 531: 528: 523: 519: 513: 510: 498: 494: 488: 485: 479: 476: 463: 456: 453: 440: 436: 432: 426: 423: 411: 407: 401: 399: 395: 383: 379: 373: 371: 367: 362: 356: 354: 352: 350: 346: 340: 331: 326: 319: 314: 307: 302: 295: 290: 283: 278: 271: 266: 261: 256: 252: 251: 246: 243: 239: 238: 233: 230: 229: 224: 223: 219: 217: 215: 211: 203: 198: 191: 189: 186: 184: 179: 177: 173: 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The 42:Boston 34:island 1706:Snake 1688:Slate 1683:Sheep 1678:Grape 1604:Sarah 1504:Green 1452:Apple 341:Notes 86:trash 1650:Moon 1614:Hull 1519:Long 1471:Deer 1458:Calf 548:2021 504:2024 470:2009 447:2007 417:2021 389:2021 90:dirt 88:and 1655:Nut 435:CNN 253:by 36:in 1737:: 571:, 539:. 495:. 433:. 408:. 397:^ 380:. 369:^ 348:^ 44:, 1413:e 1406:t 1399:v 658:e 651:t 644:v 550:. 506:. 472:. 449:. 419:. 391:. 363:. 244:. 231:.

Index


island
Boston Harbor
Boston
Massachusetts
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area


drumlins
spectacles
trash
dirt
intertidal zone
sea level

Spectacle Island Range Lights
rendering
incinerator
freedom seeker
slavery

range lights
United States Lighthouse Service
Spectacle Island Range Lights
Governor's Island
Broad Sound Channel Inner Range Lights
Big Dig

Thompson Island
Long Wharf

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