• Lush vegetation on the top of Spectacle Island's North drumlin dominates the foreground. Boston's skyline can be seen in the distance. The park's logo with tag line minutes away, worlds apart empashises the stark contrast between the city and islands.

    Boston Harbor Islands

    National Recreation Area Massachusetts

Island Facts: Webb Memorial State Park

Walking trails lead through flowering trees and shaded picnic areas to excellent fishing locations.

 
Short History
Pre-historic evidence indicates that Webb was a seasonal campsite for Native Americans. After European contact, the site was likely used for farming and grazing. In the 1860s the site became part of the Bradley Fertilizer factory, and was used for dumping industrial waste. In the 1950s the property was owned by the U.S. Government to house NIKE missiles in underground silos, and was one of approximately ten sites in the Boston area controlled from Hog Island (now Spinnaker). Military use ended in 1977 and the site was transferred to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since this time, the site has been reconfigured to serve as parkland.
 

General Information
This island of Boston Harbor Islands national park area is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

Agency Designation: Webb Memorial State Park
Current Use: Park purposes
Harbor Location: Hingham Bay
Acreage: 36.00 upland acres
Longitude: 42° 15' 51.8" North
Latitude: 70° 55' 30.5" West
Miles from Long Wharf: 10.33
 
Visitor Facilities & Services
Hours:
 Sunrise-Sunset
Piers/Docks:
 No
Visitor season:
 Year Round
Boat slips:
 0
Visitor staff:
 No
Moorings:
 0
Guided tours:
 No
Park boats:
 N/A
Lifeguards:
 No
Car access:
 Yes
Flush toilets:
 Yes
Campsites:
 0 (capacity ea: 0
Composting toilets:
 No
Group campsites:
 0 (capacity ea: 0)
Picnic areas:
 Yes
Camping capacity:
 0
Refreshments:
 No
Cooking grills:
 Yes
Drinking water:
 Yes
Walking trails:
 Yes

On-island Circulation: There are several unimproved trails on the island.

 
Natural History Overview
Vegetation
The peninsula contains a mix of successional vegetation, mowed meadow and turf areas, and ornamental tree and shrub plantings.

Wildlife
Survey in progress.

Geology
Webb is a peninsula that extends into Hingham Bay and is composed of three connected drumlins and a low marsh area. At low tide a narrow dredged channel separates the mudflats at the tip of Webb from those of Grape Island.

Water Features
Fresh water is piped into the buildings at the southern end of the property. There is a marsh area.

Views and Vistas
Views of Grape and Slate Islands.
 
Structures
Buildings
  • DEM building
    • Maintenance garage
    • Public restrooms
  • Edward T. Henley Memorial Assembly Building
  • South Shore Association for Retarded Citizens building
  • Picnic shelter
Fortifications
  • None
Other Structures
  • John H. Cole Memorial Outlook
  • Alarm of Grape Island Monument
  • Parking lot
  • Fences
  • Picnic tables

Comments
The property is accessible by Weymouth Neck and contains parking.

Did You Know?

Sunset at the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

In the 1800s, when the Great Famine drove a million or more Irish citizens to immigrate to the United States, Deer Island was the landing point for thousands of refugees, many sick and poverty-stricken, hoping to reach the Port of Boston. More...