Moon Island

rectangular lot filled with long grass and water, separated by rail fencing on one side and stone walls on the three others.
Remnants of the sewage treatment plant on Moon Island.

NPS Photo/ R. Vincent

This island serves as a firefighter training facility and police firing range.

Owned by the City of Boston, Moon Island once contained a massive sewage treatment plant for the area. The island is now closed to visitors due to its current role as a training facility for Boston's fire and police departments.

 

General Information

This island of Boston Harbor Islands national park area is managed by City of Boston.

 

Visitor Facilities & Services

Access is restricted to city personnel. No docking. Boaters must anchor offshore.

Hours:
 Not open for recreational use
Piers/Docks:
 No
Visitor season:
 0
Boat slips:
 0
Visitor staff:
 No
Moorings:
 0
Guided tours:
 No
Park boats:
 None
Lifeguards:
 No
Car access:
 No
Flush toilets:
 No
Campsites:
 0 (capacity ea: 0)
Composting toilets:
 No
Group campsites:
 0 (capacity ea: 0)
Picnic areas:
 No
Camping capacity:
 0
Refreshments:
 No
Cooking grills:
 0
Drinking water:
 No
Walking trails:
 No
On-island Circulation: ACCESS IS RESTRICTED. A 4,175-foot causeway extends from Squantum; 2,500-foot road connects causeways from Squantum and to Long Island viaduct. Moon Island has a 2,850-foot secondary road for administrative use.

Visitor Cautions: PUBLIC ACCESS IS PROHIBITED. The island is used for fire training and a police firing range.
 

Short History

After European colonization, settlers farmed Moon Island and later abandoned it. Beginning in the late 1800s, Moon served as the terminus for Boston's then state-of-the-art sewer system and as the site of Boston’s garbage reclamation plant. The garbage reclamation plant was relocated to Spectacle Island in 1912 and the sewage treatment plant closed in the 1970s. In 1959 and 1960 the island became selected for training centers for Boston's fire and police departments, which remain operational today.

 

Natural History Overview

Vegetation

Meadow grasses; hardwood; sumac groves.

Wildlife

Please see Animals page for more information.

Geology

The drumlin at the center of the island rises to an elevation of 98 feet. At low tide extensive mudflats surround the island.

Water Features

A 19th century sewage treatment facility was constructed with four tanks-each is 900 feet long, 150 feet wide, 17 feet deep. They are separated by walls approximately seven feet thick at the base. The facility is no longer in use. A water system for the fire training facility are in place, as well as water pipes to Long Island.

Views and Vistas

Views from the island include Downtown Boston, Quincy, Hangman, Long, and Peddocks Islands.

 

Structures

  • Firefighters' training building
  • Police firing range headquarters
  • Building foundations

  • None

  • Pier remnants - north and south shores
  • 19th century sewage disposal tanks
  • Granite seawall
  • Rip rap - northern and western shores

Last updated: November 30, 2023

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

15 State Street
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02109

Phone:

617 223-8666

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