Shag Rocks

Shag Rocks from Little Brewster

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

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The Shag Rocks are located south of the Brewster Islands, 10 miles away from Long Wharf. They are almost 1.5 acres and are made up of rocky ledges rising 26 feet in elevation. The Shag Rocks have been a site to many shipwrecks. Nearby Boston Light has served as a warning for mariners to steer clear from the rocks. 

However, even with Boston Light, disaster has still struck. In 1861, the square rigger, Maritana, sailed out of Liverpool with Captain Williams in command. The ship ran into some heavy seas coming into Massachusetts Bay. When Maritana reached Boston, the ship ran into a southeastern gale. Captain Williams saw a brief glimpse of Boston Light before dense snow came down, obscuring visibility of the light. Maritana crashed into Shag Rocks, a half a mile away from Boston Light. Sailors cut the masts, and many made attempts to reach Shag Rocks, however, the strong waves made it difficult to reach the ledges. Later that night, the ship broke in two. Five sailors successfully swam to Shag Rocks and seven were able to float on top of the pilot house. By the next day, the storm had quieted and the Pilot Boat, William Starkey, with Captain Samuel James on board, sent a dory to shore, rescuing the survivors. Unfortunately, twenty-six sailors on Maritana drowned, making this one of the most tragic shipwrecks in the history of Boston Harbor. 

Having been mostly uninhabited throughout history, Shag Rocks are considered dangerous and difficult to access. While Shag Rocks are part of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, they are not managed by an agency. 

Learn More...

Island Facts: Shag Rocks - Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

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Footnotes: 

1. Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, Cultural Landscape Report: Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, Volume 2: Existing Conditions, 225-26.
2. Edward Snow, The Islands of Boston Harbor (Carlisle, MA: Commonwealth Editions, 2002), The Islands of Boston Harbor - Google Books, 46-47; Edward Snow, Storms and Shipwrecks (Carlisle, MA: Commonwealth Editions, 2003), 203-06.
3. National Park Service Boston Harbor Islands, "Shag Rocks Island Facts," Date last modified November 30, 2022.