Free Topo Maps of Boston Harbor Islands Recreation Area

Download free topo maps of Boston Harbor Islands Recreation Area. Use the adjoining 7.5 minute quadrangle legend to locate the Massachusetts maps you need.

Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
  1. Northwest Topo Map: Boston North, MA
  2. North Topo Map: Lynn, MA
  3. Northeast Topo Map: Marblehead South, MA
  4. West Topo Map: Boston South, MA
  5. Topo Map: Hull, MA
  6. East Topo Map: Nantasket Beach, MA
  7. Southwest Topo Map: Blue Hills, MA
  8. South Topo Map: Weymouth, MA
  9. Southeast Topo Map: Cohasset, MA
Map

Boston Harbor Islands Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands, National Recreation Area is located in Boston, where the Harbor and 34 Harbor Islands comprise the Recreation Area. Here you will find history, nature and diverse cultural resources waiting to be discovered. Each Island has its own unique identity, some with Civil War era structures, some with historic lighthouses, others with marinas, trails, a swimming beach and a historic Civil War prison. There are self-guided tours of the structures, as well as Ranger led tours. During some months there are living history demonstrations and there are also interpretive talks. A diversity of wildlife and plant life is there to be enjoyed. Most of the Harbor Islands are accessible by ferry during the spring through fall; some have a marina while Deer Island, Webb Memorial State Park, World's End and Nut Island are accessible by car throughout the year. Boston Harbor Islands were originally explored and used by the Native Americans until the European settlers forced them to leave; however some Indians did stay in the area while most fled to other tribal regions. Today the National Parks Service and its affiliates are making strides to inform visitors of the ceremonial and sacred areas which the Indian Tribes revered. There is a rich cultural history on the Islands from the Civil War Era, when African Americans joined those troops that were billeted on the Islands, and from which they were honorably mustered out following the end of the War. Added to the diversity of the cultural atmosphere is Nixes Mate, a small Island that once displayed executed pirates in an attempt to prevent looting of ships in Boston Harbor. Boston Harbor also still has some of the beacons that were used to warn the early British inhabitants that lived inland of possible invasion. The more than 6,000 items and relics that were collected on the Islands now reside in a number of museums and collections, which when added into the long history of the Islands, the historic and archeological sites, combine to tell the manner in which the Islands changed through the centuries. There are several Visitor Centers, plus the Boston Harbor open-air pavilion where Rangers can help visitors seeking information, brochures and trail maps of the Islands. Camping, picnicking, kayaking, beaches and dunes, tidal pools, hiking and visiting historic sites are always popular choices. Whether seeking rolling hills, meadows, salt marshes or beaches, there is an Island to suit your needs. Little Brewer Island where the oldest lighthouse station in the country is located offers a fabulous view for the visitor, while some hiking paths offer a panoramic view of Boston. There is even a special mobile phone "adventure" geared towards family fun.