Gallops Island (click to enlarge)
Gallops Island was a summer resort in the 1800s up through the Civil War, at which time the resorts were closed and the island was used to house Union troops. In 1916 it was home to an immigration station, the site where all immigrants to the United States via Boston had to register and pass inspection before entering the country. During World War II, the U. S. Maritime Radio School was stationed on the island.
Winter storms in 2018 exposed coffins from a long forgotten cemetery used for the burials of an estimated 230 smallpox victims. While these people were immigrants, they are not connected to the immigration station era. Instead, they are from at time when Gallops Island was used as a quarantine station and hospital between the Civil War and World War I. The bodies will be exhumed and identification will be attempted.
In recent history, Gallops was one of the ferry-serviced islands open to visitors of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. However, asbestos was found in 2000 and the island was closed. Talk of restoration has taken place since Day One, but two decades later the island remains closed to the public.
Though no one is allowed on the island, private boaters can anchor offshore. Moorings for both Gallops and the adjacent Georges Island are also available and can be reserved in advance for a fee. See the Dockwa reservation web page. Moorings are only available during the standard tourist season of mid-May through Columbus Day.
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Last updated on January 9, 2024
