If you see someone on the islands in a blue shirt, chances are it's a Friend - say hello!
The Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands are supported by our Members and in-part by the special project grants from Boston Marine Society. Consider joining or renewing your membership. FBHI Volunteers that are Mass State Employees may be able to donate a day a month via the SERV Program.
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Beacons of Beantown: 300 Years of Boston Lights
A Series Co-Presented by Old South Meeting House and Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands
Location: Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
Join us to experience the fascinating histories of Boston Harbor’s historic lighthouses, as we celebrate the tercentenary of Boston Light, America’s oldest light station (1716-2016), and the centennial of the National Park Service (1916-2016), which includes Boston Harbor Islands. Throughout this series, you will learn firsthand from today’s lighthouse keepers and restoration experts, hear compelling family stories passed down through generations, and enjoy a live performance of traditional sea shanties. Discover the diverse stories these iconic features of our coastline have to tell, and refresh your knowledge of Beantown’s seafaring past!
Events within the Series:
Jeremy D’Entremont, lighthouse author and historian, and Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands founder Suzanne Gall Marsh, will kick off a two-month series celebrating the tercentenary of Boston Light. This illustrated lecture will provide a colorful overview of Boston’s lighthouse history, including highlights from oral and family histories.
Free and open to the public, advance registration requested. For details go to www.osmh.org/calendar.
A musical performance by Gloucester-based Three Sheets to the Wind, featuring traditional sea shanties. Free with Museum Admission
Free with Museum Admission
Location: Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
Join us to experience the fascinating histories of Boston Harbor’s historic lighthouses, as we celebrate the tercentenary of Boston Light, America’s oldest light station (1716-2016), and the centennial of the National Park Service (1916-2016), which includes Boston Harbor Islands. Throughout this series, you will learn firsthand from today’s lighthouse keepers and restoration experts, hear compelling family stories passed down through generations, and enjoy a live performance of traditional sea shanties. Discover the diverse stories these iconic features of our coastline have to tell, and refresh your knowledge of Beantown’s seafaring past!
Events within the Series:
- Thursday, September 15, 2016 – Reception 6:00 pm; Program 6:30 pm
Jeremy D’Entremont, lighthouse author and historian, and Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands founder Suzanne Gall Marsh, will kick off a two-month series celebrating the tercentenary of Boston Light. This illustrated lecture will provide a colorful overview of Boston’s lighthouse history, including highlights from oral and family histories.
Free and open to the public, advance registration requested. For details go to www.osmh.org/calendar.
- Saturday, September 17, 2016, 12:00-2:00 pm
A musical performance by Gloucester-based Three Sheets to the Wind, featuring traditional sea shanties. Free with Museum Admission
- Fridays September 23, October 7, October 21, 2016, 12:15 pm
Free with Museum Admission
- Friday, September 23, 12:15 “Restoring the Historic Graves Light” with David Waller, Assistant Keeper of Graves Light and Fog Signal Station, Boston Harbor
- Friday, October 7, 12:15 "United States Lightship Service, 1820–1985" with Robert Mannino Jr., President of the Nantucket Lightship LV-112 Museum
- Friday, October 21, 12:15 “Boston Light: 300 Years of Service” with Sally Snowman, Keeper of Boston Light
1969 Video of Boston Harbor restored
Through the efforts of Suzanne Gall Marsh & the UMass Archives a rare 1969 film showing Boston & many of the Harbor Islands has been restored and is available for viewing - click on any of the images below and prepare to be take back in time! The video is just over 18 minutes long. Enjoy!
Boston Navy Yard/Charlestown
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Spectacle Island
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Deer Island Light
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2016 is the 300th anniversary of Boston Light. To learn more about planning and special events go click the button below. FBHI is a member of the Tricentennial Committee. |
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Charlie Boyer, a long-time Member & Volunteer with the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands passed away on Saturday, April 9th. He was of the "Greatest Generation" and served in WWII in the Army.
Mr. Boyer was born on February 28, 1925, Charlie was a resident of Medford, Massachusetts at the time of his passing. He was married to Helen.
Charlie was a long-time supporter of the FBHI and donated over 10,000 hours of his time both on and off the islands. You'd frequently find him volunteering on Georges Island, providing tours and helping the Park Staff and the Public.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to the Friends of Boston Harbor Islands 30 Shipyard Dr. 202 Hingham MA 02043. Donations can be made online by clicking DONATE, Charlie will be missed.
Mr. Boyer was born on February 28, 1925, Charlie was a resident of Medford, Massachusetts at the time of his passing. He was married to Helen.
Charlie was a long-time supporter of the FBHI and donated over 10,000 hours of his time both on and off the islands. You'd frequently find him volunteering on Georges Island, providing tours and helping the Park Staff and the Public.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to the Friends of Boston Harbor Islands 30 Shipyard Dr. 202 Hingham MA 02043. Donations can be made online by clicking DONATE, Charlie will be missed.
Thank you to all who visited FBHI at the New England Boat Show 2/13-21!
Board of Directors Clerk, Rab Sherman, Giles Parker, Superintendent, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area & Walter Hope, Board Chairman - at the Boat Show
Well over 1000 people visited the Friends at the New England Boat Show - we sold "Boston Light 300th Anniversary" shirts and had a raffle and a frequent prize wheel with items from David's Tea and Taza Chocolate for prize winners! Thank you also to our raffle prize donors:
- Bed & Breakfast Afloat/Constitution Marina
- Birch Marine
- Cabela's Outdoors
- Newfane Lodge, Newfane VT
- Red Sox Pre-game Tour (Anthem Entertainment)
- Vineyard Vines (Neckties)
INSTANT Membership Online
YOU Can help the Friends of the Boston Islands every day with an easily budgetable donation. Donations will be withdrawn from your credit card for a 12 month period. Consider this wonderful and easy option! The Friends are truly a 'grass roots' organization, a donation from you goes a-long-way. Donors that donate using the 'subscription' method become members with all of our membership benefits. For the cost of just a pot or two of coffee, you can make a difference! Thank you.
You can virtually visit the Islands Online Year - Round with many photos of Thompson, Calf, Rainsford, Graves Light Station and Outer Brewster Islands
Can't make it out - or interested in seeing what you might see on one of our trips? Visit the islands online via photos by some of our Friends - Click on the island names below to start your journey!
Welcome NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSE LOVERS (NELL)!
A further collaboration with FBHI this year NELL Members are eligible for a discounted FBHI Membership.
FBHI MEMBERS GET A 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL* BOSTON HARBOR CRUISES TRIPS. BHC has an extensive selection of trips including harbor tours, harbor island transportation, USS Constitution tours, Charles River & locks tours, high-speed Codzilla tour, and high speed ferries to Provincetown. SEE THE WEB SITE. FBHI members get this discount either on line or at the ticket booth. * " FBHI members with proof of membership will receive the Senior Rate when riding from Hull on the inter-island shuttle. There is no FBHI discount on the Hingham commuter/island boats because these are MBTA boats. FBHI members going on Boston-based Boston Harbor Cruises excursions will continue to receive a 20% discount either online or at the ticket window with proof of membership.
FBHI Members now get a 20% DISCOUNT on MASSACHUSETTS BAY LINES Cruises including:
Amusement Cruises (comedy, dance & fun!), Harbor Tours and more! Your NEW FBHI Membership card will have the code to activate your discount.
VOLUNTEER!
Volunteer Job Descriptions have now been posted on our Volunteer Page. Interested? Check out the page, read the description and then complete the online form. And if you're a State Employee, you may be eligible to make use of SERV Time.
2016 FBHI Boat Trips
Explore YOUR islands with the friends!
Thompson Island August 17th
No refunds, trip canceled only by the captain, will run rain or shine. Bring your own refreshments; no food sold on the boat or the island.
Old Cell Phone?
Support the Friends by donating your old cell phone via Cellphones For My Cause. Cell phones contain heavy metals as well as precious metals and should not be land-filled or just thrown away. Help the environment, while helping the friends. Click on Cellphones For My Cause to learn how!
