Shutterstock / Joseph Sohm

Georges Island

Massachusetts

Georges Island is one of the transportation hubs for the Boston Harbor Islands. It is also the site of Fort Warren, a 19th-century fort and Civil War prison. While National Park Service (NPS) rangers give guided tours of the fort and there is a small museum, it is largely abandoned, with many dark tunnels, creepy corners and magnificent lookouts to discover. Weekends on Georges are packed with kids programs, Civil War–era baseball games and jazz concerts.

This is one of the only islands with facilities such as a snack bar and restrooms.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Fenway Park

8.94 MILES

Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…
Harvard University

10.41 MILES

America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…
Museum of Science

8.12 MILES

The educational playground that is the Museum of Science has more than 600 interactive exhibits. Favorites include the world’s largest lightning-bolt…
Minute Man National Historic Park

19.67 MILES

The route that British troops followed to Concord has been designated the Minute Man National Historic Park. The visitor center at the eastern end of the…
Punto Urban Art Museum

13.83 MILES

If you walk south on Lafayette from Derby St, you'll find yourself on the other side of the tracks (or river, in this case). Welcome to El Punto, or ‘The…
Harvard Yard

10.45 MILES

Harvard University was originally founded here in 1636, and Harvard Yard remains the historic and geographic heart of the university campus. Flanked by…
DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum

21.11 MILES

The magical DeCordova Sculpture Park encompasses 35 acres of green hills, providing a spectacular natural environment for a constantly changing exhibit of…
Institute of Contemporary Art

6.38 MILES

Boston has become a focal point for contemporary art in the 21st century, with the Institute of Contemporary Art leading the way. The building is a work…

View more attractions

Nearby Massachusetts attractions

1. Lovells Island

0.71 MILES

With camping and picnicking facilities, Lovells is one of the most popular Harbor Islands destinations. Two deadly shipwrecks may bode badly for seafarers…

2. Boston Harbor Islands

1.15 MILES

Designated a National Recreation Area, the Boston Harbor Islands consist of 34 islands with sandy beaches and hiking trails. Since the massive cleanup of…

3. Peddocks Island

1.81 MILES

One of the largest Harbor Islands, Peddocks consists of four headlands connected by sandbars. Hiking trails wander through marsh, pond and coastal…

4. Little Brewster Island

1.95 MILES

Little Brewster is the country’s oldest light station and site of the iconic Boston Light, dating from 1783. To visit Little Brewster, you must take an…

5. Deer Island

2.72 MILES

Funny thing about Deer Island: it’s not actually an island. A hurricane in 1938 created the causeway that now connects the ‘island’ to the mainland. The…

6. Bumpkin Island

2.99 MILES

This small island has served many purposes over the years, first farming, then fish drying and smelting. In 1900 it was the site of a children’s hospital,…

7. Spectacle Island

3.07 MILES

A Harbor Islands hub, Spectacle Island has a large marina, a solar-powered visitor center, a healthy snack bar and sandy, supervised beaches. Five miles…

8. Grape Island

3.48 MILES

Grape Island is rich with fruity goodness. An arbor decked with cultivated grapes greets you opposite the boat dock, while the wild raspberries,…

View more attractions