Guide to Boston Harbor
George's Island
Georges Island is a 39 acre island in Boston Harbor, just 7 miles from downtown. This island is rich in history with many great features.
Visitor Center
Gift Shop
Café
Drinking water and restrooms
Picnic shelters and cooking grills
There are open fields for recreational use and the dock is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Despite all that, the island's most prominent feature is its historical fort. It is accessible throughout the summer and early fall by ferries to and from Boston and Quincy.
Visitor Center
Gift Shop
Café
Drinking water and restrooms
Picnic shelters and cooking grills
There are open fields for recreational use and the dock is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Despite all that, the island's most prominent feature is its historical fort. It is accessible throughout the summer and early fall by ferries to and from Boston and Quincy.
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| boston.com |
Over the next 20 years the island was dramatically
altered, and one of the country's finest forts was built. Dedicated in 1847, Fort
Warren's defensive design was virtually obsolete upon completion. However, the
fort did not go to waste. It served as a
training ground, patrol point, and Civil War prison that gained a favorable
reputation for the humane treatment of its Confederate prisoners. After 100
years of military use, the fort was decommissioned in 1947 and acquired for
historic preservation and recreation in 1958.
The geese and rangers are not the islands only residents though;
many people throughout the centuries have claimed to have seen a very unique inhabitant
roaming the fort grounds. The ghost of a
woman, better known as the
Lady in Black, is said to roam the fort’s dark corridors.
Lady in Black, is said to roam the fort’s dark corridors.
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| A lady in black, not to be confused with The Lady in Black |
The Lady in Black is the ghost of Mrs. Melanie Lanier. She was the wife of a Confederate soldier
that was imprisoned at the fort in 1862.
Legend says that when she received a letter from her husband saying he
had been captured, she was compelled to free him. She traveled from Georgia to
Hull, Massachusetts where she stayed at the home of a Confederate sympathizer. She observed the fort with a spy glass and on
a stormy night rowed across to George's Island and went ashore. Once on the
island, she cut her hair short, disguised herself as a man, and armed herself with
nothing but an old pistol.
She slowly made her way
around the prison cell walls, whistling an obscure southern tune, until she
heard her husband whistle back. Mrs. Lanier was then able to squeeze through
the slit-window of his cell. With the
help of her husband and the other prisoners in his cell, they were able to open
the cell door and begin their escape.
The group was almost free
when the guards were alerted by their commotion.
They ran down a dark narrow tunnel, and where surprised by a guard. Mrs. Lanier fired her pistol in a last
attempt at escaping Unfortunately, the
weapon backfired and the bullet struck and killed her husband. As punishment
for her deeds, Mrs. Lanier was condemned to death by hanging. Her final request
was to be given female clothing. After a
thorough search of the fort for such garments, all that was found were old
black robes. She was executed in these robes and buried on George's Island.
To
this day, people still claim to have seen her.
In one account, a shadowy figure has been seen walking the halls, but
when followed, is unable to catch up to.
Once, after fresh snow had fallen, footprints in a circular pattern were
seen in the yard, but there were no prints leading up to them or away from
them. Today, you can test your own bravery
by entering the same dark tunnel where she was captured. It is said that this is her favorite place to
be on the island; enter at your own risk!
Test your bravery in the dark tunnel and plan your own trip with the links below!
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