Gerry Island

Gerry Island in Marblehead, Massachusetts is a lovely spot to take in the beautiful seashore and the bustling Little Harbor. The island is situated at the end of a naturally occurring gravel land-bridge, which is visible and usable only at low tide. Some key sights to take in from the island include the Marblehead Lighthouse, Crowninshield Island, and the many boats in the summer.

Gerry Island was privately owned from 1635 to 2018, and the island was named after Thomas Gerry, who owned it in the mid-1700s. The island was acquired in 2018 by the nonprofit preservation and conservation organization The Trustees of Reservations. The private owners, Ted and Julie Moore, donated the island to The Trustees to ensure that it would be open to the public and protected for future generations. Following the transfer of ownership, The Trustees raised $250,000 in a short period of time from 90 donors from Marblehead and across the state to establish an endowment to maintain and manage the island. A short trail, benches, and informational signs were also installed for visitors.

Other islands protected by The Trustees include the neighboring Crowninshield Island, also known as Browns Island, a few hundred yards to the north. Louise DuPont Crowninshield, a philanthropist and preservationist, donated this island to the nonprofit in 1955. The Trustees is one of the best organizations in Massachusetts; please visit their website and consider donating.

The Trustees of Reservations exists to protect and share the special places in Massachusetts that people value for their scenic, historic, and ecological value. If you enjoy their work, consider becoming a member at thetrustees.org/membership.

Be sure to check out Marblehead Light, Castle Rock Park, and Fort Pickering (Winter Island) Lighthouse which are all only a few miles away. You can find more great spots to explore in Massachusetts at goxplr.com/map/massachusetts!

Location

• Address: Gerry Island
• Town: Marblehead
• State: Massachusetts
• GPS: Lat 42.51095 Lng -70.84151
• Parking notes: There is no designated parking for Gerry Island, therefore visitors should seek legal street parking in the surrounding area. There are many parking spaces along Orne Street and around the Old Burial Hill Cemetery.
• Parking directions: HERE
• Location directions: HERE