Penikese Island is a 75-acre wildlife sanctuary educational institution and recreational destination off the coast of Massachusetts in Buzzards Bay. It is part of the nine small islands making up the Elizabeth Islands in Gosnold town. The island is famous as the site where Penikese Island Leper Hospital was established in 1905 by the state of Massachusetts to treat, care and isolate leprosy patients. Until the hospital was closed in 1921 the leprosy plague then made it to be dubbed the 'evil island' by the public.

Penikese Island: A Brief History

The first recorded Penikese Island's history was in 1602 AD when English explorer and lawyer Bartholomew Gosnold (1571-1607) and his team visited the island. The island was bought and sold several times before a tobacco merchant John Anderson bought it in 1867 and used it for vacationing. In 1873 Anderson gave the island plus $50,000 to Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) a Swiss American natural scientist, zoologist, and Harvard professor. In honor of Anderson, Agassiz opened the Anderson School of Natural History in 1873 for studying nature around the island. After Agassiz's death, his son Alexander ran the school until 1875 when it closed down after a fire.

Former students of Anderson School of Natural History inspired by Agassiz's work opened in 1888, Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole. It takes an hour boat ride to get from Woods Hole to Penikese Island a 13-mile stretch. In 1904 the Penikese Island was purchased by the state of Massachusetts for $25,000 for use as a leprosy hospital and quarantine facility. The state hired Dr. Frank Parker in 1907 to run the hospital until 1921 when it was closed down and the lepers were moved to a federal hospital in Carville Louisiana. From 1973 to 2011 the island had the Penikese Island School school to reform troubled juvenile boys that today is a purely learning institution.

What to explore at Penikese Island

Despite its infamous past the Penikese Island today is a recreational destination worth exploring. Below are among the recreational activities tourists to the Penikese island can do while there:

Bird Watching

Buzzards Bay provides a lush and aquatic habitat for over 150 bird species birds that include migratory species. Penikese island's grassy hills, shrubs, and rocky beaches provide an ideal habitat for birds to nest on. Birders visiting the island watch birds like the American wigeon, brent goose, bufflehead, common wider, common goldeneye, greater scaup, green-winged teal, hooded and red-breasted mergansers, horned lark, purple sandpiper, snow bunting, surf and white winger scoters, and the endangered roseate tern. Photographers can also capture the birds in this habitat or in the Atlantic Ocean waters or shore. Birders are advised to bring binoculars to enhance their bird-watching experience.

Aquatic Recreational Activities

Buzzard Bay's pristine blue waters provide a habitat for frogs and salamanders that are found in vernal pools that come up during spring. The lush eelgrass provides a habitat for fish and shellfish. Tourists see these habitats and reptiles in the Buzzard Bay waters. Tourists can also go snorkeling, shellfishing, salt and fresh water fishing, boating, rowing, and paddling on the Atlantic waters on Penikese Island. There are sections where young children can also fish and snorkel. Boating trips to and from Penikese island and other Elizabeth islands are also available.

Explore Penikese Island Trails

There are grassy and rough walking trails that allow tourists to have 360-degree views of the scenic Buzzards Bay. These unmarked trails start from the beach, the boat dock, and past old school buildings not accessible to the public. Since Penikese Island is hilly with rough with uneven paths, it's advisable for tourists to wear strong hiking shoes and walk carefully. From April to September is when the birds nest and to protect their nests, eggs, or hatched chicks, tourists need to walk on mowed trails. The nesting areas are off-limits to tourists. To the west of the dock and school buildings, is a trail reaching the island's highest point. From that point, tourists have picturesque views of the Cuttyhunk and Nashawena islands, the Atlantic Ocean, Vineyard Sound, and Aquinnah Cliffs on Martha's Vineyard. Pets are not allowed on Penikese Island.

Relive the macabre past through ruins

On the northern side of Penikese Island is a trail leading to a cemetery overlooking Buzzards Bay's entrance where lepers were buried. The cemetery has grave markers and nationalities of lepers buried there were America, Barbados, Greece, China, Cape Verde, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Latvia, and Israel. There is another section with dilapidated concrete markers where a gate separating the side with lepers and non-lepers once stood. There are also house ruins of where lepers were housed.

Educational Programs

The Penikese Island School at Penikese Island school promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education and out-of-class programs that help students of all ages learn from the island's diverse habitat. The mantra here is to study nature not books, which make the learning experience for visiting students engaging, interesting, and meaningful. These nature learning programs here are open to school-going children and can last several days. Students visiting get to camp there for the duration of their learning period.

Other facts about Penikese Island

  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts owns Penikese Island but is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Penikese Island is off-grid and kerosene lamps are used for evening lighting
  • Hot and cold running water and composting toilets are available
  • Open to the public during the day

Next: Martha's Vineyard Vs. Cape Cod: Which Is The Better Classic New England Destination?