National Parks of Boston Economic Report 2022

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park | credit: NPS

A new National Park Service (NPS) report offers insights into the economic benefits of the National Parks of Boston.

Approximately 2.5 million visitors to National Parks of Boston in 2022 spent $167.3 million in communities near the park.

That spending supported 2,090 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $255.4 million.

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists at the National Park Service. The report shows $23.9 billion of direct spending by nearly 312 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.

The report is available at the U.S. National Park Service website (nps.gov).

The National Parks of Boston is a collection of three National Park Service sites – Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.

For more information on the National Parks of Boston, visit: www.nps.gov/bost, www.nps.gov/boaf, and www.bostonharborislands.org.

source: National Park Service

Related Information

Massachusetts

Boston Lighthouse Webcams

Boston Lighthouse Webcams

Boston Lighthouse - Little Brewster Island | credit: NPS

Four new webcams have been installed on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor. Viewable by the public, the cams provide panoramic real-time views from Boston Lighthouse of the island and surrounding areas.

The cameras enhance maritime safety by providing a picture of real-time sea conditions and visibility at the outer reaches of the harbor, allowing mariners to make informed decisions about their trip prior to leaving the dock.

The webcam’s installation is the result of cooperative efforts between the U.S. National Park Service, Hull Lifesaving Museum, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston and Aids-to-Navigation Team Boston.  

Originally built in 1716, Boston Light is the nation’s oldest lighthouse station. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and is still an active aid-to-navigation.

The lighthouse casts a 27-mile light beam through a second-order revolving Fresnel lens that was installed in 1859.

Looking North

Looking northward from Boston Light, the camera displays the northern approaches into Boston Harbor, with Graves Light visible into the distance. The smaller Brewster Islands, Middle and Outer, are in the midground, with the Shag Rocks on the near right.

Looking East

Looking east from Boston Light, the camera captures Massachusetts Bay.

Looking West

The westward view shows downtown Boston in the distance, with several islands including Great Brewster and Georges Island in the midground.

Looking South

 The southern view captures the town of Hull across the Nantasket Roads shipping route.

Free public access to the webcams is available at:

www.nps.gov/boha/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

Related Information

Massachusetts

New England Facts

Maritime Shows In New England 2020

Boston MA | credit: USCG

A number of shows, expos, and other events in New England will spotlight maritime issues such as fishing, seafood, boating, equipment, education, and much more. This post lists a few events that will be held in and around New England in 2020.

Rhode Island Boat Show
January 3 - 5, 2020
Rhode Island Convention Center
One Sabin Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
www.riboatshow.com

The RI Boat Show features all types of watercraft. Many dealers and exhibitors offer boat show specials and Rhode Island does not tax boat sales.

2020 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show
February 8 through February 16, 2020
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
www.newenglandboatshow.com

Now in its 65th year, the 2020 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, February 8-16, 2020. The New England Boat Show showcases more than 700 boats and watercraft, along with electronics, and other marine accessories.

45th Maine Fishermen’s Forum
March 5-7, 2020
Rockport, Maine
mainefishermensforum.org

The 45th Maine Fishermen’s Forum will be held March 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2020 in Rockport, Maine. The Fishermen’s Forum hosts fishermen, gear suppliers, scientists, government, and other stakeholders. Each year the Forum provides three days of free seminars for fishermen covering a wide range of topics.

Offshore Wind Seminar
The public is invited to attend a one-day seminar on offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine. The seminar will be held on Thursday March 5 from 10:00-4:00 at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.

For more information, visit www.mainefishermensforum.org

Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America
March 15-17, 2020
Boston, USA
www.seafoodexpo.com

In Boston, buyers and suppliers from around the world will meet, network and do business at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America.

The exposition is sponsored by the National Fisheries Institute. Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is North America’s largest seafood exposition.

For more information, visit: www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america source: www.seafoodexpo.com

Please add a comment to suggest additional maritime events in 2020.

Mayflower Voyage - Plymouth Colony 400th Anniversary

Mayflower Replica Attribution:

User: Stilfehler at wikivoyage shared [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Massachusetts will host a series of events in 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of two historic events that helped shape the United States of America; the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony.

Selected by the state’s Plymouth 400 Commission, the events will highlight the historical significance of the English Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth in 1620, and interactions with the Native American Wampanoag people.

The series of 400th anniversary events will showcase Massachusetts’ vibrant culture, cuisine, history and natural beauty.


400th anniversary activities for 2020 include:

• official Plymouth 400 opening ceremony in Plymouth


• the sailing of the Mayflower to Boston, Provincetown and Plymouth


• a maritime festival hosted by Mayflower Sails 2020 in Boston Harbor alongside the USS Constitution and Mayflower


• a homecoming festival in Plymouth with visiting ships and maritime activities


• Wampanoag Ancestors Walk, led by the Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts


• Official State House Salute to the 400th Anniversary


• Embarkation Festival


• Indigenous History Conference and Powwow


• Illuminate Thanksgiving 2020


• a moving exhibit entitled “Our Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History", is traveling around Massachusetts and New England in 2020


• the United Kingdom and The Netherlands are also participating by sending official delegations to Massachusetts

In preparation for 400th anniversary celebrations, the Plimoth Plantation has completed a three-year, $11.2 million restoration of the historic wooden sailing ship Mayflower.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to massvacation.com.

sources: Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, plymouth400inc.org, Plimoth Plantation

Boston Christmas Tree - A Gift in Rememberance of the Halifax Explosion

The City of Boston's annual holiday display includes the official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia and trees throughout Boston Common.

The 60-year-old white spruce tree is a thank you to Boston for its support following the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Every year, Nova Scotians and Bostonians celebrate the lighting of the Nova Scotia tree gifted to Boston.

Nova Scotia's Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine was among a delegation of Canadians that visited Boston to witness the 2019 tree lighting ceremony on the Boston Common.

"This special tree is for the generosity shown to us after the Halifax Explosion and I am honoured to witness it light up the City of Boston," said Mr. Glavine.

This is the 48th year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor.

Within 24 hours of the disaster a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel was making its way from Boston to Nova Scotia.

sources: City of Boston, Province of Nova Scotia