Long Island (Massachusetts)

Long Island (Massachusetts) is a peninsula and former island situated in Boston Harbor, part of the city of Boston in Suffolk County. Historically an island, it was connected to the mainland via a causeway and bridge in 2014, fundamentally altering its geography and access. For over a century, the island was home to a significant municipal hospital complex and shelter, playing a crucial role in the region's public health and social services infrastructure.

Geography

Long Island is located in the inner portion of Boston Harbor, approximately 1.5 miles from downtown Boston. The landform is characterized by a narrow, drumlin shape, oriented roughly north-south, with Moon Island lying close to its northern tip. The surrounding waters include President Roads and the main channel into the Port of Boston. Its terrain features glacial till deposits, creating a modestly elevated landscape with areas of woodland and developed clearings. The connection to the mainland in Quincy was achieved through the construction of the Long Island Viaduct across a former strait.

History

The island's history is deeply intertwined with the development of Boston's institutional care systems. Originally used for farming, it was purchased by the City of Boston in 1819. By the late 19th century, it became a site for almshouses and quarantine facilities. The Long Island Hospital was established in the 1880s, later expanding to include the Boston Sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. During the 20th century, the campus grew to encompass the Long Island Shelter for homeless individuals and various addiction treatment centers, including programs run by the Boston Public Health Commission. The island also hosted a United States Coast Guard station and was used for military training during World War II.

Transportation

Primary access was historically via a dedicated ferry service from the Boston Marine Industrial Park in South Boston. The opening of the Long Island Viaduct in 2014 provided a fixed road link, carrying William J. Day Boulevard from the Squantum neighborhood of Quincy onto the island. This viaduct replaced an older, deteriorating bridge from Moon Island. The road infrastructure was designed to serve the institutional facilities, with no public vehicular access permitted without authorization. The closure of the main facilities in 2014 led to the cessation of regular ferry operations.

Facilities and structures

The central feature was the expansive Long Island campus, which included the Long Island Hospital and the Boston Sanatorium. The Long Island Shelter provided emergency housing and support services. Other notable structures included the Long Island Head Light, an active United States Coast Guard lighthouse, and the Fort Strong military installation, with historic batteries like Battery Drum and Battery Stevens. The campus also contained administrative buildings for the Boston Public Health Commission, residential cottages, and extensive waterfront infrastructure supporting the ferry dock.

In popular culture

Long Island has served as a filming location and setting for several notable works. It featured prominently in the 2010 film *Shutter Island*, directed by Martin Scorsese, though the story was set at a fictional asylum. The island's atmospheric and isolated institutional buildings have made it a subject for photographers and urban explorers, often documented in works about Boston's hidden history. Its distinctive silhouette and lighthouse are occasionally visible in establishing shots of Boston Harbor in television and film.

Category:Islands of Suffolk County, Massachusetts Category:Boston Harbor Category:Former islands of the United States