Star Island, New Hampshire: A Historic and Fun Tourist Destination in the Isles of Shoals

Star Island is slowly becoming one of New Hampshire's most popular tourist destinations. Originally founded by Captain John Smith in 1614 Star island has been abandoned and re-inhabited over the past 350 years. Currently, it is a great place for fishermen with an abundance of Shoal fish, but it is also great for tourists in the summer months with the cool ocean breeze from the Atlantic Ocean.

Due to the unpredictable weather the island is only accessible from Rye Harbor by The Uncle Oscar Ferry from mid-June to mid-September. The ferry travels to the island 4 times a day, for fares check their website. You can also take a day trip in your own private boat to the island, but public docking areas are limited.

Star Island is home to the beautiful Oceanic Hotel which is also open for overnight, weekend or week-long stays. Built during the Victorian era, the hotel saw a rebirth in 1896 when Thomas Elliott and his wife Lilla came to visit and promised to pack the hotel out the following year with a Unitarian Church conference. The Oceanic still hosts conferences every year for any group in their spacious meeting rooms. There is also a small playground for children here and a large gazebo where you can watch breathtaking New Hampshire sunsets.

Since its rebirth the hotel has been popular with visitors to New Hampshire, Maine or the curious tourists on day trips. If you plan to stay the Oceanic offers very basic rooms and amenities with only a public television in the front lobby area. Power is produced by 3 large generators near the hotel and guests are allowed only 2 quick showers a week due to the water being rain run off. This is actually pretty fun if you can handle it.

If you're coming for a day trip plan to enjoy a picnic or enjoy lunch in the dining room of the hotel. There is a small gift shop inside the Oceanic Hotel but outside of that there are no other shops on the island.

Star Island is part of the Isles of Shoals chain which are 9 islands and rock outcroppings located off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine. The main islands are Appledore Island, Smuttynose Island and Cedar Island all located on the Maine side and Star Island on the New Hampshire side. Settlers started arriving on the island from New Hampshire during the late 1600's. The island had a boom in settlers until the Revolutionary War when residents left for the mainland out of fear British soldiers would take them captive.

Each of the main Islands have had their share of historic and infamous events happen on them. Famous 19th century poet Celia Thaxter lived most of her life on Star Island with her family and wrote many poems and stories based on life on the islands. Smuttynose Island was also the scene of a brutal double murder in 1873 when two Norwegian sisters were murdered by Louis Wagner a local fisherman while their friend hid on the jagged rocks and escaped. Wagner was executed for the crime and his ghost, along with the two sisters, are said to haunt the island. Smuttynose no longer has any residents living on it, but several abandoned houses can still be seen on it.

For other haunted experiences make your way to Caswell Cemetery located next to the hotel where most of the original settlers are buried. Further away from the hotel, and facing the ocean, is Beebe Cemetery where the three Beebe sisters are buried. The daughters of the islands minister, the sisters all died less then a month apart from Scarlet Fever. Their parents buried them in their favorite playing place and legend says they can still be seen playing around the cemetery.

Other things to see and do are the John Smith monument, the Rev. Tucke monument, the beautiful Gosport Chapel and the 2 mile walk around the islands. Today the islands connected to Star Island house students from Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire who study Marine Biology during summer courses and live in dorms on Appledore. You can access three of the islands by borrowing a row boat or hiking across the narrow breakwaters during low tide.

For more information on visiting contact Star Island at (603) 430-6272 or (603) 601-0832