INFORMATION

Getting to Star Island Visitors are encouraged to “unplug” while on the island.

FROM PORTSMOUTH Rules and Safety Restrooms Tours Activities Isles of Shoals • Fires and open flames Public restrooms are available in the Oceanic Hotel. • Trained volunteers • Swim off the dock when Steamship Company 315 Market Street are strictly prohibited. with the Isles of a lifeguard is on-duty Shoals Historical & Portsmouth, NH 03801 • Smoking for day visitors Food & Drink • Rent a rowboat or kayak (603) 431-5500 Research Association is only permitted at the • The Island Grill is open most days and features Islesofshoals.com offer history and • Play tennis end of the pier. lobster rolls, grilled chicken, burgers & hot dogs. environmental tours of • Go birdwatching FROM RYE • Report all emergencies Cash & credit cards accepted. Uncle Oscar/Island Cruises the 43-acre island. to the Hotel Front Desk. • The snack bar in the hotel is open daily. • Walk or jog the island Rye Harbor State Marina • Isles of Shoals Steamship Rte 1-A Ocean Boulevard (603) 964-7252. perimeter • The Oceanic Hotel serves family-style meals in the Company also provides Rye, NH 03870 • If you hear the • Bring art supplies, (603) 964-6446 dining hall. Reservations are required. Call tours and trips from a frisbee or a kite UncleOscar.com emergency alarm (603) 601-0832. Portsmouth, NH. Visit gather immediately at Islesofshoals.com • Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch— • Enjoy the playground Sailors and boaters who the flagpole. visit Gosport Harbor are seaside tables are available. • Uncle Oscar/Island • Take a tour • Swimming is only Tours provides tours invited to use our Star • Alcoholic beverages are not for sale on the island. • Read a book in a porch allowed at the dock when and trips from Rye, NH. VISIT STARISLAND.ORG Island Tom Dudley tender The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company sells beer & rocking chair Discover. a lifeguard is on duty. Visit uncleoscar.com service to get to the island wine to be consumed onboard only. • Visit the gift shop and and back. There is no • Be aware of rocky, • Anyone is welcome to bookstore Open daily to the public from charge—donations are uneven terrain. Accommodations take a self-guided tour Delight. encouraged. of the island. Please • Play a board game in the mid-June through September • Warning: Poison Ivy • The Oceanic Hotel is a charming and authentic note: the terrain can be hotel lobby is widespread. historic landmark with simple rooms and shared challenging! (603) 430-6272 • Avoid approaching bathrooms. Unwind. seagulls and their nests. • Conferees stay in the hotel or nearby cottages. • Seek shelter in the Hotel Anyone can register for a conference. Visit the Lobby during storms. Oceanic front desk or starisland.org to learn more. • Please do not enter • Overnight guests or “personal retreaters” are restricted or work areas. welcome if there’s availability. • For information about special group overnight rates We appreciate your visit starisland.org/group cooperation in keeping our island community safe.

Photo courtesy: David J. Murray, ClearEyePhoto.com 9 Welcome to Star Island Star Island is the second largest of the nine 11 8 7 Isles of Shoals located an hour’s boat ride off the Visitors are invited to enjoy coast of and . 10 6 5 the breathtaking views, relax, explore, take a tour, buy food at the hotel snack bar or Island 2 3 4 Grill, or bring a picnic. 12

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1. THETHE PIER PIER was wasbuilt builtin 1873. in 1873 and is the site of the to Maine.4. THE It is set SUMMER on the site ofHOUSE Fort Star, gazebo which was is thebuilt perfect in 1653 to 6.6. VAUGHN-THAXTERVAUGHN COTTAGE/THAXTER COTTAGE houses a library MUSEUM and museum 9.9. SMITHSMITH MONUMENT MONUMENT commemorates commemorates Captain John Captain Smith’s tar Island is owned and managed by a Island Grill. protect villagersspot to from enjoy Native incredible American raids,sunsets which and never a view happened. of featuringhouses records a oflibrary Gosport and Village museum and a collection featuring of artifacts and art arrivalJohn in 1614 Smith’s while arrival on a trading in 1614 voyage. while Smith on was a trading the first THE OCEANIC HOTEL was built by John Poor in 1875 and is 2. After fallingthe into NE disrepair, coast from a new Massachusetts fort was constructed to andMaine. later It from Shoalsrecords poet of and Gosport author Celia Village Thaxter. and a collection of personvoyage. to map Smith New England. was the The first monument person was to originally map New nonprofit organization called Star Island a composite of several earlier structures. The building provides is set on the site of Fort Star, which was built in artifacts and art from Shoals poet and author England. The monument was originally erected 2. THE OCEANIC HOTEL was built by John Poor dismantled during the Revolutionary War – the guns and cannons sent erected in 1884 and rebuilt in 1914. Corporation. For over a century, Star Island a glimpsein 1875 into and the Grand is a composite Hotel Era when of Starseveral Island earlier attracted 1653 to protect villagers from Native American 7. THECelia SOLAR Thaxter. ARRAY was built in 2014 and is NE’s largest off-grid in 1884 and rebuilt in 1914. S structures. The building provides a glimpse to Newburyport.raids, which never happened. After falling into has provided a welcoming community where such intonotable the artists Grand and Hotelwriters Eraas Nathaniel when Star Hawthorn, Island Childe disrepair, a new fort was constructed and later solar7. array,THE providing SOLAR Star ARRAY with most was of built its energy in 2014 needs. and is 10.10. THE THE ART ART BARN BARN was was used used as an as icehouse an icehouse in the fishing in the Hassam, and . Inside the hotel are public restrooms, THE dismantledSTONE CHAPEL during was constructed the Revolutionary in 1800 at the siteWar—the of two village days. It’s currently a place for Shoalers of all ages to create art. people come to have fun, find inspiration, enjoy attracted such notable artists and writers as 5. TUCKENE’s MONUMENT largest off-grid is the gravesite solar array, of Reverend providing John Tucke, a fishing village days. It’s currently a place for a snackNathaniel bar and gift Hawthorne, shop. and previousguns chapels, and the cannons first built insent 1685. to LocatedNewburyport. at the island’s highest 8. Star with most of its energy needs. Shoalers of all ages to create art. minister, physician, educator, and judge who had a profound impact EAST ROCK is the most iconic natural landmark on Star. nature and connect with each other. As an island Celia Thaxter. Inside the hotel are public point, the chapel served as school, town hall and storehouse. Today, 11. THErestrooms, CASWELL CEMETARYa snack bar is the and burial gift ground shop. for one of 5. THE STONE CHAPEL was constructed in 1800 on8. the TUCKE Shoals until MONUMENT his death in 1773. is Histhe descendants gravesite constructed of the 11.The EASToutcropping ROCK of igneous is the mostrock provides iconic an natural unobstructed view ecosystem, we carefully manage all our resources 3. chapel services remain a cherished event as guests walk in procession the island’s original fishing village families in the 1700s, who at the site of two previous chapels, the first monumentReverend in 1914 John using Tucke,fifteen tons a minister, of granite physician,blocks. It is the tallest of thelandmark sunrise and on the Star. Atlantic The Ocean. outcropping of igneous 3. THE CASWELL CEMETARY is the burial at the closebuilt of each in 1685. day carrying Located candle at the lanterns island’s up the highest path – a educator and judge who had a profound impact rock provides an unobstructed view of the including water, power and sanitation. Please use also operated boarding houses on the island. gravestone in NH. ground for one of the island’s original fishing traditionpoint, started thelong chapelago when served villagers as carried school, whale town oil lamps hall to on the Shoals until his death in 1773. His sunriseTHE RUTLEDGE and the MARINE Atlantic LAB Ocean. is an interactive education these resources wisely. village families in the 1700s, who also operated and storehouse. Today, chapel services remain descendants constructed the monument in 12. 4. THEboarding SUMMER houses HOUSE ongazebo the isisland. the perfect spot to enjoy light thea chapel. cherished event as guests walk in procession 1914 using fifteen tons of granite blocks. It is the 12.center THE featuring RUTLEDGE touch tanks MARINE and exhibits LAB on isthe an . incredible sunsets and a view of the NE coast from Massachusetts at the close of each day carrying candle tallest gravestone in NH. interactive education center featuring touch Star Island is private property yet all are welcome lanterns up the path—a tradition started long tanks and exhibits about the Gulf of Maine. ago when villagers carried whale oil lamps to to visit for a day, spend the night, or attend one of light the chapel. the many all-inclusive conferences that focus on a variety of topics such as International Affairs, History Arts, Spirituality, Yoga, Birding and History. ailors named the rest of New England on In 1915, the non-profit Star Island Corporation Sthe island for its the map. For the next 200 purchased the island. The organization was founded Summer programs are family-friendly. Being part points stretching in years, cod fishing supported on the principles of the Unitarian Universalist of a conference is the best way to experience the all directions like the the community known Association and the United Church of Christ, which “magic” of Star. Pricing for conferences includes flashes of a distant star. as Gosport Village. In the emphasize respect for each other and the natural Indigenous people mid-1800s, summer guests, environment. the ferry ride from Portsmouth, lodging, all meals, lived on Star Island including well-known Star Island Corporation depends on donations to taxes and tips! dating back as far artists and writers, flocked maintain and preserve the island. As you explore as 2000 BC. In 1614, to the Oceanic Hotel. By and enjoy this unique place, please consider giving For information and reservations visit the Oceanic the English explorer the late 1800s the Grand Hotel Era declined yet the what you can to support our effort. You can make your tax deductible donation at the Front Desk or Hotel Front Desk or starisland.org. Captain Oceanic still stands—one of the last of the originals. put Star Island and online at starisland.org.