Rainsford Island

The shoreline is predominantly rocky with a sandy cove in the south side, and a variety of wildflowers abound.

[8] On August 19, 1899, A group of boys escaped after setting fire to part of the reformatory, and many left the island on stolen boats and improvised rafts.

Most people interred were poor or had died after treatment in the island's hospitals and many were buried in mass graves.

Ellen P. Berkland, Boston City Archeologist, and Elizabeth Carella, Curator of Photography, present how one archeological field season and extensive documentary research shed light on the fascinating history of Rainsford Island.

This slide lecture reviews the archeological and historic evidence and examines the ways in which the island has served the marginalized populations of Boston for decades."