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Fishing

Pemberton Point / Windmill Point

189 Main St, Hull, MA 02045, USA

Town of Hull: (781) 925-2000

Owned By: Town of Hull

Pemberton Point is located at the tip of the Nantasket peninsula in Hull. This scenic and historic spot, close to Hull High School, is a nice locale for fishing, birding, and nature contemplation, with gorgeous views of the Boston Skyline and Boston Harbor Islands. Several interpretive signs outline the area’s history. It is also the location of the Windmill Point Boathouse, part of the Hull Lifesaving Museum.

Just down the road, MBTA operates ferry service from Pemberton Pier to both Long Wharf and Logan Airport. The pier is open to the public.

FISHING ADVISORY: It’s important to know that some of our fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

Known historically as Windmill Point, this area was originally named for the windmills that were employed to pump sea water into vats, to harvest the salt (which was then used in packing fish). It’s now the location of the much-more-contemporary Hull Wind 1 turbine, the first commercial wind turbine on the East Coast of the United States.

The boathouse here was originally an outpost of the United States Coast Guard station at Point Allerton, nearby. According to interpretive signage on site, the station added a 36′ wooden-hull motor lifeboat to its fleet in 1914, but the vessel was too large to launch from Point Allerton. A launching site was established here, and the boathouse was constructed in the 1920s. A WPA construction program built the current boathouse in 1936. It remained in use until the 1960s, when it could no longer accommodate the station’s vessels. The USGS’s current station and boathouse were constructed in 1970, a short distance away.

During the Victorian Era, the Pemberton Hotel was located here. According to interpretive signage on site, it was “one of New England’s most luxurious seaside hotels, with a seated salt water swimming pool, musical performances, and twice weekly fireworks displays.” Travelers arrived by train (from Nantasket Beach) and by steamboat (from Boston’s Rowes Wharf).

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag shares information on its website.

Trail Description

No trails, but you can walk along the road and the shoreline and enjoy the view.

Habitats and Wildlife

Pemberton Point is located at the very tip of the Nantasket peninsula. It looks out onto Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands. The closest is Peddocks Island, the home of Fort Andrews.

  • A photograph of a distant island with water in the foreground and a fisherman seated on the shoreline.
  • A photograph of navigational signs on a flat grassy area beside the water.
  • A photograph of a rocky shoreline with an island in the distance.
  • A photograph of a picnic area in a covered pavilion by the water.
  • A photograph of a rocky shoreline with an island in the distance.
  • A photograph of a pavilion by the water with a bicycle rack.
  • A photograph of a bench and an informational kiosk beside a shoreline.
  • A photograph of a bench inside a concrete and stone enclosure, overlooking the water.
  • A photograph of a rocky shoreline with a cluster of rocks in the foreground.
  • A photograph of a rocky shoreline.
  • A photograph of a historic boathouse with a boat in the foreground.
  • A photograph of a historic boathouse.
  • A photograph of a rocky shoreline with some old posts in the water.
  • A photograph of two colorful boats on a rocky shoreline.
  • A photograph of a launch ramp on the water.
  • A photograph of a launch area with some property signs.
189 Main St, Hull, MA 02045, USA

Historic Site: Yes

Park: No

Beach: No

Boat Launch: No

Lifeguards: No

Size: 1 acre

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Parking is available at the MBTA terminal. Resident parking with 2-hour limit is available closer to the point.

Cost: Free

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Benches, informational kiosk, interpretive signage, bicycle racks, picnic pavilion.

Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. Scoop the poop!

Boat Ramp: No

ADA Access: Yes

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Boston Harbor/Atlantic Ocean

Other Things to Do at This Site

Historical Sites
Nature Photography
Picnic Tables