Duck Island

Duck Island is the northernmost of the nine island group.  Duck is simply an uninhabited rock pile.  In the 1950’s and 60’s Duck was used as a bombing target practice range.  Bombers stationed at nearby Pease Air Force Base would fly over the island and drop small smoke bombs.  The purpose of the bombings was to check the bomb release mechanisms of the planes and also for the aircrew to check the accuracy of their bomb sights.  The bombing was discontinued some 20 years ago, and Duck Island is making an excellent recovery as a wildlife nesting area.

Appledore Island

Appledore Island is the largest of the nine, approximately 95 acres in area.  Ninety five percent of the island is owned by the Star Island corporation, which in turn leases it to the Shoals Marine Laboratory.  Shoals Lab is a highly regarded research and educational institute operated jointly by the University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.  At the turn of the 20th century  Appledore was home to one of the largest resorts in New England.  Well known 19th century literary figure Celia Thaxter, daughter of the hotel’s owner entertained guests on the island, and her presence in turn attracted many other famous people of the time.

Smuttynose Island

Smuttynose has much lore and legend of the islands associated with it, including a ghost story, a murder story, and a buried treasure story.  The ghost story and the buried treasure story both have to do with Blackbeard the pirate, who was rumored to have visited the islands in his travels.  The murder story is about Louis Wagner, who rowed his dory ten miles out to the islands from Portsmouth.  His subsequent failed robbery and murder of two women are still  a topic of conversation today, both locally, and nationally in books and movies.