Adams Island, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Adams Island was once an island in Massachusetts
, USA
.
. During the 1890s, the westernmost part of Tuckernuck extended almost to Muskeget Island
and served as a
barrier beach, protecting the Gravel Islands, western Dry Shoal
, and Little Gull Island.
The island came into existence in 1902, when the Haulover Nor'easter
severed it from Tuckernuck. Another island, Tombolo, was also created. In 1907, Adams almost attached itself to Muskeget, but it failed to do so because the sea formed a narrow deep channel to separate Adams from Muskeget.
In 1910, Adams' length was shortened due to a tropical storm, and an autumn nor'easter
. By 1920, Adams was less than four hundred metres long. In 1950, a little less than ten meters of it remained, and, by 1980, it was gone forever.
By boat, one can easily access Tuckernuck from Madeket
on the island of Nantucket
.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
It was once part of Tuckernuck IslandTuckernuck Island
Tuckernuck is an island in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, west of Nantucket Island and east of Muskeget. Its name allegedly means "a loaf of bread". The island has an area of about 900 acres ....
. During the 1890s, the westernmost part of Tuckernuck extended almost to Muskeget Island
Muskeget
Muskeget Island is a low sandy island to the west of Tuckernuck Island and Nantucket, in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts.-Geography:Muskeget Island is part of the terminal moraine marking the maximum extent of the last glacial ice sheet to reach the northeastern coast. It has an area of . The...
and served as a
barrier beach, protecting the Gravel Islands, western Dry Shoal
Dry Shoal
Dry Shoal, an exposed sandbar to the north and east of Muskeget Island in the US state of Massachusetts, is a hazard to navigation. Part of the Muskeget Island group, Dry Shoal, was once larger. Now separated from Muskeget by a stretch of fairly shallow water, it is accessible by kayakers, and it...
, and Little Gull Island.
The island came into existence in 1902, when the Haulover Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
severed it from Tuckernuck. Another island, Tombolo, was also created. In 1907, Adams almost attached itself to Muskeget, but it failed to do so because the sea formed a narrow deep channel to separate Adams from Muskeget.
In 1910, Adams' length was shortened due to a tropical storm, and an autumn nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
. By 1920, Adams was less than four hundred metres long. In 1950, a little less than ten meters of it remained, and, by 1980, it was gone forever.
Adams Island Day
In 1983, a group of Nantucket residents, self-designated as Adamites, held a small celebration in honor of the former island. The first Adams Island Celebration was characterized by a nihilist/absurdist spirit emphasizing the short existence of the island and downplaying its disappearance. The celebration has taken place in some form each year since 1983, and although it rarely falls on the same day as in the previous year, it is known each year to Adamites as Adams Island Day.By boat, one can easily access Tuckernuck from Madeket
Madaket, Massachusetts
Madaket is a village in Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. Its elevation is 26 feet on the western end of the island. The various spellings of its name led the Board on Geographic Names to designate its official spelling in 1966....
on the island of Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
.