Nahant is unique in the Boston area and, indeed, all of Massachusetts. Affixed to the mainland (specifically, to the small city of Lynn) by a narrow natural isthmus, Nahant is almost an island. In fact, its original name, Nahanten, is derived from a Native American word referring to just that very characteristic. Nahant lies 14 miles north of Boston. But because of its geographic isolation, Nahant has the feel of a coastal village, distinguishing it from more urban neighbors like Lynn and Revere. The ocean, obviously, is the defining characteristic of Nahant’s charm and character. The Atlantic is visible from virtually every spot in town. Nahant is a wonderful place for those who relish the idea of island life but want to remain in close proximity to the city.
Nahant was settled in 1630. Its grounds were first used for pasture land by early settlers but, with the advent of the industrial age, people quickly saw the virtue of the all-but-island as a resort destination to escape increasingly crowded conditions in the cities. The first resort hotel was built as early as 1802. Nahant was originally part of the city of Lynn, but, interestingly, when the temperance movement threatened the livelihood of the tourist economy in Nahant, residents chose to incorporate as a discrete community in order to preserve their business enterprises.
Nahant was home to some of the nation’s first amusement parks. Early patrons of the resorts on the island included the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Nahant still has many historic homes and buildings from its boom time in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Because of its strategic importance as a naval bulwark, Nahant also played a role in civil defense in the Great Wars. You can still visit bunkers at Trimountain and East Point that served as naval batteries designed to defend Boston Harbor and surrounding waters.
The New England seashore is a natural playground for children and Nahant has no shortage of beaches. This tiny town does have one elementary school, The Johnson School, but junior high and high school students attend in nearby Swampscott. While it may seem inconvenient to cross the causeway to attend school, the Swampscott district is well worth the trip. According to Boston Magazine’s annual ranking of public school systems, Swampscott-Nahant was ranked in the top third of public schools in the state. With modest enrollment figures of 2,422 students, Swampscott-Nahant has 1 teacher for about every 12 students. Swampscott-Nahant invests $14,369 in each student and the high school’s graduation rate of 98% is better than that of top-ranked Dover-Sherborn. The Johnson School’s partnership with Northeastern University Marine Science Program is in its second year. With exemplary North Atlantic ecosystems right in their backyards, Johnson School students have found marine biology workshops hosted by university affiliates extremely enriching. The partnership has garnered high praise from teachers as well.
The Nahant Public Library is one of the oldest libraries in Massachusetts behind those of Franklin and Harvard. It’s worth a visit just to admire the historic building’s architecture. It offers many programs that cater to children and young adults, including story time and a pre-school reading program for the little ones, as well as a carefully curated Young Adult collection for teens. The library encourages teens to submit reviews of the books they read.
Though Nahant’s landmass may measure only a little over one square mile, residents make the most of the natural beauty of the place to enjoy their exercise. In season, there’s always the opportunity for an ocean swim at Nahant Beach or Long Beach, two of the town’s largest and most popular beaches. Residents also take advantage of the gorgeous Heritage Trail, a chain of five lovely nature paths that link Short Beach to Bailey’s Hill. Parking is available at various public lots along the route. On the trail, you can admire Nahant’s rugged rocky coast, migrating shore birds, abundant wildflowers, and vestiges of battlements from the Great Wars. For children, Nahant supports little league and youth soccer teams.
There are also a number of playgrounds and playing fields hosted by the town, such as Flash Road Ball Field, Henry Cabot Lodge Park, and Pleasant Street Playground. If you prefer to exercise as a family, you can take advantage of Nahant Recreation’s Sailing or Tennis Programs. The latter is offered on the grounds of Nahant Country Club, built in 1825 by Frederic Tudor. In 1874, Nahant was the site of the first lawn tennis match ever to take place in the United States.
Nahant is a small maritime community but it’s big on charm. Entry into this market does come at a premium. The average listing price of a home in Nahant is $689,000. But if you enjoy city-living with a coastal feel, Nahant may be the place for you.
