Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Inspired by the history of the Boston Harbor Islands, Bostonian Dennis Lehane published his book Shutter Island in 2003. In this thriller, Lehane created a fictitious hospital island with nefarious happenings. Though the later film used Peddocks Island as the backdrop, Lehane’s true inspiration like

Boston Harbor's islands held smallpox quarantines, famine hospitals, almshouses and a floating hospital for children — care and exile side by side. Their history, and Deer Island's new job.

During World War II, many Italian POWs in the United States joined Italian Service Units. Among these were 1,800 ISU members who stayed in Boston, many of those on Peddocks Island.