World’s End, a stunning 251-acre peninsula jutting into Hingham Harbor is a South Shore treasure waiting to be explored. Featuring breaktaking views of the harbor as well as Boston’s picturesque skyline, this generous parcel of public land is yours to discover.
At one time an island carved out by glaciers, the land was reattached to the mainland by colonial farmers before subsequently becoming a part of the vast farming estate of businessman John Brewer in the 1800s. Brewer commissioned the famed father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted in 1889 to draw up plans to turn World’s End into a 163-lot subdivision. Olmsted, renowned for designing such parks at Central Park in New York City and Cadwalader Park in Trenton, NJ among others, designed the plans but the development never materialized. The carriage roads however were built along with saplings planted alongside them. In true Olmstead fashion, the saplings grew to create beautiful canopies of foliage which can still be enjoyed to this day on the once carriage roads turned walking trails.
World’s End’s history has been interesting, to say the least. After Brewer’s plans fell through, the land was at one point considered for the future home of the United Nations headquarters (1945), later as a nuclear plant (1965), before The Trustees of Reservations acquired the land, turning it into public reservation.
A perfectly quintessential South Shore day trip, this inviting landscape features a beautiful array of hilly meadows, beaches, woods, and wetlands, all paired with those breathtaking views across the Bay. Give yourself 2-3 hours to really enjoy all that it has to offer.
Getting there is relatively simple. You can either take your car or as a car-free alternative, take the MBTA Greenbush Line to Nantasket Junction which leaves you with just a mile to walk or bike ride before entering the reservation. As a third option, take the commuter ferry from Long Wharf in Boston to Hingham Harbor. From there, a walk through the lovely crow point neighborhood along the harbor is beautiful and well worth the effort.
Before packing it all in and heading back towards Boston or wherever you’re visiting from, be sure to enjoy a stop off at Hingham’s Bathing Beach as well as the farmers’ market (open Saturdays 9am-1pm through November 23rd). For full meals, there’s also delicious comfort food at Stars on Hingham Harbor; and for more refined Italian fare be sure to check out Caffe Tosca; or, if it’s fresh lobster rolls and chowders you’re craving, don’t miss the Hingham Lobster Pound. For coffee lovers there’s the wonderful Red Eye Roasters, sure to satisfy your caffeine cravings.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that Snack Shack and harbor walk will be opening at Bathing Beach this June. which will be very exciting. Parents will be able to see all of the kids sailing in the harbor from HIngham Maritime as they walk.
Happy discovering!