"GET PLUM ISLAND"
The History of How the Refuge Came to Be
"GET PLUM ISLAND"
The History of How the Refuge Came to Be
The Friends of Parker River NWR and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge invite you to a special upcoming presentation by Karin Martin, author of the new book GET PLUM ISLAND!
The vibrant, protected landscape we enjoy today was born out of a fierce, decade-long political and environmental battle. In this lecture, Martin will dive deep into local history to explore the dramatic journey of how the refuge truly came to be.
The presentation will uncover:
How the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) first became interested in establishing a national wildlife refuge in Massachusetts.
The strategic reasons Essex County became its ultimate location.
The intense local resistance, and how nearby communities and the state nearly succeeded in having the refuge completely abolished.
The turning point: how multiple rounds of intense Congressional hearings finally led to a landmark compromise—reducing the refuge to about half its original proposed size, while successfully safeguarding the remarkable ecosystem we know today
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 10:00 AM – Noon
Location: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Center Auditorium, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 01950
Admission: Free event, but pre-registration is required.
Please email friends@parkerriver.org to reserve your seat.
About the Presenter
Karin A. Martin is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan. She has deep roots in the local community, having grown up right down the road in Amesbury, MA. She received her BA from Hampshire College and earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.
This event is free and proudly open to the public, co-sponsored by the Friends of Parker River NWR, Inc. and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
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