HCT Winter Talk takes audience on a trip to Monomoy

January 15, 2026

A winter trip to Monomoy Island sounds a bit daunting, but an appreciative audience at the Harwich Community Center was able to make the journey the easy way on January 10th.

A map of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge area. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/public domain

More than 100 people attended a fascinating Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) Winter Talk about the evocative isle, and it almost felt like we all got on a boat and landed there!

The talk was presented by Frank Kahr of Friends of Monomoy, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that supports the federally-owned Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Kahr served up an illuminating combination of history and science that made the island come alive.

Dangling off the coast of Chatham like a sandy necklace, the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge straddles the border zone between the mighty Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Sound.

A boat is required to get to North Monomoy and South Monomoy islands. But visitors can access a portion of the refuge by driving out to Morris Island in Chatham, where there’s limited parking. If you find a spot you can enjoy a scenic walking trail, which provides breathtaking views of the islands beyond.

The Morris Island access point has been severely affected by erosion in recent years after the ocean cut through a protective barrier beach, requiring the removal of several buildings on the property, including the refuge’s headquarters and visitor center, which was recently relocated to 791 Main Street in Chatham.

Frank Kahr of the Friends of Monomoy organization presented a fascinating Harwich Conservation Trust Winter Talk on the history of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Gerry Beetham

History of Monomoy

Native Americans used the islands for hunting and fishing long before Europeans arrived on the scene, said Kahr. The first recorded activity by settlers was the construction of a tavern for sailors in 1711. A lighthouse was built on South Monomoy Island in 1823, then replaced by the current structure which was built in 1849.

A settlement on South Monomoy Island known as “Whitewash Village,” existed from approximately 1840 to 1860 and included a schoolhouse.

In the 1900s, Monomoy became a popular location for family camp construction and for day-tripping tourists. At that time, it was still possible to drive out to the islands from Chatham at low tide, leading to an era of beach buggy transport. But some visitors arrived by air. “They flew people out from Chatham Airport and they landed on the sand,” said Kahr. 

World War II brought significant changes to Monomoy, with the federal government taking approximately 3,000 acres of the area by eminent domain, with the intent of creating a wildlife refuge. For a time, however, part of the island was used as a bombing and gunnery range, which was in use until 1951.

In recent years, a significant amount of scientific research has taken place on the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. including horseshoe crab spawning surveys and tern nest surveys.

Monomoy Point Light Station on the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in 1987. Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Kahr’s presentation made Monomoy come alive, and some in the audience seemed to be hatching plans for a future visit, perhaps when the days are warmer. For a list of rules and permitted activities at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, click here.

HCT is grateful to Friends of Monomoy for putting together this enlightening program. Three more HCT Winter Talks are scheduled for January and February.

Next Winter Talk on January 24th

Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) popular Winter Talks series continues on January 24th with “Saving Marine Misfits on Cape Cod,” a presentation by marine biologist Carol “Krill” Carson.
 
The fun and informative talk will center on the annual strandings of unusual-looking species, which include the ocean sunfish, Atlantic torpedo ray and basking sharks, and how volunteers can help the rescue effort.
 
To accommodate everyone who would like to attend, HCT has moved the talk to Monomoy Regional High School (75 Oak Street, Harwich). The new location provides ample seating and an excellent sound system.
 
The talk will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 24th and last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Admission for the talk is $5 per person, payable at the door.
 
Carson is founder and President of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA), a volunteer driven, nonprofit organization based in southeastern Massachusetts. NECWA combines educational outreach with research and conservation activities to protect and rescue marine wildlife in the coastal waters of New England.

Hope to see you there!

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