McGlathery

Beloved for its sheltered anchorages, sandy beaches and enticing coves, McGlathery is a favorite destination for many in Merchant Row. In 2021 the island was donated to [Maine Coast Heritage Trust](http://www.mcht.org/) by the [Friends of Nature](http://www.friends-of-nature.ca/), a conservation organization established in 1954 to protect McGlathery from clear-cutting. The island is managed as a natural area with respectful day use. A conservation easement held by the Island Heritage Trust provides further protection for the island.

McGlathery was settled in the 1840s by the Eaton family who maintained residency there until 1873, when a diphtheria epidemic put an end to year-round occupancy. Sea captain Levi Stinson acquired the island in 1877, and it was used predominantly for sheep grazing until the Friends of Nature assumed ownership. In 1929, the three-mast schooner Wawenock ran aground in Merchant Row and washed ashore on McGlathery with a load of granite curb stones bound for New York. The vessel was lost but the cargo was recovered along with the masts and gear.

McGlathery has two primary anchorages for large boats; one on the northeast side and the other on the west side opposite Round Island. A bar on the northeast corner and sandy beaches on the east and west sides provide good landings for smaller boats. This bar connects to Little McGlathery, which is also part of the preserve. A sloping granite shelf surrounds much of the island.

Pet owners are welcome to bring their four-legged friends ashore on McGlathery, but please remember to pack out your pet waste as it presents a hazard to wildlife and other visitors.