Crane Beach is a 1.234 acre conservation and recreation property located in Ipswich, Massachusetts, just north of Cape Ann. It consists of sandy beaches along four miles (6 km), sand dunes, and marine pine forests. The five-and-a-half mile hiking path through the sand dunes and forest is accessible from the beach.
Crane Beach is open year-round, and is free for Ipswich residents with the purchase of an annual beach parking sticker. Non-residents must pay an entrance fee ($ 25 on weekends during peak season for cars). In summer there is a refreshment bar, and toilets, showers and changing facilities are open all year round.
During low tide, we can often cross over to the sand bars, and during the warmer months small boats often dock on these sandbars. Across the water, Plum Island and its sandy beaches are visible.
Crane Beach was founded in 1945 as a gift from Richard T. Crane Jr., son of Richard T. Crane, and his family. Together with Castle Hill and Crane Wildlife Refuge, it is owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations.
There is an annual celebration taking place on the beach on June 16 (if the weather is enough) called Crane Beach Day. On this day, students from Doyon and Winthrop Elementary School, as well as Ipswich High School students, gathered on the beach during the school day. High school students have the option of taking part in a run that goes from Ipswich Town Hall, to the beach. Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Crane, Jr. (the previous owner of Crane Estate) started the tradition of inviting all Ipswich school children to the beach for a day in 1911 to celebrate their son's birthday, Cornelius', 6th. Since then, the Crane Beach Day tradition has been repeated.
In 2011, schools celebrated the 100th anniversary of the event. Some students, with birthdays closest to the event day, arrive on the beach by boat as they do when tradition begins. There are people hired to emulate the Crane family and greet people when they get to the beach, a replica of the old Ipswich Lighthouse, and even a special ice cream flavor dedicated to Cornelius (called "Cornelius Crunch"). In addition, each student received a celebratory shirt to wear to the beach, featuring a picture of Cornelius on his sixth birthday.
Crane Beach is an important nesting ground for endangered plover plots. The 2006 Plover International Breeding Census estimates that only 3,884 plovers remain. According to the same 2006 census, Crane Beach is home to 19 breeding pairs and 40 adults in total.
The Greenhead flew actively in this area for several weeks in July.
Cape Ann's (CATA) Transport Authority provides a summer weekend bus service on sunny days between the Ipswich MBTA train station and Crane Beach. Running cost is $ 2 per person.
Video Crane Beach
In popular culture
The 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair starring Steve McQueen features scenes in which McQueen's character pushes a dune buggy train on the beach.
Maps Crane Beach
References
External links
- Crane Beach - The Trustees of Reservations
- Live Panoramic Webcam Photos
- Photo details and beaches
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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