Star Island (New Hampshire)
Coordinates: 42°58′36″N 70°36′50″W / 42.97667°N 70.61389°W
Star Island is one of the Isles of Shoals that straddle the border between New Hampshire and Maine, approximately 7 miles (11 km) from the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. At 38 acres (15 ha), Star Island is the largest of the four islands that are located in New Hampshire and second largest overall, after Appledore Island. The island was supposedly assigned its name by sailors who imagined the shape of the island as the points of a shining star. Originally known by the local "Shoalers" as the town of Gosport, in 1876 the island was annexed to the town of Rye.
Star Island has been owned and operated by the Star Island Corporation since 1915 as a place for family, youth, and individual conferences and retreats. The Star Island Corporation has close ties to the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. Conferences vary from a week to a few days, with some focused on religious themes and others on secular subjects (photography, arts, yoga, writing, science, etc.). In 2008, "personal retreats" were created to allow members of the public to stay on the island for up to one week. In 2015, Star Island Corporation held a year-long centennial celebration with both island and mainland events, a ribbon cutting and historical reenactments.
Captain John Smith mapped the Isles of Shoals in 1614 and originally named them "Smyth's Isles". There is a monument remaining today on Star Island, built in 1864 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of John Smith's trip. Star Island was first settled, as were all the Isles of Shoals, in the early 17th century by seasonal fishermen working the rich waters of the North Atlantic coast. Many were English, coming up from the colonies of the Virginia companies.
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