Weymouth in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Weymouth’s Hidden Gem

Great Esker Park

— Back River Trail —

Weymouth’s Hidden Gem Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 23, 2026

1. Weymouth’s Hidden Gem Marker

Inscription.

Weymouth’s Hidden Gem. Great Esker Park. , Great Esker Park contains 237 acres of uniquely preserved forest and saltmarsh habitat, featuring the longest wooded shoreline in Boston Harbor and a unique geological landmark known as an esker., An esker is a long ridge of sediment and gravel left after the retreat of a glacier. Eskers are formed when melt-water channels running under a glacier deposit sediment gravel along the way. After the glacier completely retreats, this sediment ridge is left. At height of 90 ft, these eskers are considered to be the tallest in North America., ( photo caption ) , In 1982 the Weymouth Back River received the state designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) due to the efforts of local advocates. An ACEC is "a place in Massachusetts that receives special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness, and significance of its natural and cultural resources.", Great Esker Park was acquired by the Town of Weymouth in 1965 through the National Park Service's Federal Lands to Parks Program thanks in part to strong advocacy from local environmentalist Mary F. Toomey. Prior to this the land had been owned by the Navy dating back to 1912 and was part of the munitions depot in Hingham. Shortly after, Mary founded the Great Esker Park Natural Science Center in 1966 and would continue to advocate for the Back River throughout her life. She was instrumental in the creation of multiple pars along the river and established the Back River watershed association in 2000. In 1991 she received an Environmental Merit Award from the EPA and in 2004 she received the Gulf of Maine Times' Visionary Award for her work., "Truly, Great Esker Park is a piece of land valuable to every American citizen for its history, its beauty and its completely unspoiled nature. It is a huge outdoor classroom where students of all ages can learn first-hand botany, geology, archeology, marine biology, oceanography, fish migration, preservation of wildlife and appreciation of 'Nature in general'" , ~Mary F. Toomey

Great Esker Park contains 237 acres of uniquely preserved forest and saltmarsh habitat, featuring the longest wooded shoreline in Boston Harbor and a unique geological landmark known as an esker.

An esker is a long ridge of sediment and gravel left after the retreat of a glacier. Eskers are formed when melt-water channels running under a glacier deposit sediment gravel along the way. After the glacier completely retreats, this sediment ridge is left. At height of 90 ft, these eskers are considered to be the tallest in North America.

( photo caption )
In 1982 the Weymouth Back River received the state designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) due to the efforts of local advocates. An ACEC is "a place in Massachusetts that receives special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness, and significance of its natural and cultural resources."

Great Esker Park was acquired by the Town of Weymouth in 1965 through the National Park Service's Federal Lands to Parks Program thanks in part to strong advocacy from local environmentalist Mary F. Toomey. Prior to this the land had been owned by the Navy dating back to 1912 and was part of the munitions depot in Hingham. Shortly after, Mary founded the Great Esker Park Natural Science Center in 1966 and

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would continue to advocate for the Back River throughout her life. She was instrumental in the creation of multiple pars along the river and established the Back River watershed association in 2000. In 1991 she received an Environmental Merit Award from the EPA and in 2004 she received the Gulf of Maine Times' Visionary Award for her work.

"Truly, Great Esker Park is a piece of land valuable to every American citizen for its history, its beauty and its completely unspoiled nature. It is a huge outdoor classroom where students of all ages can learn first-hand botany, geology, archeology, marine biology, oceanography, fish migration, preservation of wildlife and appreciation of 'Nature in general'"
~Mary F. Toomey

Erected by Town of Weymouth.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1965.

Location. 42° 14.035′ N, 70° 55.886′ W. Marker is in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It can be reached from Sandy Way east of Ernest Road, on the left when traveling east. Located on the Back River Trail in Esker Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Weymouth MA 02191, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 23, 2026

2. Weymouth’s Hidden Gem Marker

Salt marshes below to the left, Back River Trail southbound uphill to the right.

: Great Esker Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Great Esker Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Almshouse (approx. ¾ mile away); Abigail Adams Birthplace (approx. ¾ mile away); The First Church in Weymouth (approx. ¾ mile away); First School House in Weymouth (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Great Esker Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Third Almshouse (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weymouth.

Also see . . . Esker (Wikipedia).

An esker is a long winding ridge formed by glaciers.

(Submitted on May 23, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 23, 2026

3. Weymouth’s Hidden Gem Marker

Salt Marshes image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 23, 2026

4. Salt Marshes

Looking east from the Back River Trail atop the great esker.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 23, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.