History
Hull occupies a slender peninsula reaching into Boston Harbor, and its maritime story stretches back nearly four centuries. Settled in 1644 as one of the oldest coastal towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the village grew up around fishing, lifesaving, and harbor defense. The United States Life-Saving Service operated a celebrated station at Point Allerton in the late 1800s, where Keeper Joshua James led crews that rescued more than 500 mariners from the Atlantic. By the early 20th century, the three-mile arc of Nantasket Beach had become one of New England's premier seaside resorts, drawing day-trippers from Boston aboard steamships to Paragon Park's roller coasters and the grand Atlantic House hotel.