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Boston, Massachusetts
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Spectacle Island served as a landfill for Boston from 1921 until 1959, and its transformation into a park was completed in 2006.
The island's highest point is now 157 feet above sea level, thanks to the landfill capping and landscaping efforts.
Spectacle Island is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, which was established in 1996.
Before becoming a landfill, Spectacle Island hosted a quarantine hospital and a horse rendering plant in the 19th century.
Spectacle Island got its name because its original shape resembled a pair of spectacles, or eyeglasses.
The island features five miles of hiking trails that offer panoramic views of the Boston skyline and the surrounding harbor.
Spectacle Island has a sandy beach where visitors can swim, making it a popular summer destination.
