Amelia Earhart Dam

Amelia Earhart Dam

Mystic View Road Somerville, Massachusetts 02145

About this Location

The Amelia Earhart Dam is an earth-fill dam spanning the Mystic River near its mouth between Somerville and Everett. It was built in 1966 to regulate tidal effects and saltwater incursion in the upstream river basin. It has 3 locks for marine traffic. The largest is 325 feet long and 45 feet wide; the two smaller locks are 120 feet long and, 22 feet wide. There is no public access to the dam itself, however, there are walking trails surrounding the dam's perimeter with views of the Mystic River.

The dam is named after Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart lived in nearby Medford, Massachusetts in the 1920s.

There is parking on both the east and west sides of the river. The parking for the east side of the river is at a parking lot off of Mystic View Road where there are spaces designated for the Gateway Park and walking trail. The parking lot on the west side of the river is at Draw Seven State Park on Noonan Place, which has a walkway with views of the dam and river. 

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Wikipedia and Noah Henkenius

Last updated December 20, 2023