HISTORY OF MSC

The Marine Science Center (MSC) is located a short distance from the former summer cottage and marine laboratory of Harvard Professor Louis Agassiz, the founder of American marine biology in the mid-19th century. Agassiz was a pioneer in marine science education and he promoted the formation of seaside laboratories where students could "Study nature, not books.

From 1823 – 1859, the Nahant Hotel existed on the MSC property.  This world–class hotel at the time had 300 rooms and a dining room that held 1000 people.  Nahant was a popular summer residence for many Harvard faculty (Agassiz, Longfellow, Felton) many of whom gave public lectures at the Nahant Hotel.  The Hotel burned down in 1861. John E. Lodge (married to Anna Cabot) purchased the property and two houses were built for his children Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and Elizabeth Cabot Lodge (wife of George Abbot James).

In 1941 the site was used by the military for the construction of defensive fortifications for Boston Harbor. The fortifications consisted of a 5-inch cannon bunker as well as a larger 16-inch Coastal Defense cannon bunker and associated plotting room and triangulation towers. A Magnetic Loop station to detect submarines was housed in two smaller bunkers near the tip of East Point. In 1954 a Nike missile launcher site was constructed along the southeast rocky coast of the point that is now Lodge Park.

In 1967, Northeastern University acquired the property and Dr. Nathan “Doc” Riser was appointed the first Director of the Marine Science Institute (now Marine Science Center) in Nahant, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. After his retirement, Doc Riser continued to conduct his research at the MSC until his passing last year.  The MSC developed into a world-recognized center of marine organismal research and education following Agassiz’s belief in studying nature and not just books.

Today the MSC continues to be a world recognized center of marine science research and education. By the end of this year the MSC will house 6 research labs resident Biology Department faculty.  Research areas include: Marine Ecosystems, Evolutionary, Physiological, Molecular and Community Ecology, Marine Genomics, Neurophysiology and Behavior, Microbial Ecology, Biological Oceanography, Vertebrate Systematics and Ecology (including fish and marine mammals), Macroalgal Biotechnology and Marine Pollution Remediation.

The Three Seas Program is in its 23rd year of operation and continues a strong reputation of training the next generation of marine scientists.  The newly established professional master’s program is becoming a highly sought after degree.

The Outreach Program occupies the former generator room of the John. B. Murphy gun battery.  Last year over 5000 K-12 students visited the MSC for outreach activities.  The RV Mysis had an interior makeover this winter and is in “ship shape” for this upcoming busy season.