Wallis Sands State Beach

History

; Coastal station During the 19th century{{citation ; State park The first parcel of the future state park, about one acre in size, was purchased by the state in 1901. That fragment was used as a wayside park in the 1950s. Following expansion of its footprint to 18 acre and the construction of jetties to protect an enlarged beach area, Wallis Sands State Park was opened to the public in June 1964. ; Jellyfish incident In July 2010, nearly 150 beachgoers and swimmers were stung here on the same day by a lion's mane jellyfish. Most were treated on site with vinegar, and several children were taken to a hospital. A lifeguard had pitchforked a 40 lb jellyfish – whose longest tentacle was 13 ft – to try to drag it ashore and dispose of it; however, the dead jellyfish broke apart, releasing its nematocysts on the beach and stinging the crowd in the span of about 20 minutes.

References

References

1. {{cite gnis. 1914626. Wallis Sands State Park
2. [http://www.uscg.mil/history/stations/WALLISSANDS.pdf U.S. Coast Guard History Program: Station Wallis Sands, New Hampshire, Coast Guard Station #13]
3. (July 22, 2010). "Dead jellyfish stings about 150 beachgoers in New Hampshire".
4. (July 22, 2010). "How One Jellyfish Stung 100 People".
5. "Wallis Sands State Beach". New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation.
6. "Beaches & State Parks". Hampton Beach Village District.
7. (July 2007). "State Lands". New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development.
8. Lisa Mausolf, Preservation Consultant. (March 2019). "New Hampshire State Parks: Mid-Century Modern (1945-1975): Historic Context Study". New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation.