Wallis Sands State Beach

Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye, New Hampshire, is a public Atlantic beach with a sandy shoreline, bathhouse, picnic areas, and parking. Its history extends back to the 19th century, when the site served first as a United States Life-Saving Service station and later as a United States Coast Guard station until about 1938. The state began acquiring the property in 1901, initially using a small tract as a wayside park in the 1950s. After expansion to 18 acres and construction of protective jetties, the beach opened in its present form in June 1964 as a developed oceanfront recreation area. In July 2010, a lion’s mane jellyfish stung nearly 150 people there in one day.

Rye, New Hampshire · United States