For Betsy Wyeth, Allen island is, “a 450 acre blank canvas there on the horizon,” explains Peter Ralston, “she (Betsy) had a vision – one as powerful as any ever imagined by any Wyeth. Betsy’s vision was that of resurrection, of reestablishing a community at sea. She envisioned a place where men could base their fishing operations and she saw a home for herself and her husband – an ultimate refuge.” Betsy also wanted her island projects to be a source of education and betterment of others, as seen in her role in creating the Island Institute in 1983. I think that Betsy’s vision is coming to fruition. Though now she is of very old age, there are many people working hard to make sure Allen Island stays true to how Betsy originally imagined it. In just one visit to the island, it was clear that her goals have been achieved. The hundreds of lobster traps stacked up on the docks mark the the fishermen taking full advantage of their opportunity to use the island. With the creation of the museum, which was mostly Betsy’s doing as well, and the opportunity for groups of students and researchers to visit the island, the island is definitely proving to be a source of education for others. And finally, it is hard to believe that the island is not, “an ultimate refuge,” for Betsy, as after just spending one night there, it feels to me as though it would definitely fit the bill. It is clear that Betsy Wyeth’s vision is being achieved.