Lighthouses of the United States: Southeastern Massachusetts

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. The state of Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous of the New England states in the northeast of the country. Its capital city of Boston, founded in 1630, is the leading port of the region.

A small state with a long coastline and many harbors, Massachusetts has a large number of lighthouses. This page lists the lighthouses of the southeastern part of the state, including the long hook of Cape Cod, the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and the mainland coast in the New Bedford area. The former whaling center of New Bedford is the only important port in this region. However, the beaches and shoals of Cape Cod and the islands have been grave hazards to navigation ever since the European discovery of this coast. The lights that warn of these dangers include some of the best known and best loved U.S. lighthouses.

Massachusetts is divided into fourteen counties, although most of the county governments have been abolished or greatly reduced in function. The counties are subdivided into towns and cities for local government.

Jeremy D'Entremont's book, The Lighthouses of Massachusetts (Beverly, Mass.: Commonwealth Editions, 2007) is an indispensible resource for information on these lighthouses.

Navigational aids in Massachusetts are operated by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole on Cape Cod, but ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from Vol. I of the USCG Light List.

General Sources
New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide - Massachusetts
Data and photos for all of the lighthouses; an outstanding resource created by Jeremy D'Entremont.
Lighthouses of Massachusetts
Photos, travel directions, and historical accounts from Kraig Anderson's Lighthouse Friends site.
Online List of Lights - Massachusetts
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Illuminating Lighthouses
The history of the lighthouses of Martha's Vineyard, from Martha's Vineyard magazine.
Lighthouses in Massachusetts
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Massachusetts Lights
From Bill Britten's Lighthouse Getaway site: fine photos of many of the state's better-known lighthouses.
Lighthouses of Massachusetts
Photos and accounts by Gary Richardson and Anna Klein; part of their Cyberlights site.
Lighthouses in Massachusetts, United States
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images of U.S. lighthouses posted by Klaus Huelse.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
NOAA Nautical Charts
Nautical charts for the coast can be viewed online.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Massachusetts.


Highland Light, Truro, May 2024
Instagram photo by malformica


Chatham Light, Chatham, March 2023
Google Maps photo by Jason Grant

Barnstable County (Cape Cod) Lighthouses

Cape Cod is more than a cape: it is a hook-shaped peninsula, actually a large barrier spit 105 km (65 mi) long and averaging 10-20 km (6-13 mi) wide. It extends east and then (at a 90° angle) north, appearing on maps like an arm bent at the elbow and ending with a clenched fist. The peninsula encloses Cape Cod Bay; the open Atlantic Ocean is to the east; and to the south Nantucket Sound separates the Cape from the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Cape Cod Bayside Lighthouses
* Cape Cod Canal Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 43 ft (13 m); red flash every 5 s. 43 ft (13 m) round dumbbell-shaped red fiberglass tower. Radio-activated fog horn (blast every 15 s). Trabas has a good photo, a 2020 photo is available, Isaiah Suchman has a street view along the breakwater, and Google has a sea view and a satellite view. The Cape Cod Canal, completed in 1916, is a 7 mile (11.3 km) long sea-level cut across the neck of Cape Cod, connecting Cape Cod Bay to the northeast and Buzzards Bay to the southwest. Located at the end of the north breakwater at the eastern entrance to the canal. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1436; Admiralty J0372; USCG 1-13050.
Cape Cod Canal Entrance Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); continuous green light. 52 ft (16 m) square skeletal tower with a small metal equipment shelter in the base. The tower carries a rectangular daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a shorter, triangular skeletal tower. The light stands on the grounds of the Canal Generating Plant, an oil and natural gas-powered electric generating station. Located on the south side of the canal about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the entrance. Site and tower closed, but the light can be seen from nearby. Site manager: Ironclad Energy Partners. Admiralty J0374.1; USCG 1-13085.
Sandy Neck (2)
1857 (station established 1826). Reactivated (inactive 1931-2007, now privately maintained); focal plane 49 ft (15 m); white flash every 6 s. 52 ft (16 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, strengthened (in 1887) with cast iron bands. Tower painted white, gallery black. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1880) is a private residence. Gregg Squeglia's 2021 photo is at right, Anderson's page has photos, Nicole Walter has a good 2018 photo, Trabas has a photo, Steve Arena has the view from the bay, Lighthouse Digest has Bram Eisenthal's September 2003 article on the light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was replaced in 1931 by a light on a skeletal tower. In 1933 the lantern was removed and the lighthouse was sold. The Coast Guard leased the station in 1942-44 to house a beach patrol unit. In 1950 the Hinckley family acquired the lighthouse and members of that family have continued to occupy and manage it. The light on the skeletal tower was discontinued in 1952. In 2003 the Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration Committee was organized to raise funds to build and install a replica of the original lantern. The project was carried out in 2007 and on October 20 the lighthouse was relit for the first time in 76 years. The oil house (1905) was restored in 2008 and in 2010 the light was upgraded with a modern LED lens. Located on the Sandy Neck Dunes on the north side of the entrance to Barnstaple Harbor from Cape Cod Bay. Best seen by boat: it's a difficult 6-mile (10 km) hike on the beach to reach the site. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. . ARLHS USA-732; Admiralty J0375.5; USCG 1-13117.

Sandy Neck Light, Barnstable, April 2021
Google Maps drone view by Gregg Squeglia
* [Mayo's Beach (2)]
1881 (station established 1838). Inactive since 1922. In late 2007 astonished researchers discovered that the 35 ft (11 m) cast iron light tower of Mayo's Beach, long thought to have been demolished, was actually dismantled and shipped to California. In 1928 it was installed at Point Montara, near San Francisco, and it stands there today. The 2-story wood keepers' house (1881) and brick oil house (1907) remain in excellent condition at their original locations. Anderson's page has recent photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The house is a private residence. Located next to a beach parking area at 115 Kendrick Avenue in Wellfleet. Site closed but the house is easily seen from the street or parking area. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-486.

Provincetown Lighthouses
Provincetown is a very popular resort town at the end of the Cape Cod Peninsula. The town's permanent population is about 3700 but the population may increase to 50,000 or more during the summer.

Long Point (2)
1875 (station established 1826). Active; focal plane 36 ft (11 m); green light occulting every 4 s. 38 ft (11.5 m) square pyramidal brick tower with lantern and gallery; solar-powered 300 mm lens. Tower painted white, lantern black. Radio-activated fog horn (blast every 15 s). Sibling of Wood End. The keeper's house and fog signal building have been demolished but the oil house (1904) survives. Anderson has a page with good photos, A 2022 photo by Luke Hutchings is at right, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Luke Hutchings has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Jacob Sconyers has a beach view, and Google has a satellite view. In 1998 the American Lighthouse Foundation secured a license from the Coast Guard for restoration and maintenance of the light. In December 2009 preservationists proposed to rebuild the keeper's house as a bed and breakfast similar to the operation at Race Point (see below). So far there's been no progress on this idea. In 2012 ALF volunteers painted all three Provincetown lighthouses. Located in the Cape Cod National Seashore near the end of the sand spit protecting Provincetown Harbor. Accessible by boat or by a hike of 2-1/2 miles (4 km); Flyer's Boat Yard operates a boat shuttle from Provincetown's West End from mid June through early September (group trips can be arranged in the off season). Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: American Lighthouse Foundation (Cape Cod Chapter). . ARLHS USA-450; Admiralty J0382; USCG 1-13275.

Long Point Light, Provincetown, June 2022
Google Maps photo by Luke Hutchings
* Wood End
1872. Active; focal plane 45 ft (13.5 m); red flash every 10 s. 39 ft (12 m) square pyramidal brick tower with lantern and gallery, solar-powered VRB-25 aerobeacon. Tower painted white, lantern black. Radio-activated fog horn (blast every 30 s). The keeper's house and other light station buildings were demolished in 1961; the oil house (1896) survives. Kyle Walton has a good 2007 photo, Anderson has a page with excellent photos, Trabas has a photo, Maksim Mercuri has a 2023 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Patrick O'Leary has a beach view, and Google has a satellite view. The American Lighthouse Foundation is responsible for restoration and maintenance of the light. In 2000 ALF volunteers painted the tower and oil house, and in 2012 they painted all three Provincetown lighthouses. Located in the Cape Cod National Seashore on the southwestern face of Long Point. Accessible by a hike of about 1-1/4 miles (2 km). Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: American Lighthouse Foundation (Cape Cod Chapter). . ARLHS USA-904; Admiralty J0383; USCG 1-13270.
** Race Point (2)
1876 (station established 1816). Active; focal plane 67 ft (20 m); white flash every 10 s. 45 ft (13.5 m) round cast iron tower (brick lined) with lantern and gallery; solar-powered VRB-25 aerobeacon. Tower painted white, lantern black. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s). The original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, restored by the Cape Cod Chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation in 1995, is available for overnight rental, and in 2007 the 1-story brick whistle house (1870s) was also opened for overnight rental. The original brick fog signal building was restored in 1999 as a field station of the Center for Coastal Studies. Harvey Hensley's 2023 photo is at right, Anderson has a fine page with several photos, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Steve Arena has a fine 2019 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Scott Hummel has a 2020 street view, and Google has a satellite view. This tower replaced an 1816 tower similar to the Scituate Light (see Northern Massachusetts). The gallery railing was replaced in 2001 and restoration of the tower was completed in 2002. In 2006-07 the station's whistle house was renovated to provide an additional accommodation and a wind turbine was installed to provide additional power. A movie, The Lightkeepers, was filmed at this lighthouse in 2009. In 2012 ALF volunteers painted all three Provincetown lighthouses. Accessible by a hike of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Race Point Beach. Located in the Cape Cod National Seashore on the extreme tip of Cape Cod, west of Provincetown. Accessible by hiking or by 4WD (permit required). Site open, tower open for guided tours on the first and third Saturdays, June through October. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard (leased to the American Lighthouse Foundation). Site manager: Race Point Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-680; Admiralty J0386; USCG 1-0485.


Race Point Light, Provincetown, August 2023
Google Maps photo by Harvey Hensley


Cape Cod Oceanside Lighthouses
**** Highland (Cape Cod) (3)
1857 (station established 1797). Active; focal plane 183 ft (56 m); white flash every 5 s, day and night. 66 ft (20 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery; LED beacon. Tower painted white, lantern black. The 1st order Fresnel lens was largely destroyed in 1998 during a botched attempt to remove it; some pieces of it are on display at the museum on site. The original 1-1/2 story Queen Anne wood keeper's house includes the museum and gift shop. A 2024 photo is at the top of this page, Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse with many photos, Trabas has a good photo, Garry Thompson has a 2019 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and good satellite view as well as Lenny Kagan's street view taken inside the lantern. This historic and famous lighthouse is almost always called Highland Light although officially it was renamed Cape Cod Light in 1976. The light station was relocated 450 feet (137 m) west in 1996 to escape erosion of the bluff. In 2001 Campbell Construction repainted the lighthouse, renovated iron work, and restored the interior of the lantern. At the end of 2013 the Park Service allowed its 20-year management agreement with the preservation group Highland Museum and Lighthouse to expire without renewal; the lighthouse is now managed by Eastern National, a National Park Service concession operator. In January 2015 the Park Service announced that the tower was in need of major restoration to repair moisture damage to the masonry. Emergency repairs were scheduled allowing the tower to open for the 2015 season. A $1.2 million rehabilitation project began in late summer or early fall 2019 and the lighthouse was closed during 2020. The LED beacon was installed in 2017, replacing a Vega rotating beacon. The Truro Historical Society operates the Highland House Museum June 1 through September 30 in a historic hotel adjoining the lighthouse. Located in the Highlands area of Cape Cod National Seashore atop a high cliff at the end of Highland Road, off US 6 in North Truro. Site open, museum open daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays mid April through early May and then every day May through mid October; tower open daily May through October. Owner: U.S. National Park Service (Cape Cod National Seashore). Site manager: Highland Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-110; Admiralty J0390; USCG 1-0500.
** Nauset (2) (Three Sisters)
1892 (station established 1838). Northern and southern towers inactive since 1911; center tower inactive since 1923. Triple 29 ft (9 m) round conical wood towers; only the northern tower retains its lantern and gallery. The 4th order Fresnel lens from the center tower (1873, transferred from an older tower) was transferred to Nauset Light in 1923 and is now on display at the national seashore's Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham. Lighthouses painted white, lanterns black. Roxie Zwicker has a closeup 2007 photo of the north lighthouse, a closeup of one of the others is available, Anderson's page has photos of all three, and Google has a satellite view. Only a few triple-tower light stations were built in the U.S. and this is the only surviving example. The towers were privately owned for many years; the National Park Service purchased two of them in 1965 and the third in 1975. In 1989 the park service renovated the three towers and placed them in their original configuration about 1800 ft (550 m) west of the Nauset Light. Lighthouse Digest has Don Sparrow's January 2002 feature story on the light station and a historic photo of the three towers in service. Located near the Nauset Light Beach parking area in Eastham. Site open; towers open to guided tours in season. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Cape Cod National Seashore. ARLHS USA-975 (north), 528 (middle), and 976 (south).
*** Nauset (3) (Nauset Beach)
1877 (originally Chatham Light North Tower, relocated to Nauset in 1923). Active (privately maintained since 1997); focal plane 102 ft (31 m); flash every 5 s, alternating red and white, day and night. 47 ft (14 m) round cast iron tower (brick lined) with lantern and gallery; DCB-224 aerobeacon (1981). Tower painted white with a broad red band at the top; lantern and gallery painted black. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the national seashore's Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1875) is a private residence. Brick oil house (1892). A 2022 photo is at right, Anderson has a good page for the light station, Trabas has a fine photo, Dirk Varelmann has a 2021 closeup, and Google has a street view and a good satellite view. This lighthouse is a familiar symbol of Cape Cod. International Chimney Corporation relocated the lighthouse 300 ft (90 m) west in 1996 to escape erosion of the bluff; the keeper's house was relocated similarly in 1998. In 2005 the exterior of the lighthouse was refurbished and restored. In 2013 the lighthouse was repainted thanks to a grant from Snyder's-Lance, the owner of Cape Cod Potato Chips (which has the lighthouse as a logo). In 2021 ICC Commonwealth (the successor to International Chimney) removed rust and repainted the lighthouse. Probably endangered: the lighthouse is less than 100 m (330 ft) from the bluff and may need to be moved again soon. Located in Cape Cod National Seashore at Nauset Beach off US 6 in Eastham. Site open; tower open generally in the late afternoon and early evening on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in July and August; on Sundays and Wednesdays in June and September; and on Sundays in May (beginning on Mother's Day) and October. Owner: U.S. National Park Service (Cape Cod National Seashore). Site manager: Nauset Light Preservation Society . ARLHS USA-529; Admiralty J0392; USCG 1-0510.1.

Nauset Light, Eastham, October 2022
Google Maps photo by John X.
** Chatham (3)
1877 (station established 1808). Active; focal plane 80 ft (24 m); 2 white flashes every 10 s, day and night. 48 ft (14.5 m) round cast iron tower (brick lined) with lantern and gallery; rotating DCB-224 aerobeacon (1993). The lantern is modern, installed in 1969. Tower painted white with black trim; lantern is gray. A steel post near the tower carries a light (yellow flash every 2.5 s, USCG 1-13305) that operates only when breaking seas make entering the harbor dangerous. The original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house remains in use as Coast Guard housing. The original lantern and 4th order Fresnel lens are on display adjacent to the Atwood House Museum in Chatham (the lens is lit whenever the museum is open). Jaspn Grant's 2023 photo appears at the top of this page, Anderson has a good page with many photos, Linda Cichocky has a 2021 photo, Trabas has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Originally the station had twin towers but the north tower was moved to Nauset Beach in 1923 (see previous entry). Huelse has a historic postcard view of the twin-tower station. Located at the Coast Guard Base Cape Cod just off Main Street in downtown Chatham. Site open; museum open Tuesday through Saturday afternoons, Memorial Day weekend (late May) through mid October and on Fridays and Saturdays in late October and in December; grounds open for tours led by the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1 generally on Wednesday afternoons during the summer. The tower is normally open during the tours but it is closed for maintenance in 2023. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-158; Admiralty J0394; USCG 1-0525.
Monomoy Point (2)
1849 (station established 1823). Inactive since 1923; charted as a landmark. 47 ft (14 m) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted red; lantern and gallery painted black. The original 2-story wood keeper's house is used as a guest house. Brick oil house (1894) and generator building. A 2023 photo by Bob McGovern is at right, Anderson's page has photos and a report from a recent visit, Jan Crocker has a 2018 photo, Stephen Furlong has a 2019 closeup, Lighthouse Digest has D'Entremont's December 2006 article on the history of the station, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This early cast iron tower has a unique design. The Massachusetts Audubon Society purchased the station from private owners in 1964 and sold it to the federal government in 1977. The light station was restored twice through efforts of the Audubon Society (1960s) and Lighthouse Preservation Society (1988). The Friends of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge support continued preservation of the lighthouse. The beach has built up in the area so that the lighthouse, built at the dune line, is now 1/2 mile (800 m) from the ocean. In October 2009 $1.5 million in federal recovery act funding was allocated to restoration of the lighthouse; this was enough to restore the lighthouse and the exterior of the keeper's house and add solar and wind generators to provide power for the buildings. The restoration was carried out by Campbell Construction in 2010-11. Interior restoration of the keeper's house continued and was completed in 2016. Supplies for the restoration were brought to the island by Coast Guard helicopters. Located near the south end of South Monomoy Island (the island was cut in two by the Blizzard of 1978). Accessible only by boat; the Friends of Monomoy organization offers tours in season. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge). . ARLHS USA-510.

Cape Cod Southside Lighthouses
* [Stage Harbor (Hardings Beach) (3?)]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 ft (8.5 m); white flash every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) square skeletal tower. Patrick O'Leary has a 2017 street view, Rachel Doddridge-Spring's 2022 Instagram photo shows the light in the distance, Trabas has a distant photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the bech in front of the historic lighthouse (next entry). Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J0422; USCG 1-13860.

Monomoy Point Light, Chatham, July 2023
Google Maps photo by Bob McGovern
* Stage Harbor (Hardings Beach) (1)
1880. Inactive since 1933; charted as a landmark. 36 ft (11 m) round cast iron tower with gallery, lantern removed, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Buildings painted white with red trim; lighthouse gallery painted black. Barry Mullin's 2023 drone view is at right, Melanie McCue has a 2009 photo, Anderson's page has closeup photos, David Walsh has a 2019 closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Patrick O'Leary has a beach view, and Google has a satellite view. The building is a private summer residence owned since 1936 by members of the Hoyt family. The lighthouse was repainted in September 2019.Located on the west side of the Stage Harbor entrance in Chatham. Accessible by 1 mile (1.6 km) hike on the beach from the end of Harding's Beach Road; there is a distant view across the harbor from the town landing at the end of Sears Road. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. . ARLHS USA-806.
** West Dennis (Bass River, Lighthouse Inn)
1855. Reactivated (inactive 1880-1881 and 1914-1989, now privately maintained; shown May through October); focal plane 44 ft (13.5 m); white flash every 6 s. Lantern mounted on the roof of what was once a 2-1/2 story wood keeper's house. 300 mm lens. Building painted white with green trim, lantern red. Anderson has a good page with several photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light station has been operated as an inn by the Stone family since 1938. The building has been expanded several times and is now much larger than the original lighthouse as seen in Huelse's historic postcard view. The light was relit on 7 August 1989, the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Lighthouse Service. In 2002 the lantern room was restored by Campbell Construction. Located just off Lighthouse Road in West Dennis. Site open; inn and restaurant open Memorial Day (late May) through Columbus Day (mid October); tower closed. Owner/site manager: The Lighthouse Inn. ARLHS USA-042; Admiralty J0425.7; USCG 1-14175.

Stage Harbor Light, Chatham, October 2023
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Barry Mullin
Bishop and Clerks (3)
1998(?) (station established 1858). Active; focal plane 45 ft (14 m); white flash every 6 s. 30 ft (9 m) round cylindrical metal tower, painted white with a red band (very similar to the "D9" towers so common on the Great Lakes). Anderson has a photo of the current light on his page for the lighthouse, Trabas has Micheal Boucher's closeup photo, and Bing has a satellite view. This modern beacon stands on the foundation of the historic 1858 lighthouse, a 65 ft (20 m) classic wave-swept masonry tower seen in Huelse's historic postcard view. The lighthouse became dilapidated and began to lean dangerously, so the Coast Guard demolished it in 1952. An unlighted daybeacon stood on the foundation until the present light was installed. Located on a dangerous group of rocks about 2.5 miles (4 km) south southeast of Point Gammon. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-058; Admiralty J0426.68; USCG 1-14490.
Point Gammon
1816. Inactive since 1858; charted as a landmark. 20 ft (6 m) round conical fieldstone tower topped by a wood observation room. The keeper's house was dismantled in 1935. Emily Wasserbauer has the 2022 photo seen at right, Anderson has a good page with several photos, Thomas Mitchell has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The original iron lantern was removed after the light was deactivated. A round observation room with a conical roof was added by ornithologist Charles Cory, who bought the entire "island" on which the lighthouse stands in 1882. However, the current observation room was built much more recently (1970s?). Located on Great Island (actually a peninsula) at the eastern entrance to Hyannis Harbor. Site and tower closed (private property, no public access). Visible (distantly) from Keyes Beach in Hyannis and from the Hyannis-Nantucket ferries, and Google has a very distant street view from Keyes Beach. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-622.
Lewis Bay (Channel Point)
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane 26 ft (8 m); flashing green light. 26 ft (8 m) round tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small workshed. Tower painted white; lantern and gallery painted black. Lightphotos.net has Charlie Kellogg's photo, William Peace has a photo, Emily Fishman has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos (misidentified as Hyannis Harbor Light), and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is a close replica of the Brant Point (8) Light on Nantucket (see below). In 2023 the property was for sale for $3.995 million. Located on private property at the end of Channel Point Road on the inner harbor of Hyannis, opposite the Nantucket ferry terminal. Site and tower closed (private property) but there's a view from the Hyannis Harbour Park at the end of Pleasant Street. Owner/site manager: private.

Point Gammon Light, Hyannis, April 2022
Google Maps photo by Emily Wasserbauer
Hyannis Harbor (Range Rear)
1849. Inactive since 1929. 19 ft (6 m) round old-style brick tower attached to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. The lantern, removed in 1929, has been replaced by an octagonal sunroom (1989). Tower painted white with three narrow red bands under the sunroom; the roof is black. Brick oil house (1902). Anderson's page also has closeup photos, Wanda Acosta has a 2020 closeup, Lighthouse Digest featured the lighthouse in January 2002, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The Coast Guard has a historic photo showing the original "birdcage" lantern; a second Coast Guard photo and Huelse's historic postcard view show the later form of the light station. The lighthouse was the rear light of a range beginning in 1885. The keeper's house, expanded at least twice, is a private residence owned by two antiques dealers. The red bands were added when the tower was repainted in 2012. Located at the end of Harbor Road on Hyannis Harbor. Site and tower closed (private property); there are views from the street and from Keyes Beach nearby. Owner/site manager: Hyland Granby Antiques. ARLHS USA-397.
** Nobska Point (Woods Hole) (2)
1876 (station established 1828). Active; focal plane 87 ft (26.5 m); white flash every 6 s, day and night; red sector covers dangerous shoals. 40 ft (12 m) "Race Point" round cylindrical cast iron tower (brick lined) with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. The buildings are floodlit at night. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s). 4th order Fresnel lens (1888) in use. Buildings painted white, roofs red, lantern black. Oil house and utility buildings also preserved. John Toomey's 2022 photo is at right, Anderson has an excellent page for the lighthouse with good photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, Lynda Morales has a 2021 photo, Jessica Langlois has a good 2009 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The keeper's house was for many years the residence of the commander of Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. In November 2013, however, the Coast Guard announced that the house needed $550,000 in repairs. It offered to lease or sell the building to any organization that would restore it. In December 2014 a new nonprofit organization, the Friends of Nobska Light, formed to work for preservation of the lighthouse. In March 2016 the Town of Falmouth accepted a management license from the Coast Guard and in April management was transferred to the town. The Friends planned to restore the lighthouse and open it to the public with a museum in the keeper's house. A drive began to raise $4 million for the restoration. Exterior restoration of the tower began in September 2017. In March 2021 the contractor DellbrookJKS completed its work restoring the interior. In 2023 the lighthouse became available for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA); the Town and the Friends will apply for ownership. Located on Nobska Road, at the eastern entrance to Woods Hole Harbor. Visible from the Woods Hole-Martha's Vineyard ferries. Site open daily, tower open for tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays June through August (ticket purchase required). Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Town of Falmouth and Friends of Nobska Light . ARLHS USA-550; Admiralty J0456; USCG 1-15560.

Nobska Point Light, Falmouth, October 2022
Google Maps photo by John Toomey
Cleveland East Ledge
1943. Active; focal plane 74 ft (22.5 m); white flash every 10 s, day and night. 70 ft (21 m) round cylindrical reinforced concrete tower with lantern and gallery, atop a 2-story octagonal reinforced concrete keeper's quarters, all mounted on a concrete caisson. 190 mm lens (1978). Fog horn (blast every 15 s) on demand. Building painted white, lantern black, caisson red. Anderson's page has excellent closeup photos, Trabas has Michael Boucher's closeup photo, James Johnson has a 2019 photo, and Google has a satellite view. This Art Moderne building is one of the last more-or-less traditional lighthouses built in the U.S. It was renovated by the Coast Guard in 1990. In 2007 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. No suitable recipients came forward and in December 2010 the lighthouse was sold at auction for $190,000 to Sandy D. Boyd of Emeryville, California, the owner of a chain of coffeehouses. Boyd is researching the history of the station and plans to restore the lighthouse as a vacation residence. Located on a reef on the east side of the main Buzzard's Bay channel, off West Falmouth. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. . ARLHS USA-179; Admiralty J0502; USCG 1-16080.
Wings Neck (2)
1889 (station established 1848). Inactive since 1945; charted as a landmark. 32 ft (10 m) hexagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black with red trim. The assistant keeper's house (1888) was relocated from Ned's Point Light (see below) in 1923. A 2021 photo by Amanda Hays is at right, Anderson's page also has good photos, HaoCheng Tsai has a closeup drone view, Jack Sullivan has a 2021 closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. After many years as a private residence the house was renovated in 2003 for weekly vacation rental. The tower was repaired and repainted in 2014. Currently the house can be booked through Airbnb.com. The owner also made the light station available for weddings and other special events. This led to protests from neighbors and in September 2016 the local zoning board ruled that these uses are not allowed. The owner sued but in late 2018 a court upheld the zoning ruling and the state appeals court agreed in June 2020. Located on Wing's Neck in Pocasset, on the east side of the southern approach to the Cape Cod Canal. Site open to guests but otherwise closed; tower closed. There is a distant view from the edge of the property at the end of Wings Neck Road. Owner/site manager: Wings Neck Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-899.

Wings Neck Light, Pocasset, November 2021
Google Maps photo by Amanda Hays

Dukes County Lighthouses

Elizabeth Islands Lighthouses
The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands extending southwestward from the Wood's Hole area, separating Vineyard Sound on the southeast from Buzzards Bay on the northwest. Most of the islands are privately owned. The only village is Cuttyhunk, located at the southwestern end of the archipelago.
Buzzards Bay Entrance (2)
1997 (station established 1961). Active; focal plane 67 ft (20 m); white flash every 2.5 s. Beacon mounted on a platform supported by three legs and a larger central column, all painted red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s). NOAA has a photo; it maintains a C-MAN automatic weather station on the platform. Bing has a satellite view. This light tower replaced a Texas tower lighthouse seen on Wikipedia's page and in several photos (almost halfway down the page) by Brian Tague. The new tower is similar to the 1999 Ambrose Light formerly off New York Harbor. Located at the mouth of Buzzards Bay about 5 mi (8 km) west southwest of Cuttyhunk. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-100; Admiralty J0480; USCG 1-0630.
#Cuttyhunk (3)
1947 (station established 1823). Inactive since 2005 and later removed. This was a 60 ft (18 m) skeletal tower with a small enclosed workroom at the base. Anderson's page has a photo, the tower is near the right edge of another photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view of the location. The 1891 lighthouse, a 45 ft (14 m) brick tower attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, was demolished when it was deactivated in 1947. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the original lighthouse; the ruined stone oil house and foundations of the keeper's house remain. Nearby is a round stone tower that looks very much like a lighthouse; it is a monument to the English explorer Batholomew Gosnold, who settled a short-lived colony on the island in 1602. Located at the southwestern end of Cuttyhunk Island. The island is accessible by ferry from New Bedford. Site open. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-215; ex-USCG 1-15615.
Tarpaulin Cove (2)
1891 (station established 1817). Active; focal plane 78 ft (24 m); white flash every 6 s. 28 ft (8.5 m) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a brick workroom; 300 mm lens. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house was demolished in 1962. John Allen's 2023 photo is at right, Anderson has a page with photos taken from the water, Lighthouse Digest has an article on the history of the station, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Jennifer Webber has a 2007 photo, D'Entremont has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Tavern keepers maintained a private light at this site from 1759 to 1817. In late 2001 the light station was leased from the Coast Guard by the Cuttyhunk Historical Society, which has a web page for the lighthouse. Located on the eastern side of Naushon Island, one of the Elizabeth Islands southwest of Wood's Hole. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed except for an annual open house; the island is privately owned. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Cuttyhunk Historical Society. . ARLHS USA-835; Admiralty J0470; USCG 1-15580.

Tarpaulin Cove Light, Gosnold, October 2023
Google Maps photo by John Allen

Martha's Vineyard Lighthouses
Martha's Vineyard is an island about 4 miles (7.5 km) south of the southwestern end of Cape Cod. The name is commonly extended to include the smaller Chappaquiddick Island, which is separated from the main island by a narrow channel. The island is triangular in shape, with its south coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, the northwest side facing Vineyard Sound, and the northeast side facing Nantucket Sound. "The Vineyard," as it is often called, has a permanent population of about 15,000 and a much larger summer population. The island is accessible by scheduled air service and by ferries from Wood's Hole, Hyannis, and several other locations.
**** Gay Head (Aquinnah) (2)
1856 (station established 1799). Active; focal plane 170 ft (52 m); flash every 7.5 s, alternating red and white, day and night. 51 ft (15.5 m) unpainted round red brick tower with lantern and gallery; DCB-224 aerobeacon (1953). Lantern is painted black. The original 1st order Fresnel lens, removed in 1952, is on display in the Martha's Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven. The keeper's house and other light station buildings were all demolished in 1956. Anton Lezhankin's 2021 photo is at right, Tracy Lee Carroll has a good photo, Anderson's page has fine photos, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Britten has a fine photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Imtiaz Ahmad has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This is a famous and familiar lighthouse. The lighthouse was prominent in the news in July 1999 when John F. Kennedy, Jr., was killed in a plane crash just offshore. In August 2009 President Barack Obama and his family visited the lighthouse during a Vineyard vacation. The lighthouse was long endangered by erosion of the bluff on which it stands, and in May 2011 town officials learned that the need to move the tower would be coming soon. In November 2012 the Aquinnah Board of Selectmen announced formation of an advisory committee to plan for ownership, relocation, and restoration of the lighthouse. The committee established a web site for the restoration effort. In the meanwhile the lighthouse went on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. In February 2013 a town meeting approved acquisition of the lighthouse for the purpose of relocation and preservation. In April the Coast Guard announced plans to replace the failing DCB-224 with a modern LED light. Following protests a replacement DCB was found in storage in Virginia. In June the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the lighthouse on its 2013 Most Endangered Historic Places list and supporters launched a "Keep on Shining" campaign to save the lighthouse. The move would cost about $3 million and energetic fundraising secured that amount. In October 2013 researchers discovered the stone foundations of the 1799 lighthouse. In April 2014 International Chimney Corporation was selected to relocate the lighthouse, and in July a new site was identified 190 ft (58 m) inland. Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the town of Aquinnah in February 2015. After weeks of preparation the move was carried out in 48 hours on May 28-30, 2015. A circle of foundation stones marks the original location. In February 2016 International Chimney Corp. was hired to study restoration needed at the lighthouse; in September their report called for needed repairs estimated to cost $1.3 million. Work has continued with restoration of the dome and repointing the brickwork, but as of June 2019 another $500,000 was needed to complete the restoration of the building. In July 2021 Richard Skidmore retired after 31 years as keeper. Located at the end of Lighthouse Road at the extreme western tip of Martha's Vineyard. Site open, tower open Friday through Monday Memorial Day weekend (late May) through June and daily July 1 through Labor Day weekend (early September). Parking near the lighthouse is limited. Owner: Town of Aquinnah. Site manager: Gay Head Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-319; Admiralty J0476; USCG 1-0620.

Relocated Gay Head Light, Aquinnah, November 2021
Instagrams photo by Anton Lezhankin
* West Chop (3)
1891 (station established 1817). Active; focal plane 84 ft (25.5 m); white light occulting every 4 s; red sector covers dangerous shoals. 52 ft (16 m) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery; original 4th order Fresnel lens. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1847, remodeled 1881) has been used as a Coast Guard residence; the assistant keeper's house is a vacation cottage for military personnel. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. Colleen Spelman's 2022 photo is at right, Anderson's page has excellent photos, Trabas has a good photo by Michael Boucher, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. A well preserved light station, including the wood fog signal building (1881) and oil house (1895). Located on West Chop Road (now Main Street) at the western entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor in Vineyard Haven, a village at the northern apex of Martha's Vineyard. Site closed, but visitors can park nearby; tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-877; Admiralty J0450; USCG 1-13775.
** East Chop (Telegraph Hill, Oak Bluffs)
1877. Active; focal plane 79 ft (24 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 40 ft (12 m) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery; 300 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. The keeper's house was demolished in 1934. Anderson's page has good photos, another closeup photo is available, Paul Hu has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. In 1957 the Town of Oak Bluffs bought the land around the lighthouse as a public park, and in 1994 the Coast Guard licensed the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society to manage the lighthouse. In 2007 the lighthouse was repaired, restored and repainted in a $140,000 project. The lantern was restored in 2019. In 2020-21 the Coast Guard was removing lead contamination from the surroundings while ICC Commonwealth carried out additional restoration of the tower including repair of the brackets supporting the gallery. The Coast Guard plans to transfer ownership to the Town of Oak Bluffs once the site is clean. Located on Highland Drive at the eastern entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor in Oak Bluffs. Site open (town park, but parking is limited), tower open on Sunday evenings late June through early September (entry fee). The lighthouse can also be rented for weddings or other special events. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Martha's Vineyard Historical Society (East Chop Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-259; Admiralty J0446; USCG 1-13745.

West Chop Light, Vineyard Haven, July 2022
Instagram photo by Colleen Spelman
*** Edgartown Harbor (2)
1881 (originally the Ipswich Range Rear Light, relocated here in 1939; station established 1828). Active; focal plane 45 ft (13.5 m); red flash every 6 s. 45 ft (13.5 m) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery; 250 mm lens (1988). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. Tin Nguyen's 2022 photo is at right, Anderson has a good page with several photos, Brian Holzhausen has a 2021 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a beach view and a good satellite view. The town of Edgartown is near the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard, facing Chappaquiddick Island across the narrow sound of Katama Bay. The original lighthouse was built offshore, as seen in Huelse's historic postcard view. It was nearly destroyed by the 1938 hurricane and was demolished in 1939. The hurricane converted the shoal into a sandy island, which then developed into a spit, which the Coast Guard then stabilized by building a stone jetty. The present tower was renovated in 1985. In 1994 the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society secured a 30-year lease on the building. In 2001 the foundation was restored and the lighthouse was rededicated as the Children's Lighthouse Memorial. In 2007 the lighthouse was restored inside and out; boarded-up windows were replaced with glass and a new spiral stairway was installed. This allowed opening the lighthouse to visitors for the first time in 2008. In 2012 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA, and in January 2013 the town decided to seek ownership, an effort approved by voters at a town meeting in April. In January 2014 the town was awarded ownership. Located on a spit at the entrance to Edgartown Harbor. Accessible by a short walk from the downtown area. The Falmouth-Edgartown ferry rounds the spit just before arriving. Site open, tower open daily late June through Labor Day (early September) and on weekends late May to mid June and September through early October. The lighthouse can also be rented for weddings or other special events. Parking is limited. Owner: Town of Edgartown. Site manager: Martha's Vineyard Historical Society. . ARLHS USA-265; Admiralty J0440; USCG 1-15420.
Cape Poge (Cape Pogue) (4)
1893 (station established 1801). Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); white flash every 6 s. 35 ft (11 m) round shingle-clad wood tower with lantern and gallery; solar-powered 300 mm lens. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Martha's Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house was demolished in 1954. Anderson has a fine page with closeup photos, Trabas has Michael Boucher's closeup photo, a 2019 photo is available, Teri Carilli has a street view from the gallery, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The configuration of Cape Poge changes very rapidly and the present tower has been relocated away from the water's edge four times: in 1907, 1922, 1960 and 1987. The last relocation was 500 ft (150 m) by helicopter. The lantern was restored in 1997. Located at the extreme northeastern tip of Martha's Vineyard on Chappaquiddick Island. Accessible by boat, by a 5-mile (8 km) hike (free), or by 4-wheel drive (expensive license required) north from Tom's Neck. Site open, tower open to guided tours (admission fee, reservations required) in the summer. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Trustees of Reservations (Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge). . ARLHS USA-132; Admiralty J0438; USCG 1-13715.

Edgartown Harbor Light, Edgartown, August 2022
Google Maps photo by Tin Nguyen

Nantucket County Lighthouses

 
Nantucket is an island located 30 miles (48 km) south of the right-angle bend of Cape Cod. The island has a permanent population of about 10,000, but that number is greatly increased during the summer season. Nantucket is accessible by ferries from Hyannis.

Nantucket Harbor Lighthouses
* Nantucket Cliff Range (Brant Point Range) Lights (2)
1903 (station established 1838). Inactive since 1912. Two wooden towers, painted white, topped by conical shingled roofs. The lights were displayed through windows. These lights have been relocated to the grounds of a private residence. Jackie Reynolds has 2019 photos of the front and rear light towers and Google has a satellite view. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the original range lights. Located on opposite sides of a house on Pawguvet Lane at Hulbert Avenue, about 3/4 mi (1.2 km) northwest of Brant Point. Site and towers closed but the lighthouses can be seen from the street. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-078 (front) and 521 (rear).
* Brant Point (8)
1901 (station established 1746). Active; focal plane 26 ft (8 m); red light occulting every 4 s. 26 ft (8 m) round shingle-clad wood tower with lantern and gallery; 250 mm lens. The lighthouse is connected to shore by a walkway. Fog horn (blast every 10 s). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. A 2023 photo is at right, Anderson also has a good page for this station, Guy Cipriani has a good photo, Trabas has a closeup photo by Michael Boucher, Michael Femia has a good photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This small but prototypical lighthouse has been the model for dozens of faux lighthouses all over the U.S. The walkway was heavily damaged by a storm in 1991 and was rebuilt in 1992. The Coast Guard and Campbell Construction carried out an extensive renovation of the light tower in 2000. Brant Point is the third oldest light station in the U.S., established in 1746; a series of at least five lighthouses stood here prior to 1790. Located at the water's edge east of the 1856 light station. Ferries to Nantucket round Brant Point just before arrival. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-1095; Admiralty J0414; USCG 1-15205.

Brant Point Light, Nantucket, June 2023
Google Maps photo by Luvsforgod
* Brant Point (7)
1856 (station established 1746). Inactive since 1900. 47 ft (14 m) round brick tower, painted white with black trim, attached to a 2-story brick keeper's house; lantern removed. Anderson has a separate page for this lighthouse with good photos, A 2022 photo by Barbara Perez is at right, Paul Hildebrandt has an excellent 2007 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The building continued in use as the keeper's house for the station; it is now used as a Coast Guard communications station. Located at the Nantucket Coast Guard Station, at the end of Easton Street. Ferries to Nantucket round Brant Point just before arrival. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard Station Brant Point . ARLHS USA-1094.
* Nantucket Harbor Range Front
1908. Active; focal plane 35 ft (10.5 m); quick-flashing white light, brighter on the range line. 9 m (30 ft) square pyramidal wood skeletal tower, painted white, with a small open lantern at the top and a small wood equipment shelter in the base; the tower also carries a rectangular wood daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. Tower painted white; the daymark is red with a white vertical stripe on the range line. Anderson has a photo, Trabas has a good closeup by Michael Boucher, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located a few feet northeast of the old Brant Point Light (previous entry). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. Admiralty J0416; USCG 1-15160.
* Nantucket Harbor Range Rear
1908. Active; focal plane 51 ft (15.5 m); continuous white light, brighter on the range line. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal wood skeletal tower, painted white, with a small open lantern at the top and a small wood eqipment shelter in the base; the tower also carries a rectangular wood daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. Tower painted white; the daymark is red with a white vertical stripe on the range line. Anderson has a photo, Trabas has a photo by Michael Boucher, Roland Cody has a fine photo of this light behind the old Brant Point Lighthouse, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the water's edge south of the old Brant Point Light and 89 yd (81 m) south southeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. Admiralty J0416.1; USCG 1-15165.
 

1856 Brant Point Light, Nantucket, August 2022
Google Maps photo by Barbara Perez

Nantucket Oceanside Lighthouses
Great Point (3)
1986 reproduction of 1818 lighthouse (station established 1784). Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); white flash every 5 s (red sector covers dangerous shoals). 66 ft (20 m) round rubblestone-faced concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern and gallery painted black. Solar-powered VRB-25 aerobeacon. A 3rd order Fresnel lens from this station (1857, removed in 1971) is displayed in a replica lantern outside the Egan Maritime Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum. The keeper's house burned in 1966. A 2021 photo is at right, Anderson also has a good page for the lighthouse, Trabas has a closeup photo by Michael Boucher, a 2021 photo is available, Cole Rabe has a 2022 closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a wood tower, burned under somewhat suspicious circumstances in 1816. The 1818 lighthouse was destroyed by a powerful nor'easter in March 1984; it was rebuilt at a cost of more than $2 million appropriated by Congress. The late Senator Edward Kennedy raised the flag at the dedication of the new lighthouse in September 1986. Stone from the original lighthouse was used in the facing for the new tower. Located on the end of the long sand spit at the northeast corner of Nantucket about 900 ft (275 m) west of the site of the 1818 tower. The area may be closed during bird nesting season; otherwise it is open to hikers (free) or 4-wheel drive vehicles (for a stiff fee). Site open, tower open only for an annual tour date in late August. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Trustees of Reservations (Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge). . ARLHS USA-348; Admiralty J0404; USCG 1-0545.

Great Point Light, Nantucket, March 2021
Google Maps photo by Vin D Sr.
* Sankaty Head
1850. Active; focal plane 158 ft (48 m); white flash every 7.5 s. 70 ft (21 m) round brick and granite tower with lantern and gallery; original lantern removed (1970) but replaced by an aluminum replica. Rotating LED lamp. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens (one of the oldest Fresnel lenses in the U.S.) has been on display at the Nantucket Whaling Museum since 1938. Tower painted white with a broad red horizontal band; lantern, gallery, and watch room black. The historic keeper's house was demolished in 1939. The replacement keeper's house has been relocated to Nantucket and rented as low-income housing. Original oil house (1887). A 2023 photo is at right, Anderson has a page for the lighthouse with good photos, Trabas has Michael Boucher's closeup photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This was the first U.S. lighthouse built with a Fresnel lens as its original optic. Endangered by erosion of the cliff, the lighthouse was added to the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. In 2000 neighboring landowners got permission to install 8-foot high plastic tubes to retard the beach erosion, but this plan was dropped under protests from environmentalists. In July 2006 the 'Sconset Trust announced plans to lease the light station from the Coast Guard and relocate it 400 ft (122 m) northwest. The $4 million relocation project was carried out in 2007 with the lighthouse reaching its destination in early October. An August 2008 photo, Timothy Valentine's 2011 photo, Okan Aykar's 2022 photo, and Google's satellite view show the lighthouse in its new location and a 2010 photo shows the lighthouse freshly repainted. The lighthouse was closed for restoration in 2022. In December 2023 the Coast Guard installed a rotating LED lamp. Located off the end of Baxter Road adjacent to the fifth hole of the Sankaty Head Golf Club, north of Siasconset ('Sconset) at the eastern end of Nantucket. Site open, tower closed except for occasional guided tours. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: 'Sconset Trust (Sankaty Head Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-735; Admiralty J0406; USCG 1-0555.

Sankaty Head Light, Nantucket, November 2023
Instagram photo by mb.vogue

Southern Plymouth County Lighthouses

Marion and Mattapoisett Lighthouses
These lighthouses are on the mainland shore of Buzzards Bay east of New Bedford. Lighthouses of the town of Plymouth, on the county's east coast, are described on the Northern Massachusetts page.
Bird Island
1819. Reactivated (inactive 1938-1997, now privately maintained); focal plane 37 ft (11 m); white flash every 6 s. 31 ft (9.5 m) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery; ML-300 lens (1997). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house and all other structures except the tower were destroyed by the hurricane of 1938. Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse, Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo, Paul Cantrell has a 2023 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a good satellite view. The tower was sold in 1940 and remianed in private hands until the island was purchased by the Town of Marion in 1966. The lighthouse was restored by the town and the Sippican Historical Society in 1976. In 1994 the Bird Island Preservation Society was formed to further restore the tower and it was relit in 1997 with a solar-poweted light. There was concern when longtime Bird Island Preservation Society chairman Charles Bradley Jr. retired in early 2008, but the society and the Marion harbormaster cooperated to repaint and refurbish the lighthouse in 2009. In 2016 the Army Corps of Engineers carried out a $3.1 million project to protect the island from rising sea levels with stone revetments. By 2023 the lighthouse was much in need of repainting. Located on a small island in Buzzard's Bay off Butler Point, Marion. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (nature reserve). Owner/operator: Town of Marion. Site manager: Bird Island Preservation Society. . ARLHS USA-057; Admiralty J0511.1; USCG 1-17105.
** Ned's Point
1838 (Leonard Hammond). Reactivated (inactive 1952-1961); focal plane 41 ft (12.5 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 39 ft (12 m) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery. 250 mm lens (1996). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house was relocated to Wing's Neck Light in 1923 (see above). Joe Peloquin's 2024 photo is at right, a 2007 photo is available, Anderson's page has good photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, Daniel Chavarria has a 2020 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a good satellite view. The Coast Guard sold the land surrounding the lighthouse to the Town of Mattapoisett in 1958. The lighthouse was restored through local efforts in 1993-98 and is maintained with the help of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 6-3. Auxiliary members worked on renovations to the lighthouse in 2011. In 2019 lead contamination was discovered in the lantern and the lighthouse was closed. It reopened in October 2021 after lead was removed and the lantern restored. In 2022 a campaign launched to raise $270,000 for a through restoration of the tower, and the town's Select Board expressed interest in taking ownership of the lighthouse. Located in Veterans Memorial Park at the end of Ned's Point Road on the east side of the harbor entrance in Mattapoisett. Site open, tower open for tours every other Saturday and selected weekdays mid June through late September. Owner: Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 6-3 (tower only). Site manager: Town of Mattapoisett and Friends of Ned's Point Lighthouse. . ARLHS USA-533; Admiralty J0504; USCG 1-17095.

Ned's Point Light, Mattapoisett, May 2024
Instagram photo by Joe Peloquin

Bristol County (New Bedford and Fall River) Lighthouses

New Bedford is a city of about 100,000 residents facing lower Buzzards Bay. A historic seaport, it was the center of U.S. whaling in the Nineteenth Century and it remains a major fishing port.

New Bedford Harbor Lightships
* Lightship WLV-613 Nantucket II
1952. The last lightship on station in the U.S., relieved 20 December 1983. 39 m (128 ft) steel lightship; lantern and gallery atop a tripod light tower amidships. Hull painted red, superstructure white, light tower and lantern gold. The ship served initially on the Ambrose station off New York, and later at Nantucket Shoals. Uma Tyan has a closeup 2007 photo. After decommissioning, the ship was donated to a nonprofit and served as a museum in Boston. In 1996 it was placed on sale and purchased by a small group that moved the ship to Quincy but was not able to care for it. In 1998, when it looked like the ship would be scrapped, it was bought by Jack Baker, who spent more than $1 million to restore the vessel. The ship sailed to New Bedford and back in September 1999. In 2000 the ship sailed to New York to participate in OpSail 2000. In 2002 the ship was docked at Wareham, where it remained for more than a decade; Google has distant 2012 street view of the ship at anchor there. In November 2014 the ship was purchased by Bill Golden, the owner of Nantucket I, and at the end of the month it was towed to a shipyard in New Bedford for restoration. The restoration was expected to last only a few months. As of July 2017 the ship was berthed at Fairhaven, across the Acushnet River from New Bedford; Lightphotos.net has Andreas Köhler's September 2017 photo seen at right. According to an October 2018 article in Boat International, both Nantucket I and Nantucket II were "berthed in New Bedford, Massachusetts, side by side." The ship is moored near the Seatrade International pier on the east side of the Acushnet; Google has an October 2019 street view of the ship and a satellite view. Owner: private. ARLHS USA-524.
 

Lightship WLV-613 Nantucket II, New Bedford, September 2017
Lightphotos.net photo by Andreas Köhler; used by permission
* Lightship WLV-612 Nantucket I
1950. Decommissioned 1985. 2-masted, 617-ton steel lightship, length 128 ft (39 m), beam 30 ft (9 m). The ship served most of its career off San Francisco, but it was also stationed off Portland, Maine, and from 1975-1983 on the Nantucket Shoals station, where it alternated on station with Nantucket II and was one of the last two U.S. lightships in service. Anderson has a good page for the lightship, Wikimedia has Jim Henderson's February 2009 photo (also seen at right) of the ship moored at lower Manhattan, and Jef Nickerson has a November 2006 photo of the lightship at Boston. In 1987 the vessel was purchased for $1500 by the Metropolitan District Commission of Boston with the intention that it would be refurbished as a museum. These plans were never carried out and in the end the state allowed the ship to deteriorate at a berth in Quincy. In 1999 the State of Massachusetts declared the ship surplus property, and on March 15, 2000, the state put the ship up for auction on eBay. It was sold to Bill and Kristin Golden, who renovated the vessel and put it back into operation. The ship arrived in Boston under its own power in October 2002 and was moored off season at Rowe's Wharf on the Boston waterfront. In late 2004 the Goldens announced plans to berth the ship at Nantucket during the summer and sell shares in the vessel to would-be summer residents. However, nothing came of these plans. In January 2006 the Goldens put the lightship up for sale with an asking price of $7.6 million, but the ship found no buyers. In 2008 the Goldens sailed the ship to New York, where it was based at Battery Park City in lower Manhattan. In 2009 they sailed the ship to Hyannis, Massachusetts, flashing its light as a memorial to Senator Edward Kennedy. In late summer 2009 the ship was anchored at Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard. In the summer of 2013 it was at Jamestown, Rhode Island, and it was scheduled to move to New York in the fall. In 2015 it was berthed at Pier 25 in Hudson River Park; a photo is available. For the 2016 season it moved to the new One°15 Brooklyn Marina at Pier 5, south of the Brooklyn Bridge. According to an October 2018 article in Boat International, both Nantucket I and Nantucket II were "berthed in New Bedford, Massachusetts, side by side." In January 2019 the Goldens had Nantucket I listed for sale for $5.2 million and in April 2020 the listed price was $4.95 million. In January 2020 the ship was at the Boston Yacht Haven in downtown Boston; a YouTube video is available. By the summer of 2022 it was back in New Bedford, moored at the State Pier, but Google's satellite view and June 2023 street view do not show it there. Its current loction is unknown. Owner/site manager: private (Nantucket Lightship ). ARLHS USA-523.

Lightship WLV-612 Nantucket at Pier 25, New York, February 2009
Wikimedia public domain photo by Jim Henderson
 

New Bedford Harbor Lighthouses
New Bedford West Barrier
1960s. Active; focal plane 48 ft (15 m); quick-flashing green light. Lights mounted atop a 2-story concrete control tower. Fog horn (blast every 10 s) on demand. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The New Bedford Hurricane Barrier was built to prevent storm surge from entering the funnel-shaped harbor, as happened with devastating results during the great hurricane of 1938. The barrier's narrow opening for ships can be closed by gates when necessary to protect the city. The East Barrier Light marks the other side of the opening. Located on the west side of the harbor entrance. Site and tower closed to the public. Admiralty J0500; USCG 1-16897.
* Palmer (Palmers) Island
1849. Reactivated (inactive 1962-1999, now maintained by the city of New Bedford); focal plane 42 ft (13 m); white flash every 4 s. 24 ft (7 m) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery; solar-powered 250 mm acrylic lens. The lantern is a fiberglass repica. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. Josh Hanna's 2020 photo is at right, Robert English has a photo, Anderson has a good page with several photos, Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. One of the last "old style" stone towers built. The keeper's house was destroyed by the 1938 hurricane. Though protected now by the city's hurricane dike, the tower was gutted by fire in 1966 and repeatedly vandalized thereafter. Acquired by the city in 1978, it was restored and relit in 1999. Lighthouse Digest has Jeremy D'Entremont's feature on keeper Arthur Small. Located on a pier off the north end of the island, in New Bedford Harbor. Accessible at low water from the hurricane barrier. Visible from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, from the Cuttyhunk ferry, and from harbor tours in season. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator/site manager: City of New Bedford. . ARLHS USA-578; Admiralty J0501; USCG 1-16898.

Palmer Island Light, New Bedford, October 2020
Google Maps photo by Josh Hanna
Butler Flats
1898 (F. Hopkinson Smith). Inactive since 2014. 53 ft (16 m) round cylindrical brick tower incorporating 3-story keeper's quarters, with double upper gallery and a lower gallery, mounted on a concrete and cast iron caisson. Original 5th order Fresnel lens in use. Unusual design: a sparkplug tower in brick rather than cast iron. Lighthouse painted white; lantern, galleries, and caisson painted black. Dave Peloquin's 2021 drone view is at right, Anderson's page has good photos, Christopher Fredericks has a 2017 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. The lighthouse was maintained by the city for many years beginning in 1978; volunteers and county jail inmates worked to keep it in order. It was one of the first lighthouses in the country to be converted to solar power. In 2012 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA but the city declined to apply for it and no other group came forward. The lighthouse was offered for sale by auction in August 2013. Nick Korstad, the owner of the similar Borden Falls lighthouse (see below), declined to bid; he estimates the lighthouse needs $1 million just to restore the foundation. That auction was cancelled but in September 2015 the lighthouse was again offered for auction, and in November the lighthouse sold for $80,000. The buyers formed a nonprofit organization called Mass Light to maintain the lighthouse. In May 2019 the city council approved a $250,000 grant for the stabilization and repair of the base of the lighthouse and the concrete deck. We need to learn if there is progress on this restoration project. Located in New Bedford Harbor east of Clark's Point. Accessible only by boat. Good views from the Martha's Vineyard ferry mid-May to early October. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Mass Light. . ARLHS USA-099; ex-Admiralty J0498; ex-USCG 1-16853.
* Clark's Point (2)
1869 (station established 1804). Inactive 1898-2001 and since 2016. 2-story rectangular keeper's house, lower story stone and upper story wood, with cylindrical lantern and gallery, mounted atop the walls of Fort Taber (1840). Lantern black; upper story of keeper's house painted white, lower story unpainted stone. Anderson has a good page for the lighthouse, Mike Carey has a closeup 2007 photo, Trabas has a photo, Connor McLeish has a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse was previously endangered by neglect, but the city has since restored the tower. The light was relit in celebrations in June 2001. Lighthouse Digest has Jeremy D'Entremont's story on this effort and the history of the light station. Located off South Rodney Boulevard on the west shore of New Bedford Harbor. Site open, parking provided, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of New Bedford (Fort Taber Park ). ARLHS USA-174; ex-Admiralty J0497; ex-USCG 1-16795.

Butler Flats Light, New Bedford, January 2021
Google Maps photo
by Dave Peloquin
Dumpling Rocks (4?)
Date unknown (station established 1828). Active; focal plane 52 ft (16 m); green flash every 6 s. 46 ft (14 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a square concrete base and carrying a square daymark painted green. 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Anderson has a page for this light station, Trabas has a distant view and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was a 2-story keeper's house with the lantern on the roof. This was replaced in 1890 by a square wood tower attached to a 2-story keeper's house. The light station was largely destroyed by the great hurricane of 1938; in 1940, the remains were demolished and a skeletal tower was installed. The present skeletal tower has a more modern design. Located off Round Hill Point about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Clarks Point. Accessible only by boat; there should be a good view from the end of Club House Road in Dartmouth. ARLHS USA-247; Admiralty J0492; USCG 1-16040(=16731).

Fall River Lighthouse
The city of Fall River is on the east side of Mount Hope Bay, an arm of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. The city has a population of about 90,000.
Borden Flats
1881. Active; focal plane 47 ft (14.5 m); white flash every 2.5 s. 50 ft (15 m) round cast iron sparkplug tower with lantern and upper and lower galleries, incorporating 2-story keeper's quarters and mounted on a circular concrete and cast iron caisson. 250 mm lens (1977). Fog horn (1 s blast every 10 s). Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band, lantern and gallery painted black, lantern roof red. The caisson was expanded after the hurricane of 1938 damaged the original foundation. Juergen Roth's 2023 photo is at right, Anderson's page has good photos, Robert Magina has a 2012 photo, Trabas has a photo, Ewan McBride has a 2019 drone view, C.M. Hanchey has a good 2013 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. In 2006 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA but no interested parties came forward to accept it. In December 2008 it was sold for $55,000 to Michael Gabriel, a Nevada attorney and lighthouse fan who had also purchased the Fourteen Foot Bank lighthouse in Delaware Bay and the Bloody Point Bar lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay. In August 2009 Gabriel announced plans to finance maintenance of his lighthouses by operating microbreweries in them. However, it seems that Gabriel had overreached, because he defaulted on the closing for Borden Flats. The lighthouse went back on the auction block and in August the high bid of $56,569 was submitted by Nick Korstad. Gabriel sued to have this sale stopped but the General Services Administration confirmed Korstead's title. In 2011 Korstad had the lighthouse repainted, adding the red horizontal band. He opened the lighthouse for overnight rental. In 2017 the revolving Vega beacon was replaced by a modern LED light. In November 2017 Korstad placed the lighthouse for sale for $389,900. In 2018 the lighthouse was purchased by new owners Kevin and Carole Ferias, who promised to continue and expand the existing programs. In 2023 they placed the lighthouse for sale for $1.2 million, but still as active B&B. Located in the middle of Fall River just downstream from the Braga Bridge (I-195). Accessible only by boat. There are good views from the Borden Light Marina at 251 Bank Street. Site open; tower open for overnight stays and private tours can be arranged by contacting the owner. Owner/site manager: Borden Flats Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-072; Admiralty J0576; USCG 1-18925.

Borden Flats Light, Fall River, November 2023
Instagram photo
by Juergen Roth

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Northern Massachusetts | West: Rhode Island

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Checked and revised June 4, 2024. Lighthouses: 45. Lightships: 1. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.