This is a list of all lighthouses in the U.S. state of Massachusetts as identified by the United States Coast Guard. Enumeration of the lighthouses in this state is complicated by the number of multiple tower stations and replacement of older towers, with the Brant Point Light station having had nine towers, two of which survive.[1] At present there are forty-seven active towers, of which eleven are privately maintained; thirteen are standing but inactive, seven have been replaced with skeleton towers, thirteen have been destroyed or removed, and one tower has been moved to another state. The oldest station, Boston Light, established in 1716, was the first lighthouse built in the colonies, and the current tower at that station, built in 1783, is the oldest survivor in the state and the second oldest in the nation, and was the last lighthouse automated in the United States.[2] The last station established was at the Buzzards Bay Entrance Light in 1961 (since replaced by an automated light on a steel tripod), but in 1986 the 1818 Great Point Light was rebuilt and relit, making it the last tower constructed in the state. The tallest towers in the state are the two Cape Ann Light towers, but the highest focal plane is at the Hospital Point Range Rear Light, which is located in the steeple of the First Baptist Church of Beverly.[2]
A number of inactivated Massachusetts lights have met with unusual fates. The Three Sisters of Nauset were sold off to separate private buyers before being purchased by the National Park Service and moved back near their original site. Range lights in Nantucket and Hyannis were incorporated into private dwellings, the former housing the Gilbreth family of Cheaper by the Dozen fame. The Point Gammon Light was converted into an observation tower for birdwatching.
If not otherwise noted, focal height and coordinates are taken from the United States Coast Guard Light List,[3] while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses.[4] Lighthouses in the "Former" section only include structures that no longer exist.
Existing lighthouses
editTraditional
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Modern
editThe United States Coast Guard lists these as active lighthouses.
| Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Status | Current Lens | Focal Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buzzards Bay Entrance Light | — | Buzzards Bay | 41°23′49″N 71°02′05″W / 41.3970°N 71.0347°W | 1997 | Active | Unknown | 67 ft (20 m) |
| Ipswich Light | — | Ipswich | 42°41′07″N 70°45′58″W / 42.6853°N 70.7662°W | 1939 | Active | Unknown | 42 ft (13 m)[11] |
Former lighthouses
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The "North Tower" was inactive from 1932 to 1989 when it was automated and relit.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s One or more towers predate the currently listed structure. At this time, there is not enough available information to make an entry under the "Former lighthouses" section for them.
- ^ At least 5 different towers have been constructed since the first structure in 1828. The current lighthouse was originally the Ipswich Rear Range Light before it was moved in 1939.
- ^ The current tower dates to 1877 when it was built for use in Chatham.
- ^ Point Gammon Light was converted into a bird watching observation tower in the late 19th century.
- ^ The last "traditional" stone lighthouse was built in 1889.
- ^ The last "traditional" stone lighthouse was built in 1898.
- ^ The United States Coast Guard claims Nantucket Beacon was established in 1794. This is disputed by a congressional claim which dates to 1820.
References
edit- ^ "Brant Point, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ a b Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Northern Massachusetts". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Massachusetts". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
- ^ a b c Russ Rowlett (May 24, 2022). "Lighthouses of the United States: Southeastern Massachusetts". University of North Carolina. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Bird Island Light". Jeremy D'Entremont.
- ^ "Brant Point (old), MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ a b c Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances. Washington, DC: William A. Harris. December 6, 1858. pp. 446–447. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
- ^ "Derby Wharf Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Cape Cod (Highland), MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ a b c d Ipswich Bay to Gloucester, Massachusetts (Map). 1:20,000. Department of Commerce. 1930. Chart 243. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e "Long Island Head Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Section VIII: Light List Corrections" (PDF). Local Notice to Mariners, District 1 (week 3). United States Coast Guard: 22. 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Mayo's Beach, MA". Lighthouse Friends. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13.
- ^ a b "Monomoy Point Light". Jeremy E'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Nantucket Cliff Range, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ "Newburyport Harbor Range Front, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ a b Newburyport Harbor and Plum Island Sound (Map). 1:20,000. US Dept. of Commerce. 1958. Chart 213. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ^ "Newburyport Harbor Range Rear, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ "Scituate Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Palmer's Island Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Point Gammon, MA". Lighthouse Friends. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04.
- ^ a b "Point Gammon Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Sandy Neck, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ "Stage harbor, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ "Three Sisters, MA". Lighthouse Friends.
- ^ "Billingsgate Island Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f List of Lights and Fog Signals on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1900. p. 38.
- ^ a b c d "Broad Sound Channel Inner Range Lights: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ Marthas Vineyard to Block Island (Map). 1:80,000. NOAA. 1980. Chart 13218. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
- ^ Boston Harbor (Map). 1:25,000. NOAA. 1969. Chart 13270. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
- ^ a b "Egg Rock Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Egg Rock Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Hyannis Harbor Light: History". Jeremy d'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Hyannis Harbor Light". Jeremy d'Entremont. 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b Boston Harbor (Map). 1:20,000. US Dept. of Commerce. 1928. Chart 246. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-17.