Lighthouses of the U.S.: Southeastern Massachusetts

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.

Although there is no state preservation society in Massachusetts, there are many local societies. There have been substantial preservation efforts at many lighthouses in recent years, although several towers remain in need of attention.

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 brief accounts from Kraig Anderson's Lighthouse Friends site.

Lighthouses in Massachusetts, United States

Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.

Coast Guard Lighthouses - Massachusetts

Historic photos and notes posted by the U.S. Coast Guard Historian's office.

Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard images of U.S. lighthouses posted by Klaus Huelse.

National Maritime Inventory - Massachusetts

National Park Service inventory of Maine lighthouse data.

Massachusetts Lights

From Bill Britten's Lighthouse Getaway site: fine photos of many of the state's better-known lighthouses.

Lighthouses of Martha's Vineyard

Brief information and a photo of each lighthouse, from the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.

Highland Light, Cape Cod, July 2006
anonymous Creative Commons photo

Chatham Light, Cape Cod, June 2008
anonymous Creative Commons photo

Cape Cod Bayside Lighthouses

Sandy Neck (2): 1857 (station established 1826). Reactivated (inactive 1931-2007, now privately maintained); focal plane and light pattern unknown. 52 ft (16 m) round brick tower strengthened (in 1887) with cast iron bands. Lantern removed in 1952, but the gallery remains. Tower painted white, gallery black. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1880) is a private residence. D'Entremont has a 2008 photo, Anderson has photos, Lighthouse Digest has a September 2003 article on the light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. In 2005, the Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration Commitstee was organized to raise funds to build and install a replica of the original lantern; the committee is also a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation. The project was carried out in 2007. On October 20, the lighthouse was relit for the first time in 76 years. 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.
* [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. It was installed at Point Montara, near San Francisco, in 1928, and it stands there today. The 2-story wood keepers' house (1881) and brick oil house (1907) remain in excellent condition. Anderson has recent photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The house is a private residence. Located next to a beach parking area at the end of Kendrick Avenue in Wellfleet. Site closed. Site manager: private. ARLHS USA-486.
* 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. Fog horn (blast every 15 s). Sibling of Wood End. The keeper's house has been demolished, but the oil house (1904) survives. Anderson has good photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The American Lighthouse Foundation is responsible for restoration and maintenance of the light. 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 offers a boat shuttle from Provincetown's West End in the summer. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: American Lighthouse Foundation. ARLHS USA-450; Admiralty J0382; USCG 1-13275.
* 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. 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 photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard 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. 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. ARLHS USA-904; Admiralty J0383; USCG 1-13270.
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; VRB-25 aerobeacon. Tower painted white, lantern black. The 1° Fresnel lens was largely destroyed during removal (1998); 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 photo is at the top of this page, Anderson has photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a good satellite view. This is a historic and famous lighthouse, almost always called Highland Light although officially it was renamed Cape Cod Light in 1976. The Truro Historical Society has worked steadfastly to restore and protect the light. 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. 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; tower and museum open daily May through October (free). Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Highland Museum and Lighthouse, Inc. 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 4° 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, Anderson 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, privately owned for many years, were purchased by the National Park Service around 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 a January 2002 feature story on the light station. 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).

** 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. The original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house remains in use as Coast Guard housing. The original lantern and 4° Fresnel lens are on display adjacent to the Atwood House Museum in Chatham (the lens is lit whenever the museum is open). A photo appears at the top of this page, Anderson has good photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Originally the station had twin towers, but the north tower was moved to Nauset Beach in 1923. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the twin-tower station. Located at the Chatham Coast Guard Station just off Main Street in downtown Chatham; the station has a page with visitor information for the lighthouse. Site open; museum open Tuesday through Friday afternoons, June through September; tower open for tours every Wednesday afternoon in July and August and every first and third Wednesday afternoon in May, June, September, and October. 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. 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. Blake Treves has a good 2007 photo, Anderson has photos and a report from a recent visit, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This early cast iron tower has a unique design. The light station has been restored through efforts of the Massachusetts Audubon Society (1960s) and Lighthouse Preservation Society (1988). The Friends of Monomoy support 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 stimulus funding was allocated to restoration of the lighthouse; work should begin in 2010. 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. Site manager: Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. ARLHS USA-510.
Nantucket Lighthouses
Note: Nantucket is an island located 30 miles (48 km) south 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.

* 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 DCB-224 aerobeacon. The original 2° 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 1939. The replacement keeper's house has been relocated to Nantucket and rented as low-income housing. Original oil house (1887). Anderson has photos, Britten has a fine photo of this light, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Marinas.com's 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. Google's satellite view shows the lighthouse in its original location, Mark Crosby has a large portfolio of photos of the move, and an August 2008 photo shows the lighthouse at its new location. Located at Baker Road and Sankaty Head Road north of Siasconset ('Sconset) at the eastern end of Nantucket. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: 'Sconset Trust. ARLHS USA-735; Admiralty J0406; USCG 1-0555.
* Nantucket 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 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. Tower painted white; the daymark is red with a white vertical stripe on the range line. Anderson has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located a few feet northeast of the old Brant Point Light (previous entry). Site open, tower closed. USCG 1-15160.
* Nantucket 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 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. Tower painted white; the daymark is red with a white vertical stripe on the range line. Anderson has a photo, and Google has 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. USCG 1-15165.
* Nantucket Cliff Range (Brant Point Range) Lights: 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. Anderson has closeup photos., and Google has a satellite view. 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. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-078 (front) and 521 (rear).
Martha's Vineyard Lighthouses
Note: Martha's Vineyard is an island about 4 miles (7.5 km) south of the southwestern end of Cape Cod. The name is often extended to include the smaller Chappaquiddick Island, which is separated from the main island by a narrow channel. "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.
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 4° Fresnel lens is on display at the Martha's Vineyard Museum in Edgartown. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house was demolished in 1954. Anderson has closeup photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a blurry 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) 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.
** East Chop (Telegraph Hill): 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 has good photos, another closeup photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Renovation plans have been announced. Located on Highland Drive at the eastern entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor in Oak Bluffs. Site open (town park), tower open on Sunday evenings in season. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Martha's Vineyard Historical Society. ARLHS USA-259; Admiralty J0446; USCG 1-13745.
* 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 4° Fresnel lens. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house (1847, remodeled 1881) is 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. Anderson has excellent photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has 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. Site closed, but visitors can park nearby; tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-877; Admiralty J0450; USCG 1-13775.
Cape Cod Southside Lighthouses
* Stage Harbor: 1880. Inactive since 1933. 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. The active light (focal plane 42 ft (13 m); white flash every 6 s) is on a nearby skeletal tower. Anderson has closeup photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The building is a private residence. 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; USCG 1-13860.
* West Dennis (Bass River, Lighthouse Inn): 1855. Reactivated (inactive 1880-1881 and 1914-1989, now privately maintained); 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 photos, and Google has 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. In 2002 the lantern room was restored by Campbell Construction. Located just off Lighthouse Road in West Dennis. Site open; inn open mid-May through early October. Owner/site manager: Lighthouse Inn. ARLHS USA-042; USCG 1-14175.
[Bishop and Clerks (3)]: 1998(?) (station established 1858). Active; focal plane 45 ft (14 m); white flash every 6 s. Navigation light mounted on a round cylindrical fiberglass tower, painted white with a red band (very similar to the "D9" towers so common on the Great Lakes). Anderson also has photos. 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; USCG 1-14490.
Point Gammon: 1816. Inactive since 1858. 20 ft (6 m) round conical fieldstone tower topped by a wood observation room. The keeper's house was dismantled in 1935. Anderson has photos, Rudy and Alice Rico also have a closeup 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 (1980s?). 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 Hyannis-Nantucket ferries. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-622.
* Lewis Bay (Channel Point): Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane about 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. 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. Located on private property at the end of Channel Point Road on the inner harbor of Hyannis, opposite the Nantucket ferry terminal. Visible at close range from Hyannis-Nantucket ferries. Owner/site manager: private.
Hyannis Harbor: 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 a black roof. Brick oil house (1902). Anderson also has closeup photos, Lighthouse Digest featured the lighthouse in January 2002, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse's historic postcard view shows the original form of the light station. The keeper's house, expanded at least twice, is a private residence owned by two antiques dealers. Located at the end of Harbor Road on Hyannis Harbor. Site and tower closed; there are views from Keyes Beach nearby. Owner/site manager: Hyland Granby Antiques. ARLHS USA-397.
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). Building painted white, lantern black, caisson red. Anderson has an excellent closeup photo, and Google has a blurry 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. 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: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-179; Admiralty J0502; USCG 1-16085.
Wings Neck (2): 1889 (station established 1848). Inactive since 1945. 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. The assistant keeper's house (1888) was relocated from Ned's Point Light (see below) in 1923. Anderson also has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. After many years as a private residence, the house was renovated in 2003 for weekly vacation rental. 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. Owner/site manager: Wings Neck Lighthouse. ARLHS USA-899.
Elizabeth Islands Lighthouses
Note: The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands extending southwestward from the Wood's Hole area, separating Vineyard Sound on the east from Buzzard's Bay on the west. Most of the islands are privately owned. The only village is Cuttyhunk, located at the southwestern end of the archipelago.
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. Anderson has photos taken from the water, Lighthouse Digest has an article on the history of the station, Jennifer Webber has a 2007 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. 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; the island is privately owned. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Cuttyhunk Historical Society. ARLHS USA-835; Admiralty J0470; USCG 1-15580.
* Cuttyhunk (3): 1947 (station established 1823). Inactive since 2005. 60 ft (18 m) skeletal tower with a small enclosed workroom at the base. Lighthouse painted white. The ruined stone oil house and foundations of the keeper's house remain. Anderson has a photo, the Coast Guard has a historic photo of the original lighthouse, and Google has a blurry satellite view. 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. Nearby is a round stone tower that looks more like a lighthouse than the lighthouse does; it is a monument to the English explorer Batholomew Gosnold, who briefly settled a 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; USCG 1-15615.
Buzzards Bay Entrance (2): About 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 maintains a C-MAN automatic weather station on the platform. Google has a satellite view. This light tower replaced a Texas tower lighthouse. The tower is similar to the 1999 Ambrose Light 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.

Wareham, New Bedford, and Fall River Area Lighthouses
* 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. The Coast Guard has the ship's service history, Uma Tyan has a closeup 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The ship has been restored by her present owner and sailed to New Bedford and back in September 1999. In 2000, the ship sailed to New York to participate in OpSail 2000. In late 2002 the ship was reported to be for sale, but the listing has been dropped. Moored near Main Street and Cedar Street, off US 6 in Wareham. Site open, ship closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-524.

* Palmer 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. Bob Indrums has a photo, Anderson also has photos, 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 a 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 dike. 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.

* Clark's Point (2): 1869 (station established 1804). Reactivated (inactive 1898-2001, now maintained by the city of New Bedford); focal plane 68 ft (21 m); continuous white light. 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, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was previously endangered by neglect, but the city has completely restored the tower. The light was relit in celebrations June 15, 2001. Lighthouse Digest has a 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, tower closed. Owner/operator/site manager: City of New Bedford (Fort Taber Park). ARLHS USA-174; USCG 1-16795.
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, lantern and gallery black. The caisson was expanded after the hurricane of 1938 damaged the original foundation. Anderson has good photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard 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. Located in the middle of Fall River just downstream from the Braga Bridge (I-195). Accessible only by boat. Good views from the Borden Light Marina at 251 Bank Street. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-072; Admiralty J0576; USCG 1-18925.

Notable faux lighthouses:

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Billingsgate (1858-ca. 1940), Cape Cod Bay near Wellfleet. ARLHS USA-055.
Dumpling Rock (1890-ca. 1942), Dartmouth Harbor. ARLHS USA-247.
Pamet Harbor (1849-1856), Truro. ARLHS USA-961.

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