Lighthouses of New England
Portland Head Light, Portland, ME
Portland Head Light is the oldest and most well-known of the famous Maine lighthouses. It sits at the entrance of the shipping channel into Casco Bay within Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth.
The lighthouse was built in the late 18th century under President George Washington and remains in use to this day. The original tower measured 72-feet from the base to the lantern deck. Illuminated with 16 whale oil lamps, it was lit for the first time on January 10th, 1791.
Further works commenced over the subsequent decades and centuries including the raising of the tower, the installation of additional lenses, and new Keepers' Quarters.
The current Keepers' Quarters was assembled in 1891. Until 1989, it was served as home to both the head and assistant lighthouse keepers, as well as their families.
There is an award-winning museum housed within the former Keepers' Quarters that contains a number of lighthouse lenses and displays about its history.
Sankaty Head Lighthouse & Great Point Light, Nantucket, MA
Located on the eastern coast of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, Sankaty Head Lighthouse was built in 1850 to prevent the kinds of maritime navigational mishaps that Nantucket had become notorious for at that time. In 2007 the light was relocated approximately 400 feet to escape coastal bluff erosion. The grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk, with the inside of the lighthouse open on occasion.
At the northernmost point of the island out past Wauwinet, within the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Reserve, you’ll find the most powerful light in New England, the Great Point Light. Officially named the Nantucket Light, it was first erected in 1784 as a wooden tower. A fire destroyed the little wooden lighthouse in 1816, and so a second tower – this time made of stone – was built in 1818. The stone tower fell over in 1984, but the third time was the charm. The existing lighthouse, a 60-foot replica of the original 1816 tower, was constructed in 1986.
Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport, RI
One of the rare New England lighthouses where you can reserve an overnight stay, Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island, boasts a carefully restored interior - making the inside just about as picturesque as the outside. The lighthouse was completed in 1870 and sits in Narragansett Bay on Rose Island, which is also home to a wildlife refuge and the Fort Hamilton barracks. For a small admission fee, you can visit Rose Island from late May to Columbus Day via the Jamestown Newport Ferry or your own canoe or kayak.
Gay Head Lighthouse, Martha's Vineyard, MA
The dangerous Devil’s Bridge rocks off the western coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts led to the construction of the original Gay Head Lighthouse in 1799, to guide seafarers past the potential hazards. Half a century later it was replaced with the current 51-foot-tall brick tower, which remains a navigational aid; it is open seasonally for tours.
Nauset Light, Eastham, MA
Nauset Light might be the most recognizable lighthouse on this list. The reason being is that the lighthouse is featured prominently on bags of Cape Cod Potato Chips. The unique red-and-white lighthouse was built in 1887, and it sat perched in the same location for more than 100 years. Due to erosion though, Nauset had to be moved in the 1990s; it’s now located about 350 feet back from where it originally stood.
You can take a self-guided tour of the lighthouse during open houses throughout the year. This is one of Cape Cod’s must-see lighthouses!
Eastern Point Light, Gloucester, MA
Located on Cape Ann’s rocky shoreline, Eastern Point Lighthouse is sits in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary. And as such, it’s surrounded by natural beauty. The lighthouse, which was originally established in 1832, is currently run by the U.S. Coast Guard. On the grounds, you’ll also find the historic keeper’s quarters, built in 1879, the oil house, a garage, and a fog signal building.
The lighthouse also has a claim to fame. It was featured in the George Clooney movie, The Perfect Storm.