The Massachusetts coast is home to more than 45 lighthouses, some dating back all the way to the early 1700s. Lighthouses do more than just protecting boats and our coast – they’re special remnants of Massachusetts’ maritime history – and they’re stunning to look at. For more, be sure to check out the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail!
Plum Island Light in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Plum Island Light, Newburyport
Newburyport Harbor Light Station, also known as Plum Island Light, is located on the northern end of Plum Island at the mouth of the Merrimack River. The original Newburyport Harbor Light Station was established to safely guide mariners into the harbor in 1788. When construction was completed, Plum Island Light became just the 13th lighthouse in the United States.
The present 45-foot tall, wooden, conical tower replaced the original towers in 1898. Set some distance back from the beach, it is constructed on sandy yet firm ground and is thereby protected from the continuously changing shoreline. The lighthouse is open for tours on specific days.
Newburyport Harbor Range Lights, Newburyport
The rear light is a brick tower, 53 feet in height, located close to Water Street near the Merrimack River Coast Guard Station. The tower was traditionally painted white on the upper third of the river-facing side, with a thick white stripe down the rest of the façade. That side is now painted entirely white, while the other three sides are unpainted. The tower is topped by an eight-sided lens room, which is surrounded by an iron balcony and railing.
Generally, there is no public access to interior of lighthouse, but for a donation you can enjoy a meal at the top of the structure.
Eastern Point Lighthouse, Gloucester
Though Gloucester is America’s oldest seaport, it didn’t have a lighthouse until 1832. The current structure has existed since 1890. The Eastern Point Lighthouse is still used by the coast guard and the grounds are closed to the public, but there are trails and parking lots nearby that offer great views of the building.
The Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby, and looking west across Gloucester Harbor, you might be able to spot the Hammond Castle Museum.
Derby Wharf, Salem
Nestled within the Salem Maritime National Historic site at the end of Derby Wharf, this light station dates back to 1871. The building’s distinctive short, square shape and its relative proximity to downtown make it unique among New England lighthouses. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but the grounds on are open and free to access during the day. The Friendship of Salem, an NPS-managed replica 1797-era trading ship, is docked nearby and is open for tours.
Winter Island Light, Salem
Winter Island Light was established in 1871, originally as part of Fort Pickering. Situated on Salem’s Winter Island, it was used by the military up until the Civil War. Today, the area that used to be a fort is now a campground. It is open all year round, but there is a parking fee in the summer. Don’t miss the historic Salem Willows area nearby!
Marblehead Point Light in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead Point Light
The only cast-iron skeleton lighthouse in New England (and one of only 14 in the country) has been in operation since 1896. Overlooking Marblehead Harbor, the lighthouse sits in Chandler Hovey Park, which is always open. But today the lighthouse itself is only open on special occasions.
Boston Light
Little Brewster Island was home to the first-ever lighthouse constructed in the United States. The current structure there, Boston Light, dates back to 1790, and today is the second-oldest working lighthouse in the United States. It is the only lighthouse in the country to still be actively staffed with an official lighthouse keeper. The island is 9.3 miles away from downtown Boston, and accessible by ferry and tours are available for a fee.
Old Scituate Lighthouse
Standing tall since 1810, the Scituate Lighthouse is the second-oldest lighthouse in Massachusetts and one of the town’s most famous landmarks. The walkways around the lighthouse are always open, and the structure itself is available for tours on specific days, but the keeper’s house is a private residence.
Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, Scituate
The waters between Scituate and Cohasset along the South Coast have long been notorious for their perilous layout. During the mid-1800s, Minot’s Ledge was reported to have claimed than 40+ vessels and many more lives within a decade, resulting in dreadful loss of life and property. The first light at Minot’s Ledge lasted all of a year or two, surrendering to a wicked storm that left barely any remnants on the rock base.
The second lighthouse on Minot’s Ledge has enjoyed a far happier, lengthier existence, and indeed it still stands today, more than a century and a half since it was built. Those who would like to see it can do so by boat tours, which leave from Boston and Hingham.
Highland Lighthouse in Truro, Cape Cod
Highland Light, also known as Cape Cod Light, is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod. Constructed to protect sailors from the Cape’s notoriously dangerous waters, it has enchanted tourists and locals alike for over a century. Painter Edward M. Hopper, a Truro summer resident, painted the lighthouse in 1930. Today the site is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore and is owned and managed by the National Park Service. The grounds are open year-round and the lighthouse is open daily between May and October.
Race Point Lighthouse, Provincetown
Situated on Race Point Beach, which marks the tip of Cape Cod for passing vessels, Race Point Lighthouse was lit in 1816 and is one of Massachusetts’ most picturesque sandy spots. The keeper’s house, which is often photographed along with the tower, wasn’t built until 1840. Children of the keepers walked nearly three sandy miles per day to get school, until a keeper converted his Ford into a dune buggy during the 1920s.
Race Point remains special today because it offers travelers not just the chance to explore the light, but also stay overnight, in either the Keeper’s House or the Whistle House. A four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary to access the accommodations, which are outfitted with modern amenities and available for two nights or more. Nearby Provincetown has loads to offer, too, so anyone sleeping at the lighthouse will have no shortage of activities to seek out.
Chatham Lighthouse in Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham Lighthouse
Established in 1808, the Chatham Lighthouse station was the second such station on Cape Cod. Originally it had 2 towers – Chatham Light, and a second tower that was moved to Eastham in 1923. Today it is one of the only active lighthouses in the country that still operates 24 hours a day. Tours are offered every Wednesday during July and August.
Nobska Light, Woods Hole
Overlooking Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the current Nobska Light structure has stood tall at one of the southwestern-most points of Cape Cod since 1876. During the summer, the lighthouse is open for tours Tuesdays and Thursdays and night tours every other Wednesday. The grounds are open dawn to dusk.
Gay Head Lighthouse, Martha’s Vineyard
It’s hard to imagine a more scenic location than Gay Head Light atop Aquinnah’s famous cliffside, the first lighthouse to be constructed in Martha’s Vineyard, going up in 1799. The beacon sits on the western-most edge of the island and is located off the aptly named Lighthouse Road. The most striking aspect of Gay Head Lighthouse is the remarkable surrounding scenery – instantly recognizable red clay cliffs that make the area a premier attraction on Martha’s Vineyard.
Gay Head Light it is the only lighthouse in the United States with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers. Aquinnah is home to the Wampanoag tribe, many of whom still live in the area today.
The lighthouse is open to visitors at select times, offering the most accessibility during the summer.
Palmers Island Lighthouse in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket
Brant Point Lighthouse has the distinction of being one of the most historic lighthouse Massachusetts locations and also one of the most hardened. Established in 1746, several decades before the United States even existed, this site has actually hosted ten beacons in total. The nine unfortunate forebears that preceded today’s light burned, blew over, rotted, wrecked, or were condemned. But Brandt Point still stands!
Palmers Island Lighthouse, New Bedford
Constructed during the height of the whaling industry in the mid-1850s, Palmers Island Light has long held a significant place in the hearts of New Bedford residents – enough to secure a central spot in the city’s seal. The town’s motto, “Lucem Diffundo,” translates to “I Spread the Light,” referring to both the lighthouse and New Bedford’s history in whaling, which provided valuable lamp oil. Now the island is popular among local hikers and birdwatchers.
From historic beacons to breathtaking coastal views, Massachusetts’ lighthouses are a must-see. Start planning your visit today and experience these coastal treasures for yourself! And don’t forget — National Lighthouse Day falls on August 7 every year— the perfect time to celebrate these shining landmarks.
