Boston Lighthouse
It was the first lighthouse built in North America, and the last to be automated (in 1998). Because the Boston Light was destroyed in the Revolution and rebuilt in 1783, the tower itself is the nation's second oldest. Boston was the maritime center of America in colonial days, and there were other lighted beacons in the area before the first Boston Light. It is recorded that there was a beacon on nearby Point Allerton in Hull as early as 1673. These early beacons were basically lanterns on poles and not lighthouses.
A stone tower was built on Little Brewster Island, also known as Beacon Island, attached by a sand bar to Great Brewster Island. The first lighthouse was financed by a tax of a penny a ton on all vessels coming into or out of the harbor. The first keeper, George Worthylake, lighted the tower for the first time on September 14, 1716.
A cannon, America's first fog signal, was placed on the island in 1719.
In 1859 Boston Light was raised to its present height of 89 feet and a new lantern room was added along with a 12-sided second order Fresnel lens. The giant lens revolved on machinery run by a clockwork mechanism which required frequent winding
Boston Light Replica
(Massachusetts)
Our replica will be located at (TBD).
Sponsored by:
Building Craftsmen:
Light dedication:
GPS:
Beacon flash:
Flask Sequence:
In Planning
The site selected for this light was Contact Point. The State Planning Commission has been reviewing this site for several years with no indication of approval. So will need to reallocate the Boston Light somehere else.
