Eastern Point Lighthouse

July 25, 2019
PRINT | E-MAIL

Eastern Point Lighthouse, Cape Ann, Massachusetts

EASTERN POINT LIGHT 

EAST SIDE GLOUCESTER HARBOR ENTRANCE 
Station Established: 1832 
Year Current/Last Tower(s) First Lit: 1890 
Operational? YES 
Automated? YES 1986 
Deactivated: n/a 
Foundation Materials: STONE 
Construction Materials: BRICK 
Tower Shape: CONICAL 
Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN & RED ROOF 
Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED 
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1857 

Historical Information:

* For over 100 years the fishermen of Gloucester have been guided back to their home port by a lighthouse on Eastern Point. The present brick tower, painted a gleaming white, and standing on the long rocky point forming the eastern side of the harbor, was built in 1890, replacing, on the same foundation the original tower built in 1832. Before 1832 a still older lighthouse, on Ten-Pound Island well inside of the harbor, had served as an entrance light, but this light was never visible until ships had actually found the entrance, hence the building of a lighthouse on the Eastern Point where it could be seen from far offshore.
* Eastern Point Lighthouse is equipped with a power light and a fog signal. Coast Guardsmen also control the radiobeacon, located on the end of the breakwater.