Visitors to Massachusetts are entranced by the lighthouses that once served as an essential aid to navigation along the rocky coasts. Lighthouses function almost as small maritime museums, and some lighthouses, especially the keeper's quarters, do contain lighthouse museums and gift shops. Cape Cod, which juts 70 miles into the Atlantic, was called an ocean graveyard from the earliest years of sea exploration because of ilts shoals, treacherous waters, and frequent shipwrecks, The first lighthouse on Cape Cod was Highland Light in Truro, authorized by George Washington in 1796. See listings below for lighthouses that hosts museums, shops, tours, and life saving demonstrations.
Location: Nantucket Island
Location: Aquinnah (Gay Head) Cliffs, Martha's Vineyard
Highland Road North Truro, MA, 02652 Phone: 508-771-2144
Location: Cape Cod National Seashore, east side of Cape Cod
Church Street Woods Hole, MA, 02543 Phone:
Location: Church Street
Location: Near Deer Island, Boston Harbor
Race Point Road Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone: 855-722-3959
Location: Northern tip of Cape Cod
Location: Chappaquiddick Island
Cleveland Ledge Channel Buzzard's Bay, MA, 02532 Phone:
Location: Cleveland Ledge Channel, Buzzards Bay
Location: New Bedford Channel, mouth of Acushnet River
Winter Island Salem, MA Phone: 978-45-9430
Location: Winter Island, north side of entrance to Salem Harbor
Great Island, entrance to Hyannis Harbor West Yarmouth, MA, 02673 Phone:
Location: Entrance to Hyannis Harbor
Location: Cedar Point, Scituate Harbor
Location: Derby Wharf
Location: Outer Boston Harbor
Location: East side of Vineyard Haven entrance, Martha's Vineyard
Cape Cod National Seashore Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-771-2144
Location: Off Nauset Road
Location: Straitsmouth Island, off east side of Cape Ann
Entrance to Provincetown Harbor Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone:
Location: West End of Provincetown
Location: Duxbury Bay, main channel to Plymouth Harbor
Location: Northern tip of Plum Island, Ipswich Bay, entrance to Merrimack River
Location: North side of entrance to Mattapoisett Harbor
Location: Entrance to Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod
Location: Wigwam Point, northern end of Annisquam River, Ipswich Bay
1 Lighthouse Inn Road West Dennis, MA Phone:
On Lighthouse Inn Road
Location: Naushon Island (Elizabeth Islands)
Ocean View Drive Eastham, MA, 02642 Phone: 508-240-2612
Location: Ocean View Drive
Location: Gloucester Harbor
Location: Gurnet Point / Plymouth Bay
Location: Entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor, Martha's Vineyard
Location: Stage Harbor, Harding's Beach, Nantucket Sound
Location: Taunton River / Mount Hope Bay
Location: East side of Gloucester Harbor entrance
Location: East side of Buzzards Bay
Location: South end of South Monomoy Island
Location: Entrance to Sippican Harbor, Buzzards Bay
Location: Thacher Island, off east coast of Cape Ann
Location: Long Island, Boston Harbor
Location: New Bedford Harbor
Shore Road Chatham, MA, 02633 Phone: 508-430-0628
Location: Chatham Harbor, southeast corner of Cape
Location: Northeast point of Nantucket Island
Location: Fort Taber, Entrance to New Bedford Harbor and Acushnet River
Provincetown Harbor Provincetown, MA, 02657 Phone:
Location: Cape Cod Bay / Provincetown Harbor
Location: Newburyport Harbor, Merrimack River
Hyannis Harbor Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone:
Location: Hyannis Harbor
Location: Cohasset Rocks, outside Boston Harbor
Follett Street Marblehead, MA, 01945 Phone:
Location: Northern tip of Marblehead Neck, entrance to Marblehead Harbor
Location: Little Brewster Island, outer Boston Harbor
Location: East coast of Nantucket