HIGHLAND
LIGHT
NAUSET
LIGHT
NOBSKA
LIGHT
CHATHAM
LIGHT
RACE POINT
LIGHT
LOCATION: North Eastham, MA, on the Atlantic Ocean.
HISTORY: First erected in 1837 as a triple set of lighthouses, the only ones in US lighthouse history. They were each 15' tall, a total of 150' apart. In 1856, all three were fitted with 6th order fresnel lenses, and upgraded to 4th order in 1873. A solid keepers house was added in 1875. By the late 1800's erosion forced the construction of three new towers. These new towers, each 22' tall, were erected in 1892, along with a new keeers house (the current one) and an oil house. In 1911, two of these towers were moved back from the edge, leaving only one in operation, at the edge of the cliff. In 1923, the 2nd Chatham tower was moved to Nauset, at a "safe" distance from the cliff. The keepers house was moved back next to it. Aerobeacons were installed in 1939, and in 1941, Nauset received its trademark red color on the upper half of the tower. Automation came to Nauset Light in 1955. In 1981, one of the aerobeacons was replaced with a red light, giving it its distinct present day signal. Nauset Light was moved back from the ever-eroding cliff in 1996. The keepers house was reunited with the tower in 1998.
DIRECTIONS: At the Orleans/Eastham rotary on Route 6, head north on Route 6. At the third set of traffic lights, turn right onto Brackett Rd (you will see a small sign that says "Nauset Light"). At the end of Brackett Rd, turn left onto Nauset Rd, then right onto Cable Rd. At the stop sign, turn left onto Ocean View Dr, then right into parking area. Grounds around lighthouse tower are open to the public.
OTHER INFO: Alternating red and white aerobeacons, each flashing every 5 seconds. Light is 114' above sea level. White beacon can be seen 23 nautical miles, red - 19 nautical miles. "Old" Nauset Lights (Three Sisters of Nauset are located just back up Cable Rd in a small wooded park. HINT: We recommend leaving your car parked at Nauset Light and walking back up Cable Rd a couple hundred yards to see the Three Sisters. EVERYBODY misses them if they try to see them as they drive by!).
PHOTO TIPS: Good photos of Nauset Light can be obtained at almost any time, dramatic photos during early AM.