Deer Island Light Station (4)
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Lighthouse Data - Historic Lighthouse
| Established: |
January 26, 1890 |
| Demolished: |
June 14, 1982 |
| Position: |
N 42° 20' 23", W 70° 57' 16"
Nautical Chart
Offshore from Deer Island,
Boston Harbor |
| Characteristic: |
FW Al R 30s
[Fixed White varied by a Red Flash every 30 seconds] |
| Original Optics: |
Fifth-order Fresnel Lens |
| Elevation: |
57-feet high Focal Plane |
| Range: |
12.75 miles visible reach at sea |
Structure:
(Daymark) |
30-feet high Brown Conical Cast-iron Tower and Black Lantern on a 26-feet high black cylindrical foundation pier |
| Fog signal: |
Bell struck by machinery every
10 seconds |
| First Keeper: |
John Farley |
| Current Use: |
The “sparkplug” style Lighthouse was demolished and replaced by the current Fiberglass tower in 1982.
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Copyright ©2000 to 2007 by Debbie Dolphin
(1) Deer Island Light marks a sandbar and aids shipping through the President Roads channel into Boston Harbor.
In 1832, a stone Day-beacon was built at Deer Island Point to aid navigation entering the Inner Harbor of Boston. In 1890, the unlighted beacon was replaced by a Brown Conical cast-iron Lighthouse to aid steamers using the Broad Sound channels.
Deer Island Light was First Lit on January 26, 1890 exhibiting a Fixed White light interrupted by a red flash every 30 seconds 57-feet above sea level illuminated by a Fifth-order Fresnel Lens visible to range of 13-miles in clear weather.
(2) In the late 1970s, Deer Island Light was condemned as unsafe due to severe deterioration. A U.S. Coast Guard estimated cost of $400,000 was required to restore the old Lighthouse versus $100,000 for a new fiberglass Light tower. Deer Island Light was razed in 1982 after the Massachusetts Historic Commission determined that old Lighthouse was not eligible for the National Register and replaced by a white fiberglass tower erected on the original caisson foundation.
(3) Directions:
Deer Island Light can be viewed aboard Lighthouse Cruises to Boston Harbor Light.
349 Lincoln Street Bldg 45
Hingham, MA 02043
Boston Light Cruise departs from Long Wharf next to the Marriott.
Boston Harbor Islands Visitor Guide - Boston Light
For reservations, call (617) 223-8666
A 3.5 hour ranger guided tour of Boston Light and the island.
Deer Island has five miles of public trails and walkways which provide viewing the Modern Light Tower from land. For Map and Directions, please visit Deer Island Public Access Area.
(4) Photo Credit: Library of Congress, American Memory
Where’s the Wallpaper?
There is no scenic splendor in viewing a Modern Red Tower with an automated light in front of a sewage treatment plant!
A six-day long Fourth of July festival with tours to the colonial and maritime heritage sites of Boston including a Boston Light Tour.