Notes:
(1) Edgartown Light was built to mark the entrance to Edgartown Harbor during the era of whaling on Martha’s Vineyard.

      In 1602, Edgartown and Martha’s Vineyard was explored by Bartholomew Gosnold and the English began temporary fishing and trading outposts on the island for European markets.  According to tradition, the island was named after Gosnold’s daughter, Martha, and the abundance of wild grapevines growing on the island - hence the name, Martha’s Vineyard.

      In 1642, Edgartown became the first colonial settlement of Martha’s Vineyard when Thomas Mayhew and “some other persons” landed on the shores of its “great harbour.”  The large protected harbor was ideal for a fishing village and later, a wealthy whaling center.  The name of the town was changed from Great Harbor to “Edgar Towne” in 1671.

      During the colonial period, Edgartown prospered as a fishing, whaling, and farming community.  The Indians taught the settlers how to capture whales offshore and tow them ashore to boil out the oil.  By 1775, large whaling vessels were sailing the North Atlantic from the Grand Banks to the Western Islands in search of whales for their valuable oil.  Twenty-five percent of America’s whaling fleet sailed from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

      The whaling industry was devastated by the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  By the early 1820s, Whaling recovered and Vineyard Sound became the second busiest seaway again* during the Golden Age of the whaling industry.

      By 1825, Edgartown had become a major prosperous Whaling center and seaport.  Over 100 Edgartown men were sea captains of whaling ships.  A Lighthouse was needed to guide the large whaling fleet into the busy harbor.  Congress appropriated $5,500 for a Lighthouse to be erected on a wooden pier, a small man-made island, at the entrance to the harbor located 1,300 feet from shore and Seth Vincent was paid $80 for a right of way to the tower.

      In 1828, a two-story 5-room Cape Cod style Lighthouse with a Tower and Lantern room extending above the roof was constructed and exhibited a Fixed White Light visible for 14-miles.  The Lightkeeper rowed out to the Lighthouse until a long wooden pier was built for $2,500 in 1830.  The foot bridge became known as the “Bridge of Sighs ” because young men and their girlfriends or wives met here before leaving on long whaling voyages.

      From 1830 to 1845, prosperous whaling and merchant captains built grand Greek Revival homes during the golden era of whaling.  The homes of these sea captains have been preserved and today Edgartown retains its heritage of a old Whaling center and seaport.  During the height of Whaling voyages, Edgartown had a world-wide reputation for the best captains, officers, and mates; and Gay Head was famous for its Wampanoag Indian Harpooneers.  In 1846, 19 whaling ships were registered in the fleet at Edgartown.  The discovery of Mineral oil (Kerosene -1852) and petroleum (1859), whaling ships on the high seas captured by the Confederate navy during the Civil War, and over-whaling ended the Golden Age of Whaling at Edgartown.

      Jeremiah Pease was appointed as the first Lightkeeper of Edgartown Harbor Light and served 13-years before being removed for political reasons.  Jeremiah Pease was later reappointed and tended the Light from 1843 to 1849.  The appointment of Lightkeepers was political before the formation of the Lighthouse Board in 1852.  The Whigs removed Lightkeeper Pease, who was a Democrat, from service in 1841 and 1849.

      In 1841, the Whigs appointed Sylvanus Crocker as Lightkeeper at a annual salary of $350, an increase of $50 over Jeremiah Pease annual pay.  Ironically, Sylvanus Crocker was one the carpenters employed by contractor, Winslow Lewis, who helped build the original Lighthouse, criticized the Lighthouse construction in 1842 as “badly done.”  The original foundation of the Lighthouse was a wooden pier that quickly decayed and became rotten and was replaced by a stone pier in 1839.  The house’s frame was light and weak causing leaks throughout the building and the Lantern caused roof leaks when shaken by the force of storms.  The wooden causeway connecting the Lighthouse to shore has been destroyed five or six times.

      In 1847, the wooden breakwater was replaced by a new stone breakwater for $4,700 and Lightkeeper Sylvanus Crocker, who was appointed Lightkeeper again in 1849, moved to another house nearby according to a 1850 inspection report.  Over the years, both the Lighthouse and walkway were damaged and repaired many times.  In 1856, the Lewis Patent Lamps with Reflectors were refitted with a Fourth-order Fresnel Lens and one Oil Lamp.

      The Hurricane of 1938 severely damaged the deteriorating old Lighthouse which was razed by the Coast Guard in 1939.  Initially, an automated Beacon on a skeleton tower was planned yet local residents objected.  In response, the Coast Guard relocated the Cast-iron Tower erected in 1881 on Crane’s Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  The Ipswich Light was disassembled and transported by barge to Edgartown.  The relocated Tower was refitted with an automated Light Flashing Red every 6-seconds.

      In 1985, the Coast Guard renovated the Lighthouse by sandblasting and repainting the Tower as well as repairing damage caused by vandals.  Edgartown Light was leased to the Vineyard Environmental Research Institute (V.E.R.I.) in 1985.

      In 1990, the Coast Guard refitted the Light with a modern optical lens powered by solar panels.  The Lighthouse lease was transferred to the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society in 1994.  Over the years, the shifting sand has gradually filled in the area between the Lighthouse and the mainland, so that today Edgartown Light is on a beach.

      On July 14, 2001, The Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society established a Children’s Memorial at the Edgartown Lighthouse by restoring the deteriorated base surrounding the lighthouse using 3,500 granite cobblestones designed to imitate the rhythm of the waves with a polished granite border and by granite spokes mirroring beams of light from above.  Two thousand cobblestones have been reserved for engraving the names of children who have passed away.  To date, the Memorial bears the names of 100 children and parents can purchase a engraved cobblestone for $175.

      For the past hundred years, Edgartown has been a prominent yachting center of international renown and a prestigious resort that remains relatively unspoiled since its heyday as a whaling center in the 19th century.  Edgartown Light was also briefly seen in the movie, Jaws, which was filmed from Edgartown to the small fishing port of Menemsha on Martha’s Vineyard for creating the fictitious “Amity Island.”

      Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse is an active aid to the Ferries, fishing vessels, and yachts of the historic seaport.

*Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound of Cape Cod became the second busiest seaway in the world twice in the history of our republic; 1800 to 1807, and 1820 to 1850 as merchant ships, fishing fleets, and whaling fleets sailed the busy waters.  The English Channel was the busiest seaway in the world.  From 1850 to 1914, the Sounds of Cape Cod continued to be bustling waters used by commercial and fishing vessels until the opening of the Cape Cod Canal redirected navigation.

(2) The Optic was refitted with a Fourth-order Fresnel Lens in 1856.

(3) Directions:

      There are at seven Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard: from Woods Hole, from Falmouth to Edgartown, from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs and from Hyannis on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; from Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts; and a Ferry leaves from Montauk, NY.

      Since there are several ferry landings on the island, further driving directions are from Main Street in the center of Edgartown: turn Left onto North Water Street and drive to the end, and turn Right onto Starbuck Neck Road.  The Lighthouse is located on Lighthouse Beach at Starbuck’s Neck just beyond the end of Starbuck Neck Road.  Street parking is frequently difficult due to the congested area during the peak season yet, the Lighthouse is about a 0.6-mile walk from the intersection of Main and North Water Street or you can ride the convenient Park & Ride shuttle bus.

      The Lighthouse can also be viewed aboard the Ferry service from Falmouth to Edgartown as the ship approaches the harbor.  The Harbor View Hotel overlooks the picturesque Edgartown Lighthouse and Chappaquiddick Island.  Wedding parties from the resort Hotel are occassionally photographed in view of the Lighthouse.

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      Currently, there is a Sailing Cruise departing from historic Edgartown Harbor that sails past the Edgartown Lighthouse.  The cruise explores the harbors and coastline around Martha’s Vineyard.  Depending upon the course, all five island Lighthouses may be seen from the water.

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      In season, several companies provide 2-1/2 hour Sightseeing Bus tours of the island that may pass four of the island’s Lighthouses.