N 42° 19' 48", W 70° 57' 28" Nautical Chart Long Island / Boston Harbor; Offshore from Quincy, Massachusetts
Characteristic:
Fl W 2.5s [Flashing White every 2.5 seconds]
Original Optics:
9 Lamps with Reflectors, F W (3)
Present optic:
250mm Lens (solar powered)
Elevation:
120-feet high Focal Plane
Range:
6 nautical miles visible reach at sea
Structure:
(Daymark)
52-feet high White Cylindrical Brick Tower with Black Lantern
First Keeper:
Jonathan Lawrence
Fog signal:
none
Automated:
1918
Current Use:
Active aid to navigation
U.S. Coast Guard
Notes:
(1) Long Island Head Light also known as Boston Inner Harbor Light was built to mark the entrance to Boston’s Inner Harbor.
Long Island Head Light and Deer Island Light mark the safe shipping channel between them as the second passage into the inner harbor of Boston. The First Passage is Boston Harbor Light marking the Nantasket Roads shipping channel. The Second Passage is the safe shipping channel marked by Long Island Head Light and and Deer Island Light. Upon sighting Long Island Head Light, shipping would steer right and set a course heading between Long Island Head Light and Deer Island Light. The Third Passage is Deer Island Light marking the President Roads shipping channel leading into the harbor (shipping would steer left just before Deer Island Light). Long Island Head Light also aids navigation entering the inner harbor from points North through Broad Sound.
In 1634, 40 families began tenant farming on Long Island. In 1776, Long Island Battery was built by privateers to destroy a British transport. In 1805, the Boston Marine Society erected the Nix’s Mate Daybeacon, a distinctive black and white pyramid, to mark the remains of large sandy island that is hazardous to shipping when submerged at high tide. The sand was used for ballast of 18th century ships leaving Boston Harbor. Nix’s Mate, across from the Head of Long Island and near Gallop’s Island, is a channel marker for the Nubble Channel. According to legend, the “Odd and Sinister” Daybeacon was used to hang the corpses of pirates in chains on Nix’s Mate as a warning to others.
In 1818, the Portland Marine Society (Maine) requested a Lighthouse at the Head of Long Island to aid shipping entering the harbor. The Boston Marine Society concluded a Head Lighthouse would aid shipping entering from Broad Sound.
In 1819, a 23-feet high rubblestone and granite lighthouse was built on the Head of Long Island and First Lit in October, 1819 exhibiting a Fixed White Light illuminated by nine oil lamps and reflectors 109-feet above sea level. Jonathan Lawrence was appointed Head Light-keeper and Charles Beck was appointed the second Light-keeper operating the harbor signal system. Keeper Beck raised a black ball to signal additional Harbor Pilots were needed for the busy shipping entering the harbor.
In 1843, I.W.P. Lewis, Civil Engineer to the U.S. Light-house Survey, reported the deterioration of the leaky Tower and the Light was obstructed by the Lantern Room’s framework A new 34-feet high Cast-iron Lighthouse was built by the South Boston Iron Company in 1844.
From 1847 to 1882, Long Island was a resort. The City of Boston acquired the largest hotel in 1882 to use as an alms-house in 1891 and later the poor house became a hospital for unwed mothers in 1928. In 1941, Long Island Chronic Care Hospital was enlarged to treat alcoholics. The hospital is currently vacant.
By 1858, the Lighthouse optics were refitted with a Fourth-order Fresnel lens exhibiting a Fixed White Light. Camp Wightman, a Civil War conscript center and training camp, was located on the site of the Long Island Chronic Care Hospital in 1861. The Joseph Fish schooner, holding 1,200 barrels of petroleum, was destroyed by fire after another ship rammed the schooner anchored near Long Island in 1865.
On September 8, 1869, the Keeper’s house roof and boathouse were damaged by a unprecedented severe storm. In 1870, Fort Strong was built near the Lighthouse with a 10-gun battery, the Long Island Head Battery, to defend Boston’s Inner Harbor. A new Keeper’s house and Cast-iron Lighthouse was built in 1881.
From 1899 to 1939, Fort Strong was expanded with three new batteries per the plans to update Coastal Defense System in 1885 by the Endicott Board. Long Island Head Light needed to be relocated from “injury by the firing of guns in the new sea coast battery.” The 1881 Cast-iron Lighthouse was demolished and a new 52-feet high White Cylindrical Brick Lighthouse was completed by 1901.
From 1982 to 1985, the Coast Guard decommissioned Long Island Head Lighthouse. The Tower was refurbished and the Light was refitted with a solar-powered optic and 250mm plastic Lens for relighting in 1985.
Long Island is one of 34 islands in Boston Harbor managed by the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Public access is not permitted due to hazards of the gun emplacements and deteriorating buildings at Fort Strong as well as no pedestrian walk on the Long Island viaduct. Long Island Head Lighthouse is best viewed by Harbor Cruises, Lighthouse Cruises, or the ferry from Boston’s Long Wharf to George’s Island to visit Fort Warren - see Note 4.
(2) The Tower was Rebuilt three times:
1844: One of the first Cast Iron Lighthouses. 1881: New Cast Iron Lighthouse 1901: Current Cylindrical Brick Lighthouse
(3) Optics Refitted:
c 1858: Fourth-order Fresnel lens c 1903: Third One Half order Fresel Lens 1985: Solar-powered optic
(4) Occasional guided Lighthouse cruises that pass by Long Island Head Light are provided by:
Boston Harbor Cruises provides a Ferry Service available from Long Wharf (next to the New England Aquarium), Hingham Shipyard and Lynn Heritage Park. Visitors are transported to Georges Island where a free water taxi can be taken to the other islands open in the park. For fare and schedule information, call (617) 227-4321.
Long Island Head Light can be viewed aboard guided Lighthouse Cruises to Boston Harbor Light.
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.
The Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands 349 Lincoln Street Bldg 45
Hingham, MA 02043
Boston Light Cruise departs from Long Wharf next to the Marriott.
Boston Harborfest A six-day long Fourth of July festival with tours to the colonial and maritime heritage sites of Boston including a Boston Light Tour.
Copyright ©2000 to 2007 by Debbie Dolphin
(1) Long Island Head Light also known as Boston Inner Harbor Light was built to mark the entrance to Boston’s Inner Harbor.
Long Island Head Light and Deer Island Light mark the safe shipping channel between them as the second passage into the inner harbor of Boston. The First Passage is Boston Harbor Light marking the Nantasket Roads shipping channel. The Second Passage is the safe shipping channel marked by Long Island Head Light and and Deer Island Light. Upon sighting Long Island Head Light, shipping would steer right and set a course heading between Long Island Head Light and Deer Island Light. The Third Passage is Deer Island Light marking the President Roads shipping channel leading into the harbor (shipping would steer left just before Deer Island Light). Long Island Head Light also aids navigation entering the inner harbor from points North through Broad Sound.
In 1634, 40 families began tenant farming on Long Island. In 1776, Long Island Battery was built by privateers to destroy a British transport. In 1805, the Boston Marine Society erected the Nix’s Mate Daybeacon, a distinctive black and white pyramid, to mark the remains of large sandy island that is hazardous to shipping when submerged at high tide. The sand was used for ballast of 18th century ships leaving Boston Harbor. Nix’s Mate, across from the Head of Long Island and near Gallop’s Island, is a channel marker for the Nubble Channel. According to legend, the “Odd and Sinister” Daybeacon was used to hang the corpses of pirates in chains on Nix’s Mate as a warning to others.
In 1818, the Portland Marine Society (Maine) requested a Lighthouse at the Head of Long Island to aid shipping entering the harbor. The Boston Marine Society concluded a Head Lighthouse would aid shipping entering from Broad Sound.
In 1819, a 23-feet high rubblestone and granite lighthouse was built on the Head of Long Island and First Lit in October, 1819 exhibiting a Fixed White Light illuminated by nine oil lamps and reflectors 109-feet above sea level. Jonathan Lawrence was appointed Head Light-keeper and Charles Beck was appointed the second Light-keeper operating the harbor signal system. Keeper Beck raised a black ball to signal additional Harbor Pilots were needed for the busy shipping entering the harbor.
In 1843, I.W.P. Lewis, Civil Engineer to the U.S. Light-house Survey, reported the deterioration of the leaky Tower and the Light was obstructed by the Lantern Room’s framework A new 34-feet high Cast-iron Lighthouse was built by the South Boston Iron Company in 1844.
From 1847 to 1882, Long Island was a resort. The City of Boston acquired the largest hotel in 1882 to use as an alms-house in 1891 and later the poor house became a hospital for unwed mothers in 1928. In 1941, Long Island Chronic Care Hospital was enlarged to treat alcoholics. The hospital is currently vacant.
By 1858, the Lighthouse optics were refitted with a Fourth-order Fresnel lens exhibiting a Fixed White Light. Camp Wightman, a Civil War conscript center and training camp, was located on the site of the Long Island Chronic Care Hospital in 1861. The Joseph Fish schooner, holding 1,200 barrels of petroleum, was destroyed by fire after another ship rammed the schooner anchored near Long Island in 1865.
On September 8, 1869, the Keeper’s house roof and boathouse were damaged by a unprecedented severe storm. In 1870, Fort Strong was built near the Lighthouse with a 10-gun battery, the Long Island Head Battery, to defend Boston’s Inner Harbor. A new Keeper’s house and Cast-iron Lighthouse was built in 1881.
From 1899 to 1939, Fort Strong was expanded with three new batteries per the plans to update Coastal Defense System in 1885 by the Endicott Board. Long Island Head Light needed to be relocated from “injury by the firing of guns in the new sea coast battery.” The 1881 Cast-iron Lighthouse was demolished and a new 52-feet high White Cylindrical Brick Lighthouse was completed by 1901.
From 1982 to 1985, the Coast Guard decommissioned Long Island Head Lighthouse. The Tower was refurbished and the Light was refitted with a solar-powered optic and 250mm plastic Lens for relighting in 1985.
Long Island is one of 34 islands in Boston Harbor managed by the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Public access is not permitted due to hazards of the gun emplacements and deteriorating buildings at Fort Strong as well as no pedestrian walk on the Long Island viaduct. Long Island Head Lighthouse is best viewed by Harbor Cruises, Lighthouse Cruises, or the ferry from Boston’s Long Wharf to George’s Island to visit Fort Warren - see Note 4.
(2) The Tower was Rebuilt three times:
1844: One of the first Cast Iron Lighthouses.
1881: New Cast Iron Lighthouse
1901: Current Cylindrical Brick Lighthouse
(3) Optics Refitted:
c 1858: Fourth-order Fresnel lens
c 1903: Third One Half order Fresel Lens
1985: Solar-powered optic
(4) Occasional guided Lighthouse cruises that pass by Long Island Head Light are provided by:
349 Lincoln Street Bldg 45
Hingham, MA 02043
Boston Harbor Cruises provides a Ferry Service available from Long Wharf (next to the New England Aquarium), Hingham Shipyard and Lynn Heritage Park. Visitors are transported to Georges Island where a free water taxi can be taken to the other islands open in the park. For fare and schedule information, call (617) 227-4321.
Long Island Head Light can be viewed aboard guided Lighthouse Cruises to Boston Harbor Light.
For reservations, call (617) 223-8666
A 3.5 hour ranger guided tour of Boston Light and the island.
349 Lincoln Street Bldg 45
Hingham, MA 02043
Boston Light Cruise departs from Long Wharf next to the Marriott.
A six-day long Fourth of July festival with tours to the colonial and maritime heritage sites of Boston including a Boston Light Tour.