Notes:
(1) The Front and Rear Range Lights were built to guide ships entering the Merrimac River into Newburyport Harbor.  By aligning the Inner 15-ft high Brown Conical Range Light to the 53-ft high Outer Square Brick Range Light, the safe channel into the Harbor was marked.

      Shipwrights from nearby Newbury discovered the safe protected Harbor of Newburyport and the surrounding grounds were well suited to the building of ships with 12-feet draft at high water.  Water navigation was important in early America since poor roads were few or non-existent.  Ferries transported supplies to settlements along the Merrimack River (Algonquian Indian name for “rapid waters”).

      By 1764, Newburyport was a thriving shipbuilding and trading center.  Shipyards built brigs, frigates, fishing schooners, sloops, and full rigged ships for both the American and European markets.  During the Revolutionary war, Shipwrights built privateers used to capture British supply vessels and merchant ships.  Newburyport Privateers captured hundreds of British vessels during the Revolution and the War of 1812.

      After the Revolutionary war, shipbuilding declined with one-half of the shipyards idle in 1786.  Newburyport, in turn, depended heavily on the fishing industry and world-wide Maritime trade that also included China.  The first Revenue Cutter was commissioned in 1790 by the Federal Government (See Note 4).  Lighthouse Boards records indicate private Range Lights guided navigation into the Harbor since 1790.

      In 1844, the first Clipper Ship built by Naval Architect, Donald McKay was launched in Newburyport.  These sleek and swift sailing ships were designed for speed and built for International Commerce and the expanding American economy.

      In 1873, two Range Lights were built by the Federal Government in the same position as the private Lights to guide shipping from the mouth of the Merrimack River into Newburyport Harbor.  Both Range Lights were First Lit on June 1, 1873.  The front Range Light was a 14.5-feet high conical iron Tower located on Bayley's new wharf and exhibiting a Fixed Red Light 25-feet above sea level.  The rear Range Light was a 32-feet high pyramidal-base brick Tower located 350-feet behind the front Range Light and exhibiting a Fixed Green Light 47-feet above sea level.  In addition to marking the safe channel, both Range Lights aided mariners in avoiding the dangerous Half Tide Rocks located near the waterfront of the harbor.

      In 1950s, the iron lantern room of the Front Range Light was replaced by a 20-foot shingled wooden lantern.  Later, the Tower was damaged by fire and the Tower was renovated with a traditional iron lantern room in 1990.

      In 1961, both Range Lights were deactivated and the Front Range Light was relocated to the grounds of a Coast Guard Station in 1964.  The Rear Range Light was sold to a a private party and the attached Keeper’s house is a private business.

      Newburyport is one of the few seaports in Massachusetts with diverse early American architecture that continues to capture the rich maritime heritage of the Bay state and is a popular tourist destination.  The Custom House, where vessels from Europe and the West Indies registered their cargoes, is currently a Maritime Museum exhibiting the history of maritime Massachusetts.

      The Custom House Maritime Museum, located at 25 Water Street, is open seasonally with an admission fee.  For information, call (508) 462-8681.

(2) Not Listed by Government Sources... Sixth-order Fresnel Lens are generally used for inner Harbor Lights.
Considering the size of the Lantern Room, a larger Fresnel Lens may not fit inside.

(3) The current Tower is a White Conical Steel Tower with a Orange and White Lantern Room.

(4) Newburyport is the “Birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard” since shipbuilder William Searle was commissioned by the Federal Government to build the first Revenue Cutter from a Newburyport shipyard in 1790.

(5) In 1964, the Front Range Light was moved from Bayley’s new wharf to the Coast Guard Merrimac River Station.  Both Range Lights may eventually be open to the public.  According to the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, the Lighthouse Preservation Society is restoring the Newburyport Range Lights on Water Street and the Lights are Open to the public by appointment.

(6) The Rear Range Light was restored by private owner and developer, David Hall, and the refurbished Lantern Room is currently a Lighthouse Restaurant managed by the Lighthouse Preservation Society.

Newburyport Lighthouse Restaurant

      Reserve a dinner evening in the Lantern Room of the Rear Range Light Tower overlooking unique scenic views of Newburyport Harbor.  According to James Hyland, President of the Lighthouse Preservation Society, the Lighthouse Restaurant is a fund raiser for restoring the Newburyport Range Lights.

      The seasonal Lighthouse Restaurant is open from May 1st to October 31st and reservations are required.  A distinctive harbor side ambience features gourmet cuisine served from 5pm to 11pm by waiters from one of three Newburyport Restaurants.  The evening is priced from $350 per couple to $600 for a maximum of four people.  For more information or reservations, call James Hyland at (800) 727-BEAM.

      The Front Range Light will be restored after fundraising campaign has raised $65,000.  For more info, contact:

(7) Directions from Interstate 95:
Take Exit 57 to Route 113 towards Newburyport. After crossing over Route 1, turn Left onto Summer St, turn Right onto Merrimac St. at the bottom of the hill, travel to the center of Newburyport and continue straight onto Water Street.

      About 1/4-mile past Newburyport center on the left is the brick Rear Range Light and the Merrimac River Coast Guard Station is to the right of the Rear Tower.  The Front Range Light can seen on the grounds of the Coast Guard Station.  For a closer view of the Front Range Light, ask for permission to enter the Coast Guard station.  There is street parking near the station.


      Both Range Lights can also be viewed on a cruise of Newburyport Harbor.  During the summer, 45-minute harbor tours leave Newburyport Waterfront Park.  For further information, call (888) 975-1842 or visit the Yankee Clipper.