Eastern Point Lighthouse
East Gloucester, MA
GPS: N42° 34.867; W070° 39.851
Short Description:
Eastern Point Lighthouse is located at the entrance to Gloucester Harbor.
Long Description:
Construction of Eastern Point Lighthouse began in 1831 to protect shipping in and out of Gloucester Harbor from dangerous off-shore rocks. Originally, it beamed a fixed white light. In 1848, the original lighthouse was replaced by a 34' structure and the white light was replaced by a fixed red light. In 1857, a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed that had a visibility of about 12 miles as well as a fog bell. The famous painter of seascapes, Winslow Homer, lived at the light house in 1880. In 1882, the light was replaced by a fourth-order flashing red light.
In 1890, the present 36' light tower was built. The station was electrified in 1896 and received city water in 1901. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1985. The Eastern Point Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The coordinates are for the parking lot where you can safely view the lighthouse from behind the fence. To enjoy same perspective as on postal card you must scramble down the rocks on the east side of the lighthouse at low tide on a calm day. The view is well worth the effort. The postal card was one of three issued in 1972 as part of the Tourism Year of the Americas.
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