Long Island Head Lighthouse
Boston, Massachusetts
Built in 1819
Location:
The lighthouse, located on Long Island, marks the entrance to Boston Harbor.
Latitude: 42° 19' 48" N
Longitude: 70° 57' 30" W
Historic Stories:
Long Island is the longest and largest of the 34 islands in Boston Harbor. Numerous petitions were made for a lighthouse to be constructed on the island due to the increasing number of vessels entering Boston Harbor. In 1818, a committee from the Boston Marine Society submitted their recommendation for the lighthouse. Congress agreed and allocated funds as construction began and was completed in 1819.
| Long Island Head Lighthouse was rebuilt in 1844. It became the nation’s first cast-iron lighthouse.
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 Constructed in 1900. Courtesy US Coast Guard |
In 1865, the schooner Joseph Fish was anchored near Long Island Head light on a foggy day when it was rammed by another vessel. |
The schooner was carrying over 1,200 barrels of petroleum and instantly caught fire. The schooner was totally destroyed but no one was injured.
Riding the Coffin
One of the more bizarre stories involves the death of one of its Keepers, Edwin Tarr who reportedly died while sitting in his chair facing the harbor in 1918. When his funeral was held at the lighthouse, a sleet storm came through during the service. As the pallbearers were trying to carry the casket over the ice covering the path to the burial site, one of them lost his grip and slipped, causing the coffin to fall and slide on the ice. The pallbearers quickly jumped on the coffin in an attempt to slow it down, and rode it down the hill until it came to rest just at the head of the wharf where the service continued without any more problems.
Places to Visit:
Long Island Head Light can be viewed from any of the boats leaving Boston's historic Long Wharf and Rowes Wharf for scenic cruises in the harbor. It is owned by the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, and the beacon and grounds are not open to the public.
| Every summer, the Boston Harbor Island Park Service in coordination with the National Park Service and the Coast Guard, have developed an exciting narrated lighthouse tour around the harbor, around Boston light, Graves light, and Long Point light. |  |
Check out Boston's North End, Boston's oldest neighborhood, after visiting the lighthouse and touring Boston Harbor from Long Wharf. You'll plenty of mostly Italian cuisine, and lots of festivals and events year round.
Contact Info:
Boston Harbor Islands Park Serivce
191W Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 223-8666
Boston's Waterfront Directions
Directions to Boston's Rowes Wharf for Harbor Cruises:
- Heading North, be wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route I-93 North to the LOGAN AIRPORT(I-90)/S. STATION exit towards WORCESTER, Exit #20
- Continue towards Frontage Road/South Station
- Bear RIGHT towards Kneeland Street/Downtown
- Continue on Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
- Heading East towards Boston, be wary of construction detours:
- Take Take US Route I-90 EAST (Massachusetts Turnpike) to the 24 A-B-C/I-93/South station exit towards CONCORD NH/QUINCY.
- Continue towards South Station, Exit #24A
- Continue on Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
- Heading South, be wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route I-93 South to the Purchase Street exit, Exit #23
- At the traffic light, turn LEFT onto Congress Street
- At the next traffic light, turn LEFT onto Atlantic Avenue
- Rowes Wharf is on the RIGHT.
Public Transportation (MBTA):
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Take the Blue Line to Aquarium Station
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Turn LEFT immediately out of the station
Continue on Atlantic Avenue -
Rowes Wharf is on the LEFT.
Directions to Boston's Long Wharf for Harbor Cruises
- Heading South, by wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route 93 South to Exit 24A bearing right on off ramp (Government Center).
- Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf. Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.
- Heading North, by wary of construction detours:
- Take US Route 93 North to Exit 23 (Government Center).
- Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf.
- Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.
Local Boat Tours For Visitors
Boat cruises and ferries mentioned below offer many types of cruises.
Boston Harbor Islands Park Service and Boston Harbor Now
Narrated boat trips are provided by the park rangers running every weekend during the summer where you can see Boston Harbor Light, Graves Light, and Long Island Head Light. They are predominantly involved in the preservation of all 34 islands in the harbor.
Note: Boston Light is undergoing repairs, therefore, there are no tours of the lighthouse tower in 2024.
Boston Harbor Island Park Service
191W Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 223-8666
Boston Harbor Now
1 Constitution Road
Boston, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 223-8667
Email: info@bostonharbornow.org
Books to Explore
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: This resourceful book includes special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses on the southern New England coastline, along with plenty of info on indoor and outdoor coastal attractions and tours to visit. Look inside! |
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Available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies and measured longer than a football field! These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. The stories of the "Axe Fight" and "Fire on the Captain's Boat" on the links above are some of many events described in this book. |
