Isles of Shoals Lighthouse
(White Island Lighthouse)
Rye, New Hampshire
Built in 1821
Location:
On White Island about six miles from the Portsmouth shoreline. Island is not for public access. Views of the lighthouse can be seen from nearby Star Island where the public is allowed to explore.
Latitude: 42° 58' 02" N
Longitude: 70° 37' 24" W
Historic Stories:
The Isles of Shoals are a group of nine islands located about six miles off the seacoast of New Hampshire and southern Maine, with ownership of the islands split between the two states.
| The first lighthouse in the Isles of Shoals was established on White Island in 1821 as a stone tower. |
Isles of Shoals Light |
The first keeper was Clement Jackson who was a local merchant but resigned in 1824 after his requests for a raise was denied when he found himself paying for a helper on his own. He was succeeded by a native of the Isles of Shoals or "shoaler", shipmaster Benjamin Haley. However, Haley was only 33 years old when he died in 1829.
Keeper Thomas Laighton and His Daughter Celia
In 1839, Thomas Laighton (also spelled as Leighton) became keeper at isolated White Island Light. He came with his wife Eliza, four-year old daughter Celia, and newborn son Oscar, and left for the Isles of Shoals. He was once a selectman and New Hampshire State Senator, but was unable to get reelected, and he was a former newspaper editor. During a severe gale storm that same year the vessel Pocahontas was wrecked on a nearby sandbar and all aboard perished. The keeper was unable to venture out for any rescue due to the perilous conditions.
Being also an entepreneur, he and his brother Joseph had bought four of the islands in the Isles of Shoals including the largest, Hog (later known as Appledore), and Smuttynose. A few years later, the Laightons moved to nearby Smuttynose Island where Thomas Laighton helped establish the Mid Ocean House to accommodate guests on Smuttynose Island nearby, and later a hotel on Appledore Island. Over the years, the Laightons transformed the Isles of Shoals into a favorite destination for artists and tourists alike. His daughter Celia Laighton, establishing herself as a poet and author, married Levi L. Thaxter, who had been her father’s business partner. They settled in Massachusetts, but each summer she returned to Appledore Island, helping to manage the hotel and entertain prominent literary guests, as Celia Thaxter became a famous author and poet. One of her poems written in 1868, involves the incident she remembers when she was four at the lighthouse, "The Wreck of the Pocahontas."
Isles of Shoals Light |
A new tower was built in 1859 to replace the original which was deteriorating from the constant storms. |
Temporary Keeper Becomes National Hero
In 1855, John Bragg Downs was temporarily acting as keeper os the lighthouse, with a friend as his assistant as the new keeper was gathering supplies and his family on shore. During this time a severe blizzard with blinding snow and heavy seas pounded the island. In the evening, a misguided Russian brig ship wrecked on the rocks nearby. A lone sailor was able to make it over the rocks towards the keeper's house. He frantically started knocking on the keeper's door. When the surprised keeper opened the door, the sailor was covered in blood and begging for help for his comrades as the storm raged on.
Downs, with the help of his assitant, was able to carefully secure himself onto a ledge and managed to get a line to the rest of the crew on the vessel. Using his body as an acnhor, he was able to rescue every crew member, bringing them to safety from the sinking ship in the violent storm.
| He became a national hero for his valiant efforts. |
Isles of Shoals Light |
Note: For more details regarding this famous story, select the link "Temporary Keeper Becomes Hero" Blog at the top of the page to be directed to my Lighthouse Stories section.
In 1873, one of the islands, Smuttynose, attracted media attention when two young women were brutally murdered there with an ax. The culprit was caught and hanged in front of the public. It was also believed to be the site of Black beard’s pirate’s treasure buried on the island, although it has never been found. Celia Thaxter’s gift to write about the islands’ gardens, and her writings about murders, ghosts, and shipwrecks on the islands spawned much media attention to the area. Even today, the Isles of Shoals remain a major tourist attraction.
Keeper James Burke was a Portsmouth native and is known for successfully rescuing sixteen women from an overturned boat, another three persons from an overturned craft, and rescuing four sailors found drifting at sea among other rescues during his tenure as keeper. In 1911, a severe winter storm found Keeper Burke on the island without his assistant Gordon Sullivan, who had gone on leave. Burke's wife became very sick from pneumonia as he also caught the dangerous illness. He persevered in his duty to keep the light lit during the storm, at times crawling on his hands and knees to reach the tower, for six exhausting days. When Sullivan returned from his leave, the keeper and his wife were in rough shape. He contacted Captain Joseph Staples on Appledore Island to get medical help for the Burkes, as a tugboat was sent out from the lifesaving station to carry the Burkes to the mainland for medical assistance. The keeper's bravery and diligence in keeping the light burning made local headlines as both he and his wife recovered.
In the "Blizzard of 1978," giant waves were crashing over the island, sweeping the boat house into the sea, and sending a 300-pound rock smashing through the wall of the keeper's cottage. Luckily the covered walkway still remained steadfast as Coast Guard officers escaped to the lighthouse tower.
The many years of constant storms were taking a toll on the lighthouse. A nasty storm on October 1991 washed away the walkway from the tower to the house, as well as the old fog signal tower. This inspired a group of seventh grade students calling themselves the “Lighthouse Kids” in North Hampton, New Hampshire, along with their teacher to try to raise money to save the lighthouse. They raised funds with a check for $110,000 to help with the restoration of the lighthouse, matched with federal funds. Most of the main restorative work was completed during the summer of 2005.
Note: For more details about this story, select the link "The Lighthouse Kids" Blog at the top of the page.
Places to Visit Nearby:
Although New Hampshire’s seacoast is only 18 miles long; there are plenty of parks, beaches and tours for visitors to enjoy. Hampton Beach is New Hampshire's longest beach with plenty of concerts at the Hampton Casino Ballroom. Each week you’ll find plenty of events, festivals, fireworks displays, attractions, amusements, and restaurants. There is also a concert amphitheater for local shows and concerts.
Sand Sculpture Festival |
Among many festivals, in the middle of June is the world-class Sand Sculpture Event. |
Visitors can attend in the middle of September the Annual Seafood Festival.
The Rye Harbor State Marina offers plenty of fishing, lobstering, and whale watch expeditions, along with beaches nearby. You can also enjoy some views of coastal Victorian and 20th century mansions in Hampton, NH.
The Isles of Shoals are nine islands split between the New Hampshire and Maine borders, located six miles off the New Hampshire coast. They have been a popular destination for tourists, writers and artists alike for centuries, especially the largest, Star Island. White Island (Isles of Shoals) lighthouse can be easily viewed from Star Island. Here, daytime visitors can schedule a lunch during the summer at the Victorian Era Oceanic Hotel.
| They can explore the island and its timely stone cottages and church, built to withstand the harsh weather. |  Star Island Cottages and Stone Church. |
Island Cruises offers tours to the Isles of Shoals Islands and the lighthouse, it is actually the daily mail boat that goes out and passes close by White Island out of Rye Harbor. It offers daily stopovers to Star Island, the next island over, for a few hours or for the day. The teacher who founded the "Lighthouse Kids" organization, is still involved and operates Island Cruises on board the Uncle Oscar each summer. Stop by and say hello, and thanks. Other boats out of Portsmouth Harbor provide tours to Star Island as well.
Directions to NH Seacoast Marinas
Directions to Rye Harbor State Marina
- Take Us Route 95 North, then take Exit 2, (at the Hampton Toll Booths)
- When you come out of the remote toll booth, take the left fork, this is for Route 101 East (formerly Rt.51) for about a 1/2 mile.
- Exit onto Route 27. - At end of exit turn right onto Route 27 East.
- Stay on Route 27 until it ends at the ocean (3.6 miles). You are now at Route 1-A.
- Turn Left and take Rt. 1-A North approx. 5.3 miles until you come to Rye Harbor on the right.
Directions to Portsmouth Docks
From Route I-95:
- From Route I-95 North take Exit 5 to the Portsmouth Traffic Circle. From I-95 South, take NH Exit 7, then LEFT at lights.
- At the traffic circle, take your second right on to the Route 1 Bypass North (Towards Maine)
- Take the 2nd exit on to Maplewood Avenue and make a right at the end of the ramp.
- Proceed to first set of lights and take a left onto Deer Street.
- Follow Deer Street to the end, take a left at the stop sign and the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock is located on the right just after the salt pile across from the Sheraton Harborside.
- For Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, just past the Sheraton Hotel on your right, you will see a small alley on your left marked "Private Way and the "Olde Harbour District". This is Ceres Street where you’ll find the dock.
Local Boat Tours
Boat cruises mentioned below may offer many types of cruises, but also provide lighthouse narrated cruises.
Granite State Whale Watch and Island Cruises
These two family businesses have combined together and both leave the Rye State Marina. Besides providing daily whale watching tours June through August with some weekend tours into October, they offer trips to Star Island of the Isles of Shoals. The boat, the Uncle Oscar, is Coast Guard certified for up to 49 passengers for those who prefer a smaller tour boat. These trips pass by White Island Lighthouse on the way to Star Island. Choices include a weekend morning ferry, or half day, or full day island walkabout tours.
1870 Ocean Blvd (Route 1A)
PO Box 768
Rye, NH 03870
Phone: (603) 964-5545 or (800) 964-5545
E-mail: gsww@comcast.net
Isles of Shoals Steamship Co.
Provides narrated history of Portsmouth Harbor, nature, and weekly Isles of Shoals cruises that will drop you off and pick you up at Star Island for half and full day excursions. They have one of the largest vessels in the region, and provide dinner and nightlife cruises.
315 Market Street,
P.O. Box 311
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 431-5500
(800) 441-4620
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses
Besides offering weekly tours of the tower of Portsmouth Harbor light, and haunted lighthouse tours, they also organize during the summer season special narrated sunset lighthouse cruises that pass by Portsmouth Harbor light, Whaleback light, and White Island (Isles of Shoals) light.
P.O. Box 8232
Portsmouth, NH 03802-5092
Phone: (603) 534-0537
E-mail: info@portsmouthharborlighthouse.org
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
The Isles of Shoals Cruise covers all nine islands and provides close views of White Island Light.
64 Ceres Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-8084
(800) 776-0915
phc@portsmouthharbor.com
Sail NH
Sailboat charters to the Isles of Shoals and Portsmouth from Rye Harbor.
Contact: Captain Rick Philbrick
188 Bunker Hill Ave
Stratham NH 03885
Phone: Cell 603-380-3804
Email: boatcents@comcast.net
Cove Runner Coastline Cruises
Private intimate trips (up to 6 passengers) along the southern coast of Maine to destinations of your choice, in a smooth riding 23’ power catamaran. Cooler (BYOB), Bluetooth sound system, comfortable seating and a full-sized head provided. Enjoy seal sightings and other wildlife. Departs out of Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine.
Captain Bob Spencer
(207) 216-2844
Email: coverunner.me@gmail.com
Books to Explore
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: This resoirceful book provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses along northern New England, with plenty of coastal attractions and tours near each beacon, and contact info to plan your special trips. In the book, you'll find the story of the heroism of islander John Bragg Downs, mentioned above. Look inside! |
|
 Available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed globally by IngramSpark. |
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 eleven giants of sail were built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales This image-rich book contains over 50 stories of famous shipwrecks and rescues around New England lighthouses, and also tales of hauntings. There are more details and imagery provided in the story of John Bragg Downs rescuing survivors of the Russian ship in a winter storm. |
You'll find this book and my lighthouse tourism books from the publisher Schiffer Books.