Managing Organization: U.S. Coast Guard
Notes: Straitsmouth Island is part of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and is managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The lighthouse is still maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2013 the endangered keeper’s house was restored by the Thacher Island Association. The group had previously restored the oil house in 2010. Tower Height: 37 Height of Focal Plane: 46 Characteristic and Range: Flashing green every six seconds. Description of Tower: White cylindrical brick tower with black cast iron lantern.
This light is operational
Other Buildings? 1835 1.5 story wood frame keeper's house, oil house, cistern. Earlier Towers? 1835: 19-foot brick tower. 1850: 24-foot white octagonal stone tower. Date Established: 1835 Date Present Tower Built: 1896 Date Automated: 1967 Optics: 1857: Fifth (?) order Fresnel lens; now 250 mm, solar powered. Fog Signal: Now automated horn with one blast every 15 seconds. Current Use: Active aid to navigation. Open To Public? No. Directions: Straitsmouth Island Light can be seen from the end of Bearskin Neck in Rockport. It is best seen by boat. The Thacher Island Association in Rockport offers occasional Cape Ann lighthouse cruises; call (978) 546-7697 for information. Harbor Tours, Inc., offers a daily lighthouse cruise, July to Labor Day at 2:30 pm, leaving from Gloucester's Harbor Loop. Call (978) 283-1979 or email sjd@gis.net for details. Mapquest URL: Click here to get a map to this lighthouse! Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places Keepers: Benjamin Andrews (1835-1841); John Davis (1841-?); Henry F. Low (1850-?); Nehemiah Knowlton (18?? - was keeper for 14 years)
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