Provincetown in Barnstable County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Race Point Light

Historical Site

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 10, 2013

1. Race Point Light Marker

Inscription. • Established – November 5 1816
• Keeper's house built – about 1876
• Fog bell installed – 1852
• Present fog signal building built – 1876
• Steam fog whistle installed – 1876
• Keeper's house added on to – Approx. 1900
• Present lighthouse built – 1876
• Present oil house built – 1876
• Electricity installed – 1957
• Light station automated unmanned – 1972
• Present light & fog signal installed (solar) – 1994
• Height of main light above water – 41 feet
• Max. keeper's salary until 1876 – $333
• Max. keeper's salary until 1939 – $600
Please help us preserve this historic site

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 5, 1816.

Location. 42° 3.739′ N, 70° 14.584′ W. Marker is in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in Barnstable County. Marker can be reached from an unnamed road, 1.8 miles south of Race Point Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Provincetown MA 02657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. H.M.S. Somerset (approx. 2.1 miles away); Provincetown (approx. 2.1 miles away); Mayflowers Passengers Memorial

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 2.9 miles away); Universalist Meeting House of Provincetown (approx. 2.9 miles away); Pilgrim Memorial Stone (approx. 2.9 miles away); Provincetown Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away); Provincetown AIDS Memorial (approx. 3 miles away); The First Landing Place of the Pilgrims, Nov. 11, 1620, O.S. (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Provincetown.

Also see . . . History of Race Point Light, Provincetown, Massachusetts. The area, called Race Point because of the strong cross current (or "race"), was treacherous for mariners. (Jeremy D'Entremont, New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide) (Submitted on May 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 10, 2013

2. Race Point Light Marker

Marker (barely visible on left side of lighthouse) is on the short covering over the entrance door.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.