Waterfront in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Little Brewster Island
Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Little Brewster Island is home to Boston Light (1716), the oldest continually used light station in the U.S. The beacon beams light 27 miles out into the Atlantic. It's part of The Brewsters, a group of the outermost islands in the park. It's also an active U.S. Coast Guard navigational aid facility.
Take a three-hour Boston Light Tour that includes a boat cruise, with insight into history, geography, and more from a park ranger, plus a chance to climb the 76 steps up Boston Light's tower. See the unforgettable view of Boston Harbor from its most recognized photographed gateway.
[Captions:]
Summers during the 1930s were lively for the 19 children who lived in two houses on Little Brewster Island.
Harbor seals, each with individual markings, haul out on the islands' rocky shores to rest and raise their young.
The lantern at Boston Light contains a second order Fresnel lens (the second-largest size), with 336 glass prisms.
Guided tours explore the role of Boston Light in the Revolutionary War and maritime history.
Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers stay in the 1884 house when assisting Boston Light Station's official keeper.
Visitors on the Boston Light Tour reach the top of the tower as lighthouse keepers have been doing since 1783—step
this page online
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Communications • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.
Location. 42° 21.605′ N, 71° 3.134′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Waterfront. Marker is on Atlantic Avenue north of State Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 191w Atlantic Ave, Boston MA 02110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Georges Island (here, next to this marker); Lovells Island (here, next to this marker); Bumpkin Island (here, next to this marker); Boston Harbor Islands (here, next to this marker); Peddocks Island (here, next to this marker); Spectacle Island (a few steps from this marker); Thompson Island (a few steps from this marker); Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boston.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
