Annisquam Harbor Light facts for kids
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 Annisquam Harbor Light
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Wigwam Pt., Gloucester, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°39′42.781″N 70°40′53.44″W / 42.66188361°N 70.6815111°W |
| Year first constructed | 1801 |
| Year first lit | 1898 |
| Automated | 1974 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern |
| Height | 45-feet |
| Focal height | 45 feet (14 m) |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 7.5 inches (190 mm) |
| Range | W 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi), R 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 7.5s with Red sector |
| Fog signal | 19th century: Bell 1931: Horn, 2 every 60s |
| Admiralty number | J0268 |
| ARLHS number | USA-015 |
| USCG number | 1-9615 |
The Annisquam Harbor Light Station is a historic lighthouse located on Wigwam Point in the Annisquam area of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It helps guide boats safely into Annisquam River. This lighthouse is one of the four oldest lighthouses around the Gloucester peninsula. The others are Eastern Point Light, Ten Pound Island Light, and Thacher Island Light. You can even see it from nearby Wingaersheek Beach!
Contents
A Look Back: Annisquam Lighthouse History
Early Days: The First Lighthouses
The very first lighthouse here was built in 1801. Congress provided $2,000 to get it done. This first tower was made of wood and stood 40 feet tall. Its light shone 40 feet above the water.
Over time, the wooden building started to wear out. So, in 1851, a new octagonal (eight-sided) wooden tower replaced it. This new tower was the same height as the first one.
The Keeper's House
The original house for the lighthouse keeper, built in 1801, was repaired. It has been changed a bit over the years but is still standing today! It looks similar to keeper's houses at Race Point Light and Straitsmouth Island Light. It's a two-story building made of wood with a gabled roof. In 1869, a covered walkway was added between the house and the tower.
The Current Lighthouse Tower
In 1897, the lighthouse you see today was built. It's made of brick and stands on the same foundation as the two earlier towers. After 1900, the covered walkway to the keeper's house was replaced with an open wooden footbridge.
Foghorn and Automation
In 1931, a foghorn was installed at the lighthouse. At first, it was only used from October to May. This was to avoid bothering people who lived there during the summer. But by 1949, it was used during the day in summer too.
In 1974, the lighthouse became automated. This means machines took over running the light and the foghorn. The Coast Guard removed the fog signal at first. But fishermen and boaters complained, so it was put back and also automated.
Restoring the Lighthouse
In August 2000, a team worked to replace 3,000 bricks on the lighthouse. This was a big effort to restore and preserve the historic tower. The inside of the lighthouse has a cool circular cast-iron staircase that goes all the way to the top!
National Recognition and Modern Use
The Annisquam Harbor Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's recognized as an important historic site. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in Massachusetts.
The original keeper's house from 1801 is still used today. It provides housing for United States Coast Guard personnel who manage the lighthouse. In 2008, the lighthouse even appeared in a movie! It was in the film The Women, starring Meg Ryan, pretending to be a lighthouse in Maine.
Images for kids
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The second Annisquam Harbor Light, which was replaced in 1897.
