Cape Ann Light Station facts for kids
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| South Tower of the Cape Ann Twin Lighthouses, around 1869 | |
 Cape Ann Light
Location in Massachusetts
Cape Ann Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cape Ann, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°38′13″N 70°34′30″W / 42.63683°N 70.57498°W |
| Year first constructed | 1771 |
| Year first lit | 1861 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1979 |
| Foundation | Granite (surface rock) |
| Construction | Cut granite |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | Natural, unpainted granite |
| Height | 124 feet (38 m) |
| Focal height | 166 feet (51 m) |
| Original lens | 1st order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | VRB-25 |
| Range | 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl R 5s |
| Fog signal | HORN: 2 every 60s |
| Admiralty number | J0276 |
| ARLHS number | USA-105 |
| USCG number | 1-295 |
The Cape Ann Light Station is located on Thacher Island. This island is just off Cape Ann in Rockport, Massachusetts. It's a very important place in American history. It was the last lighthouse built when America was still a group of colonies. It was also the first lighthouse in the U.S. to warn ships about a dangerous spot, not just a harbor entrance.
The two lighthouses you see today were built in 1861. Both had huge lenses called Fresnel lenses. These lenses were about 10 feet (3.0 m) tall and weighed many tons!
One of these big lenses, from the south tower, was moved in the early 1980s. It went to a museum at the United States Coast Guard Academy. But in 2013, two groups worked together to bring it back to Cape Ann. Now, you can see this amazing lens at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
When these lighthouses were first built, it was hard to make a light flash. Sometimes, sailors would get confused by different lighthouses. To help, more than one light was built in some places. For example, there were two lights at Plymouth and three at Nauset Beach.
Over time, new technology allowed lenses to revolve and create flashes. This made it easier to tell lighthouses apart. So, many places stopped using multiple lights. The north tower at Cape Ann was turned off in 1932. But it was relit in 1989 as a private aid for navigation. Today, both lighthouses belong to the Town of Rockport. The Thacher Island Association helps manage them.
The Cape Ann Light Station is also a historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's a special place worth protecting. In 2001, it became a National Historic Landmark. This is an even higher honor!
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Cape Ann Light: The South Tower
Cape Ann Light is the name for the lighthouse on the south side of Thacher Island. It's the first one you might see if you're coming from the south. This light is still active and helps guide ships today.
Thacher Island North Light: The North Tower
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| The northern lighthouse is to the right in this 2009 photo. | |
| Location | Cape Ann, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 42°38′21″N 70°34′29″W / 42.63917°N 70.57478°W |
| Year first constructed | 1771 |
| Year first lit | 1861 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1988 |
| Deactivated | 1932-1988 |
| Foundation | Granite (surface rock) |
| Construction | Cut granite |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | Natural, unpainted granite |
| Height | 124 feet (38 m) |
| Focal height | 162 feet (49 m) |
| Original lens | 1st order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 200 millimetres (7.9 in) |
| Characteristic | F Y |
| Fog signal | none |
| USCG number | 1-305 |
Thacher Island North Light is the lighthouse on the north side of the island. It's the other half of the famous "Twin Lights." This tower was turned off for many years but was relit in 1989.
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Cape Ann Light Station (Thacher Island Twin Lights)
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| Nearest city | Rockport, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| MPS | Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000355 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1971 |
| Designated NHLD | January 3, 2001 |
Names for the Twin Lights
These famous lighthouses have a few different names:
- The south light is officially called Cape Ann Light. Its Coast Guard number is 1-295.
- The north light is officially called Thacher Island North Light. Its Coast Guard number is 1-305.
- When listed as a historic landmark, the whole area is called Twin Lights Historic District – Cape Ann Light Station.
- Locally, people often just call them the Twin Lights or Thacher Island Lights.
Images for kids
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Thacher Island Lighthouses in 2009
