Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light facts for kids
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Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newburyport, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1873 |
| Part of | Newburyport Historic District (ID84002411) |
| MPS | Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000887 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1987 |
| Designated CP | August 2, 1984 |
The Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light is a historic lighthouse in Newburyport, Massachusetts. You can find it at 61½ Water Street, close to the Merrimack River. This lighthouse was built in 1873. It was part of a pair of special lights called range lights. These lights helped guide ships safely up the river to Newburyport's busy harbor.
What Are Range Lights?
Range lights are like a special navigation system for ships. They are made of two lights, one in front and one behind. These two lights are placed at different distances and heights. When a ship lines them up so one light appears directly above the other, it means the ship is on the correct path. This helps captains know they are going in the right direction and avoiding dangers.
The first range lights in Newburyport Harbor were paid for by local people. But in 1872, a storm destroyed one of them. So, the government decided to step in. They provided money to build new, public range lights that everyone could use.
The Rear Light Tower
The Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light is a tall brick tower. It stands about 53 feet (16 m) high. You can find it near Water Street, close to the Merrimack River Coast Guard Station.
The side of the tower facing the river used to be painted white on its top third. A thick white stripe went down the rest of that side. Now, the entire river-facing side is painted white. The other three sides of the tower are not painted. At the very top of the tower, there's an eight-sided room for the light. An iron balcony and railing surround this room.
When the range lights started working in 1873, local people took care of them. Later, the job was given to the keepers of the Plum Island lighthouse.
No Longer in Use
In 1961, the Newburyport range lights were no longer needed. The rear light became private property. Today, you can even rent it for events! It offers amazing views of the river and the city.
Both the Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light and its partner, the Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light, are important historical sites. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The rear light was also included in the Newburyport Historic District in 1984.
