Three Sisters of Nauset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights)
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This image shows all three lights; The Beacon is in the center.
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 Location in Cape Cod
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| Location | Eastham, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1892 |
| MPS | Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001502 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1987 |
The Three Sisters of Nauset are three historic lighthouses located in Eastham, Massachusetts. They are called "sisters" because they stood together, helping ships find their way. The first three lighthouses were made of brick. They fell into the ocean in 1890 because the land eroded. New wooden lighthouses were built in 1892 to replace them. In 1911, the lighthouses were no longer needed, but one, called the Beacon, kept working. It was later replaced by the Nauset Light in 1923.
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Building the First Lighthouses
In 1837, the United States Congress decided to build the first set of lighthouses here. They wanted a light halfway along the eastern coast of Cape Cod. There was already one light in Truro and two lights in Chatham. So, they decided to build three lights in Eastham. This way, sailors could easily tell them apart from the other lighthouses.
The first three lighthouses were built about 150 feet apart. They stood in a straight line along the top of the cliffs. Each lighthouse was made of brick and stood 15 feet tall. They were wide at the bottom and narrower at the top where the light was. Each lighthouse was painted white with a black top. People thought they looked like three ladies in white dresses with black hats. This is how they got the name "Three Sisters."
New Lighthouses Are Built
By 1890, the three lighthouses were too close to the edge of the cliff. The land was eroding, meaning it was slowly washing away into the sea. It was not possible to move the old brick lighthouses safely. So, in 1892, three new wooden lighthouses were built. These new lighthouses were 22 feet tall. They were built 30 feet further away from the cliff. The lenses from the old lighthouses were put into the new ones.
The Beacon Lighthouse
The land kept eroding, and by 1911, the northernmost lighthouse was only eight feet from the cliff. At this time, only the center lighthouse was kept lit. It flashed three times to honor its two "sisters" that were no longer working. This center light became known as The Beacon.
In 1918, the lights were removed from the two lighthouses that were no longer working. These two towers were then bought and used as part of a summer house. The Beacon lighthouse, which was now connected to a small oil storage building, was in bad shape.
In 1923, a different lighthouse was moved to Eastham. This was the northern tower from the Chatham Light. It was placed near where the original Three Sisters stood and became the Nauset Light.
Restoring the Three Sisters
The Beacon lighthouse stayed as part of a summer house until 1975. Then, the National Park Service bought it. It was moved to a field to join its two "sisters," which had been bought ten years earlier.
The Three Sisters lighthouses were later added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical sites. After being listed, all three lighthouses were fixed up. They now stand less than 400 yards west of the Nauset Light. They are lined up just as they were originally.
In 1983, the National Park Service moved the Three Sisters even further west. They were placed 1,800 feet away from Nauset Light. They were again lined up in their original way. A full restoration was finished in 1989. Today, you can take tours of the Three Sisters lighthouses.
