Perched atop Telegraph Hill on the bluffs of Oak Bluffs, East Chop Light overlooks Vineyard Haven Harbor and Vineyard Sound from one of Martha’s Vineyard’s highest coastal points. The lighthouse owes its distinctive name to the 1828 semaphore signal station that once stood on this hill, and its iconic place in Vineyard memory to the “Chocolate Lighthouse” reddish-brown hue it carried for nearly a century. The current 40-foot cast-iron tower has marked the eastern entrance to the harbor since 1878, but the lighthouse’s origin is a uniquely American story of one captain who got tired of waiting for the federal government to act.
History of East Chop Light
The bluff overlooking the eastern entrance to what was then Holmes Hole Harbor has been called Telegraph Hill since 1828, when a semaphore signal station was established here to relay shipping information by visual signal flag. Messages from Nantucket were received at East Chop and relayed across the mainland through Woods Hole, Bournedale, South Plymouth, Duxbury, Marshfield, and Dorchester Heights — an early visual telegraph network that gave the hill its name long before any actual telegraph wire reached Martha’s Vineyard.
By the late 1860s, with whaling and coastal shipping at their peak, local mariner Captain Silas Daggett, a Branch Pilot at Holmes Hole, had spent years lobbying the federal government for a lighthouse on the eastern bluff to complement the existing West Chop Light across the harbor entrance. The U.S. Lighthouse Board repeatedly declined, considering the single beacon on the western chop sufficient. In 1869, Daggett took matters into his own hands and built a privately funded lighthouse on East Chop, dubbing it “the Coaster’s Light.” He published a notice in newspapers along the coast: “The undersigned has at considerable expense erected a Lighthouse… from which a fixed red light will be exhibited on and after June 5. Captains, owners and underwriters of vessels cannot fail to appreciate the convenience of the Light, and should therefore be willing to contribute to its support.” Daggett funded operation through fees collected from local merchants, maritime insurance agencies, and ship owners, although many vessels routinely refused to pay after arriving safely in port.
The original 1869 lighthouse burned down in 1871. Daggett promptly rebuilt it as a wooden house with a protruding lantern room above — a design similar in concept to the original 1828 Edgartown Harbor Light. The new beacon used three 21-inch reflectors fueled by kerosene lamps, showing a red signal. Remarkably, this 1871 Daggett structure still stands today, having been moved nearby and incorporated into a private residence at the corner of East Chop Drive and Sandy Bluff Lane.
In 1875, Congress finally acted, appropriating $5,000 to build a proper light station at East Chop. The federal government purchased Captain Daggett’s station the following year for $6,000, and inspectors described his structure as “little better than a shanty.” In mid-1877, construction began on the present lighthouse, completed in 1878. The new tower — a 40-foot conical structure of bolted cast-iron segments lined with brick for insulation and stability — was erected approximately 50 feet southeast of Daggett’s former light, alongside a one-and-a-half-story keeper’s house. A 1,000-candlepower fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed at a focal plane 79 feet above mean high water, originally showing a fixed white light visible up to 20 miles. The tower was painted white at first, but in the 1880s it was repainted a reddish-brown color — quickly earning the locals’ affectionate nickname, “the Chocolate Lighthouse.”
The light’s characteristic was changed from fixed white to flashing red in 1898, and from red to green in 1934. From 1902 to 1934, the lighthouse was kept by George Walter Purdy, a former lobsterman who had previously served at Sankaty Head on Nantucket and at Gay Head Light on the Vineyard. Purdy had lost an arm in an engine-room accident aboard the lighthouse tender Azalea, yet he was famous for maintaining East Chop’s constant upkeep single-handedly — even building, by his own efforts over a single winter, a stone boat landing at the base of the bluff to spare himself the burden of carrying supplies up the cliff. The lighthouse was automated in 1933, ending Purdy’s 32-year tenure as principal keeper. The U.S. Coast Guard offered to rent him the keeper’s dwelling, but Purdy refused; the keeper’s house and outbuildings were torn down shortly thereafter, and East Chop Light was closed to public access for 55 years.
In 1957, the Coast Guard sold the surrounding land to the Town of Oak Bluffs to be used as a public park. The original Fresnel lens was replaced by a modern optic in 1984. East Chop Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 15, 1987 — the same day as Edgartown Harbor Light, both as part of the Lighthouses of Massachusetts thematic submission. Beginning in 1986, the Vineyard Environmental Research Institute (VERI), under the direction of William Waterway Marks, signed a contract to oversee the care and maintenance of three of the island’s lighthouses, including East Chop. VERI’s star-studded fundraisers featured speakers and performers including Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., historian David McCullough, Carly Simon, and the Taylor brothers (Kate, Livingston, and Hugh), helping rally the community around lighthouse preservation.
In 1988, VERI repainted the tower white — not for aesthetic reasons but for preservation: the dark reddish-brown paint absorbed enough heat to cause moisture buildup inside the cast-iron tower, leading to rust and damage to interior wooden components. Many islanders still fondly remember “the Chocolate Lighthouse,” and the nickname endures even though the structure has now been white for longer than it was brown. In 1994, VERI transferred its lease to the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society (now the Martha’s Vineyard Museum), which continues as steward today. In 2007, with funding from the town through the Community Preservation Act, the Museum hired Campbell Construction Group of Beverly, Massachusetts — the same firm that later refurbished Edgartown Harbor Light — to fully restore East Chop’s electrical wiring, windows, and exterior. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to maintain the active aid to navigation.
East Chop Light Architecture and Design
East Chop Light is a 40-foot conical cast-iron tower built in 1878, painted white with a black lantern room and rising from a concrete foundation. The tower’s cast-iron segments were bolted together and lined with brick to provide insulation and structural stability — standard practice for late-19th-century U.S. Lighthouse Service designs. It stands 50 feet southeast of where Captain Daggett’s original 1871 structure once stood. Set atop the high bluff of Telegraph Hill, the tower’s focal plane reaches 79 feet above mean high water.
The light’s characteristic has changed three times since the lighthouse was built: a fixed white light from 1878 to 1898, flashing red from 1898 to 1934, and green since 1934. The original 1878 fourth-order Fresnel lens was replaced by a modern optic in 1984, which today produces an isophase green light every six seconds, visible up to nine nautical miles.
Location and Surroundings
Situated on East Chop Drive at the northernmost point of the Oak Bluffs peninsula, the lighthouse offers panoramic views of Vineyard Sound and Vineyard Haven Harbor. The surrounding area, known as East Chop or the Vineyard Highlands, is predominantly residential, characterized by charming shingle-style homes and serene landscapes. The Town of Oak Bluffs maintains the surrounding park, which sold to the town in 1957 as Coast Guard surplus.
Nearby, visitors can explore the town of Oak Bluffs, renowned for its Victorian architecture, vibrant arts scene, and the historic Flying Horses Carousel — the oldest continuously operating platform carousel in the United States. The lighthouse pairs naturally with visits to West Chop Light across the harbor entrance and Edgartown Harbor Light a short drive south.
Famous Tales and Recognition
East Chop Light has accumulated some of the most colorful naming and human stories on Martha’s Vineyard:
- Captain Daggett’s “Coaster’s Light” (1869): Tired of waiting for the federal government to act, Captain Silas Daggett built a privately funded lighthouse on East Chop in 1869, naming it “the Coaster’s Light” and supporting its operation through fees from coastal merchants and ship owners — though many refused to pay after arriving safely in port.
- The Original 1871 Daggett Shanty Still Standing: Captain Daggett’s 1871 wooden lighthouse-on-a-house, the second of his private structures, was moved from its original location and is now incorporated into a private residence near the corner of East Chop Drive and Sandy Bluff Lane — a quietly remarkable surviving piece of the lighthouse’s pre-federal history.
- “The Chocolate Lighthouse”: Painted reddish-brown sometime in the 1880s, East Chop earned its enduring nickname during a century when its distinctive cocoa color set it apart from other New England beacons. VERI repainted the tower white in 1988 for preservation reasons, though many islanders still call it the Chocolate Lighthouse.
- George W. Purdy, the One-Armed Keeper: Principal keeper from 1902 to 1934 (after stints at Sankaty Head Light and Gay Head Light), Purdy lost his arm in an accident aboard the lighthouse tender Azalea but became famous for maintaining East Chop entirely on his own — even single-handedly building a stone boat landing during a single winter to ease the burden of hauling supplies up the bluff.
- Telegraph Hill (1828): The lighthouse’s site has been called Telegraph Hill since 1828, when a semaphore signal station was established here to relay shipping news between Nantucket and the mainland. The semaphore predated the lighthouse by 41 years and predated electrical telegraphy entirely.
- National Register of Historic Places (1987): Listed on June 15, 1987, the same day as Edgartown Harbor Light, as part of the Lighthouses of Massachusetts thematic submission.
- VERI’s Star-Studded Fundraisers: During VERI’s 1986–1994 stewardship, fundraising events for East Chop and the Vineyard’s other lighthouses featured Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, historian David McCullough, Carly Simon, and the Taylor siblings — testimony to the lighthouse’s role as an island cultural touchstone.
Visiting East Chop Light
A visit to East Chop Light provides a glimpse into maritime history coupled with breathtaking coastal vistas.
Getting There
From Oak Bluffs, head north on New York Avenue, which transitions into East Chop Drive. The lighthouse is located at the northernmost point of the drive. Limited parking is available on East Chop Drive. For those utilizing public transportation, Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) buses stop at the intersection of East Chop Drive and New York Avenue, requiring a short uphill walk to the lighthouse.
Visiting Hours
The lighthouse is typically open on Sunday evenings around sunset throughout the summer. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum acts as steward of the lighthouse year-round, while the U.S. Coast Guard maintains the active light. It’s advisable to check the Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s website for the most current schedule, as Sunday-evening hours can vary by season and weather.
Admission
Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under can visit for free. Members of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum enjoy complimentary access.
Guided Tours
During visiting hours, a lighthouse keeper is available to provide information and answer questions, enriching the visitor experience with historical context and anecdotes — including the colorful Captain Daggett and George W. Purdy stories.
Visitor Guidelines
- Respect all signage and barriers to protect the lighthouse and its surroundings.
- Stay on designated paths to prevent dune erosion.
- Be mindful of changing tides and coastal conditions when visiting nearby beaches.
- Respect neighboring residences in this primarily residential area.
- Follow local regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.
Plan Your Visit
A trip to East Chop Light offers not only a journey into the island’s nautical past but also stunning views and the tranquil ambiance of Martha’s Vineyard. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a photography buff, or simply seeking a peaceful spot to watch the sunset over Vineyard Sound, East Chop Light is a must-visit destination.