Standing on the multicolored clay cliffs at the westernmost tip of Martha’s Vineyard in the town of Aquinnah, Gay Head Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the island and one of the most culturally significant in New England. First established in 1799 as the first lighthouse ever built on Martha’s Vineyard, the lighthouse stands on Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal land and holds the distinction of being the only U.S. lighthouse with a documented history of Native American head keepers. The current 51-foot brick tower — first lit on December 1, 1856 — was famously moved 134 feet inland in May 2015 to escape the rapidly eroding clay cliffs that have claimed coastline at roughly two feet per year.
History of Gay Head Lighthouse
The push for a lighthouse at Gay Head began in 1796, when whaler Peleg Coffin of Nantucket wrote to his Congressman seeking a beacon to mark the dangerous shoals off the western tip of Martha’s Vineyard. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton secured initial support, and on July 16, 1798, during the presidency of John Adams, Congress appropriated $5,750 for the lighthouse’s construction. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts deeded two acres and four rods of land to the federal government in 1799 for the project. The original Gay Head Lighthouse, an octagonal wooden tower roughly 50 feet tall, was constructed atop the cliffs alongside a wooden keeper’s dwelling, a barn, and an oil storage building. It was equipped with a so-called “revolving illuminating apparatus” — sperm whale oil lamps mounted on circular service tables that rotated by means of a wooden clockwork mechanism — making Gay Head one of the earliest U.S. lighthouses to display a flashing rather than fixed beam.
The first keeper, Ebenezer Skiff, was the first European to live in the town of Gay Head, which was otherwise populated entirely by the Wampanoag. He lit the spider lamp inside the lantern room for the first time on November 18, 1799, at a salary of $200 per year. The wooden clockwork tended to swell in damp conditions and required hand cranking; Skiff hired local Aquinnah Wampanoag at $1.00 per day to help maintain and rotate the light. He also took on the role of teacher for the Wampanoag children, supplementing his keeper’s pay with farming. After petitioning the Secretary of the Treasury twice (in 1805 and 1815) for relief from the harsh conditions, Skiff was eventually granted raises that brought his salary to $350 per year by his retirement in 1828, after 29 years of service. In 1844, contractor John Mayhew moved the wooden tower 75 feet southward and away from the eroding bluff edge.
An 1852 federal report ranked Gay Head Light as the ninth most important seacoast light in the United States — the highest rank of any lighthouse north of New York. Recognizing the importance of the location, Congress approved $30,000 in August 1854 for a new brick tower and first-order Fresnel lens, and on July 18, 1855, Caleb King of Boston was awarded the construction contract. King built a 51-foot conical brick tower with bricks composed of clay harvested from the nearby Aquinnah cliffs and the Chilmark Brick Works — meaning the lighthouse is, quite literally, made from the very clay it sits atop. The Fresnel lens, manufactured by Henri-Lepaute of Paris, stood twelve feet tall, weighed one and a half tons, and contained 1,008 hand-cut crystal prisms. Before being shipped to America, Lepaute Manufacturing requested permission to display the lens at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle, where it won a gold medal. The new Gay Head Light was first illuminated on December 1, 1856, with a flash every 10 seconds. It quickly became a tourist attraction, with steamship excursions from Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven bringing visitors to a dock below the cliffs, where oxcarts carried them up to the lighthouse grounds. On May 15, 1874, panels of ruby-colored glass were installed in the lens to create the famous “three whites and one red” flash pattern that distinguished Gay Head from every other light along the East Coast.
Before sunrise on January 18, 1884, the steamer City of Columbus, en route from Boston to Savannah, struck Devil’s Bridge — a treacherous shoal extending seaward from Gay Head — in gale-force winds. In less than half an hour, 103 lives were lost in the freezing water, making it one of the worst maritime disasters in New England history. Keeper Horatio N. Pease witnessed the wreck at 3:45 AM and notified Chief Simon Johnston of the nearby Gay Head Life Saving Station. Three lifeboat crews of Aquinnah Wampanoag volunteers from both the lighthouse and the life saving station rowed out into the storm to rescue passengers clinging to the rigging.
In 1920, Charles W. Vanderhoop, Sr., an Aquinnah Wampanoag who had served as assistant keeper at Gay Head from 1913 to 1919 and then briefly as principal keeper at Sankaty Head Light on Nantucket (where he became the first Native American to serve as principal keeper of a U.S. lighthouse), returned to Gay Head as principal keeper. His assistant was Max Attaquin, also Aquinnah Wampanoag. Vanderhoop was renowned for his storytelling abilities and welcomed thousands of summer tourists climbing the tower; in 1929, he gave a personal tour to former President Calvin Coolidge. Vanderhoop and Attaquin also helped fight fires at residences in the vicinity on multiple occasions, including the February 1930 Madison homestead fire that saved a 94-year-old woman suffering from pneumonia. Vanderhoop served as principal keeper until 1933, and his connection to the lighthouse continued: when the original Fresnel lens was donated to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in 1952, Vanderhoop was given the honor of lighting the lens at the dedication ceremony. His son Charles Jr. grew up at the lighthouse, and his granddaughter Martha Vanderhoop later served on the Save the Gay Head Lighthouse Committee. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has officially recognized Gay Head as “the only lighthouse with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers.”
The first-order Fresnel lens was replaced by a high-intensity electric beacon in 1952, and the lighthouse was fully automated by 1956 with the keeper’s cottage demolished shortly after. The Vineyard Environmental Research Institute (VERI) leased Gay Head, East Chop, and Edgartown Lights from the Coast Guard in 1985 and reopened the lighthouse to the public in 1986. On June 15, 1987, Gay Head Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP reference #87001464) — the same day as East Chop, Edgartown, and West Chop Lights, completing the Vineyard’s NRHP quartet. In 1989, the Coast Guard installed a DCB-224 aerobeacon, which alternated red and white flashes for the next 35 years. In 1998, the town of Gay Head was renamed Aquinnah, a Wampanoag word meaning “land under the sun” or “end of the island,” to better reflect the area’s indigenous heritage.
By 2012, with less than 50 feet of cliff edge remaining and erosion accelerating, the Save the Gay Head Lighthouse Committee was formed in Aquinnah by Elise LeBovit. In 2013, the lighthouse was placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. The Town of Aquinnah took ownership on February 20, 2015 under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, and $3.4 million was raised in just two years through grants, contributions from all six Vineyard towns, and donations from more than 1,000 individuals. The light was extinguished on April 16, 2015, and on May 28, 2015, at 11:10 AM, International Chimney Corporation of Williamsville, New York and Expert House Movers — the same firms that moved Cape Hatteras Light, Highland Light, and the Sankaty Head Lighthouse on Nantucket — began moving the 400-ton brick tower. By May 30, 2015, Gay Head Light stood 134 feet northwest of where it had been built 159 years earlier, its safety assured for well over a century to come. The original site is now marked by a circle of granite foundation stones, with the center stone bearing a rusty ring imprint from the column that once supported the Fresnel lens. The lighthouse reopened to the public on August 11, 2015.
In November 2024, the Town of Aquinnah began a $1.4 million renovation of the lantern deck and curtain wall, funded primarily by Ørsted (the offshore wind farm developer), state tourism grants, and Community Preservation Act funds. As part of the renovation, the DCB-224 was replaced with a new LED beacon that restored the historic 1874 “three whites and one red” flash pattern after 35 years of alternating red-and-white flashes. The lighthouse was closed for the 2025 season for the renovation work and the 10-year-anniversary celebration, and reopens for the 2026 season on Memorial Day weekend.
Gay Head Lighthouse Architecture and Design
The current Gay Head Lighthouse is a 51-foot conical brick tower with a brownstone cornice and a cast-iron lantern room, painted red with black trim and balcony. Weighing approximately 400 tons, the tower was built in 1856 with bricks composed of clay harvested from the nearby Aquinnah cliffs and the Chilmark Brick Works — the lighthouse is literally constructed from the same clay it stands atop. Its focal plane sits roughly 170 feet above sea level on the bluff, and the original 1856 brownstone balcony rails were replaced with historically faithful childproof copies in 2016 by ViewPoint Architectural Metals.
The original 1856 first-order Fresnel lens, manufactured by Henri-Lepaute of Paris and winner of a gold medal at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle, is now the centerpiece of a dedicated pavilion at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven, where visitors can examine its 1,008 hand-cut crystal prisms up close. In 2025, a new LED beacon was installed in the tower that restored the historic 1874 “three whites and one red” flash pattern. The white flashes are visible up to 24 nautical miles, and the red up to 20.
Location and Surroundings
Located at 15 Aquinnah Circle in Aquinnah, the lighthouse stands atop the renowned Gay Head Cliffs, a National Natural Landmark known for their vivid hues of green, yellow, black, brown, red, and white. The cliffs are owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, and the surrounding land is sacred to Wampanoag culture. The lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Elizabeth Islands, and the treacherous Devil’s Bridge shoals.
Nearby attractions include the Aquinnah Cultural Center, which provides insights into the rich heritage of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and the scenic Moshup Beach, accessible via a short walk from the lighthouse. Visitors looking to complete a Vineyard lighthouse tour can pair Gay Head with East Chop, West Chop, Edgartown, and Cape Poge Lights.
Famous Tales and Recognition
Gay Head Lighthouse holds some of the most distinctive distinctions of any lighthouse in New England:
- Only U.S. Lighthouse with Wampanoag Head Keeper History: Charles W. Vanderhoop, Sr. (principal keeper 1920–1933) and assistant keeper Max Attaquin, both Aquinnah Wampanoag, served at Gay Head together — making Gay Head, per the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, “the only lighthouse with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers.”
- President Calvin Coolidge’s Tour (1929): Just after his presidency ended, Calvin Coolidge visited Gay Head Lighthouse and received a personal tour from Keeper Vanderhoop, who was renowned for his storytelling.
- 1855 Paris Exposition Gold Medal: The original 1856 first-order Fresnel lens, manufactured by Henri-Lepaute of Paris, won a gold medal at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle before being shipped to Martha’s Vineyard. It is now on display at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.
- The City of Columbus Disaster (1884): One of the worst marine disasters in New England history occurred on January 18, 1884, when the steamer City of Columbus struck Devil’s Bridge in gale-force winds. 103 lives were lost; Keeper Horatio N. Pease and Wampanoag rescue crews from Gay Head Light and the adjacent Life Saving Station rowed into the storm to save those clinging to the rigging.
- The 134-Foot Relocation (2015): On May 28–30, 2015, International Chimney Corporation and Expert House Movers — the same firms that moved Cape Hatteras and Sankaty Head Light — relocated the 400-ton brick tower 134 feet northwest, saving it from imminent loss to cliff erosion.
- First Lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard (1799): Authorized by President John Adams and lit by first keeper Ebenezer Skiff on November 18, 1799, Gay Head Light predates every other lighthouse on the island.
- Bricks from the Aquinnah Cliffs: The 1856 tower is built from bricks composed of clay harvested from the very cliffs it stands atop, plus the nearby Chilmark Brick Works — making the lighthouse literally part of the Aquinnah landscape.
- National Register of Historic Places (1987): Listed on June 15, 1987 (NRHP reference #87001464), the same day as East Chop, Edgartown, and West Chop Lights, completing the Vineyard’s NRHP quartet under the Lighthouses of Massachusetts thematic submission.
- Town Renamed to Aquinnah (1998): The town of Gay Head was renamed Aquinnah — a Wampanoag word meaning “land under the sun” — in 1998 to better reflect the area’s indigenous heritage.
Visiting Gay Head Lighthouse
A visit to Gay Head Lighthouse offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most historically and culturally significant lighthouses in America, set against the backdrop of the spectacular Aquinnah Cliffs.
Getting There
To reach Gay Head Lighthouse, take a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard from Woods Hole, Massachusetts (or a high-speed ferry from New Bedford, Hyannis, or Falmouth), followed by a drive or bus ride to Aquinnah. The lighthouse is located at 15 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, MA 02535, at the western tip of the island.
By Tour
For visitors traveling from the mainland, GetYourGuide’s Boston: Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour includes a stop at the Gay Head Cliffs and the “famous lighthouse in the town of Aquinnah” — the most natural fit on the island for visitors looking for a guided experience that explicitly features Gay Head.
Visiting Hours
The lighthouse reopens for the 2026 season on Memorial Day weekend after being closed during 2025 for the lantern deck and curtain wall renovation. Standard hours are typically 4-day weekends from late May through late June, then 7 days a week through Labor Day weekend. Always check the official website for the most current schedule.
Admission
For the 2026 season, admission is $6 for visitors 13 years and older. Admission is complimentary for visitors 12 and younger, military veterans and active-duty service members, and Aquinnah residents.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are available during open hours and provide visitors with historical insights, access to the lantern room, and panoramic views of the surrounding seascape. For those visiting the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven, the original 1856 Fresnel lens is the museum’s most-prized artifact, on display in a dedicated pavilion.
Visitor Guidelines
- Respect all signage and barriers to protect the lighthouse and its surroundings.
- Stay on designated paths to prevent erosion of the fragile clay cliffs.
- Be mindful of changing tides and coastal conditions when visiting nearby beaches.
- Treat the surrounding land with the cultural respect appropriate for sacred Wampanoag tribal property.
- Follow local regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.
Plan Your Visit
A visit to Gay Head Lighthouse offers more than just a glimpse into maritime history — it’s a chance to stand atop the spectacular Aquinnah Cliffs at the spiritual heart of the Wampanoag homeland, see one of the only lighthouses ever moved in modern times, and connect with a uniquely American story of community, perseverance, and cultural significance. Pair your visit with a stop at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum to see the original 1856 Fresnel lens, and consider completing a Vineyard lighthouse tour with stops at the island’s four other historic beacons.