Great Point Light, officially named Nantucket Light, stands at the northernmost tip of Nantucket Island, where the strong currents of the Atlantic Ocean meet Nantucket Sound. First established in 1784 as a wooden tower, the lighthouse has marked the dangerous shoals at the entrance to Nantucket Sound for over 240 years.
The current 60-foot stone replica is the third tower at the site. After the original wooden tower burned in 1816, a stone tower stood from 1818 until it was toppled by a March 1984 storm. The lighthouse seen today was rebuilt in 1986 with $2 million in federal funding secured by Senator Edward M. Kennedy — a remarkable redemption story that saved the historic beacon from being replaced by a Coast Guard fiberglass tower.
History of Great Point Light
The earliest call for a lighthouse at the site — then known as Sandy Point — came in 1770, when Nantucket town leaders formed a committee to petition the General Court of Massachusetts. The Revolutionary War delayed the campaign, but on February 5, 1784, the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed a resolution providing for a lighthouse at Sandy Point. A wooden tower was quickly built and the station was activated in October 1784, with former whaler Captain Paul Pinkham as first keeper at a salary of $166.66 per year. Pinkham would later publish, in 1791, what was considered the era’s best chart of Nantucket Island and its surrounding shoals.
Because no keeper’s house was built initially, early keepers had to walk or ride seven miles by horseback to the lighthouse, sometimes traveling by boat to Brant Point for food and supplies. Keeper Jonathan Coffin petitioned the Secretary of the Treasury directly and was granted additional “hardship pay” for the journey. In October 1804, Keeper George Swain rescued the crew of the schooner Republican when it came ashore near the lighthouse, even swimming a passenger ashore; the grateful captain sold him the wrecked schooner for $50, which Swain then salvaged. The first keeper’s house was destroyed by fire in 1812 and rebuilt soon after.
In 1816, the lighthouse itself burned down. Lighthouse contractor Winslow Lewis believed the fire had been deliberately set, though nothing was ever proved. Congress quickly approved $7,500 for a new tower, and a 60-foot whitewashed stone tower was completed in 1818 at a cost of about $7,400. A new stone keeper’s house with a covered walkway connecting it to the tower was finished in 1825. On the night of January 15, 1892, Coskata Lifesaving Station Keeper Walter N. Chase and his six-man crew of surfmen launched a now-legendary rescue when alerted by Sankaty Head Keeper Joseph Remsen to torch flashes from a vessel on Bass Rip. The British three-masted schooner H.P. Kirkham, sailing from Halifax, had wrecked on the Rose and Crown Shoal 15 miles offshore. Through 26 hours at sea in sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds, Chase and his crew rescued all seven crewmen of the Kirkham; all survived, though some suffered frostbite, and Chase’s crew were later awarded Gold Lifesaving Medals. On September 23, 1931, Keeper Chase — by then at Great Point itself — teamed with Assistant Keeper Walsh to save the crew of the burning fishing schooner Elizabeth Foley two miles from the light.
By the early 1980s, erosion had brought the seas just 40 feet from the lighthouse’s base. The Coast Guard rejected Nantucket Islanders’ pleas to move the structure inland. On March 29, 1984, an early-spring blizzard with hurricane-force winds (over 74 mph) struck the island; at high tide, the storm surge undercut the lighthouse’s shallow foundation, and the 70-foot stone tower came crashing down, leaving a pile of rubble on the beach. Photographers Rob Benchley and Stan Grossfeld — among the first to reach the wreckage — had to wade through the flooded stretch known as the Galls to document the destruction. The same storm grounded the freighter Eldia at Nauset Beach on Cape Cod, marking the date as one of the most consequential New England weather events of the decade.
The Coast Guard initially planned to replace the toppled lighthouse with a British-made fiberglass tower transferred from Deer Island in Boston Harbor. Nantucket residents successfully blocked the plan, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy used his influence in the Senate to secure $2 million in federal funding in October 1984. The new tower was built by Hydro-Dredge Corporation of New Bedford with assistance from Rosado and Sons of Boston, 300 yards west of the original site to be safer from erosion. Constructed of reinforced concrete with a rubblestone exterior — including some material salvaged from the 1818 tower — the replica was finished in 1986 at a final cost of just over $1 million. The surplus federal funds went toward rehabilitating Cape Poge Light on Martha’s Vineyard and Monomoy Point Light on Cape Cod.
The new tower was dedicated on September 7, 1986 (postponed from September 6 due to dense fog). Senator Kennedy raised the flag, smashed a champagne bottle against the structure, and announced, “Great Point is alive and well again.” More than 200 people attended, including Jeanette (Haskins) Killen, who had lived at Great Point Light from 1937 to 1944. The lighthouse had been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as “Nantucket Light,” but the listing was rescinded after the destruction of the original 1818 structure — making Great Point the only one of Nantucket’s three lighthouses not currently on the Register. Today, the Coast Guard maintains the active aid to navigation, and the surrounding 1,117-acre Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is managed by The Trustees of Reservations.
Great Point Light Architecture and Design
The current Great Point Light is a 60-foot conical tower constructed of reinforced concrete with a rubblestone exterior, designed to closely replicate the 1818 stone tower it replaced. Notably, the rubblestone exterior incorporates some original material salvaged from the 1818 tower, creating a literal physical link between the two structures. The tower is painted white with a black lantern room, with a focal plane 70 feet above sea level.
Modern engineering features distinguish the rebuild from its predecessors: a sheet pile foundation and a five-foot-thick concrete mat protect against the same erosion that doomed the 1818 tower, and solar panels recharge the lighting system’s batteries. The lighthouse produces a white flash every five seconds, visible up to 14 nautical miles. The original third-order Fresnel lens from the 1818 tower is on display on the grounds of the Nantucket Lifesaving Museum, where visitors can see the historic optic up close.
Location and Surroundings
Situated within the 1,117-acre Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, Great Point Light is nestled amidst pristine sandy beaches, rolling dunes, and diverse coastal ecosystems. The refuge is managed by The Trustees of Reservations and offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Nantucket’s natural beauty, with potential sightings of various bird species, snowy owls, and seals basking along the shoreline.
Famous Tales and Recognition
Great Point Light has accumulated a remarkable body of history for a structure that has been rebuilt twice:
- Captain Paul Pinkham, First Keeper and Cartographer: The lighthouse’s first keeper, a former whaler, published in 1791 what was considered the era’s best chart of Nantucket Island and surrounding shoals — a meaningful contribution to American maritime cartography that began at Great Point.
- The 1816 Suspected Arson: When the original wooden tower burned in 1816, lighthouse contractor Winslow Lewis believed the fire had been deliberately set, though arson was never proved.
- The H.P. Kirkham Rescue (1892): One of the most documented lifesaving feats in Nantucket history. Coskata Lifesaving Station Keeper Walter N. Chase and his six-man surfmen crew rescued all seven crewmen of the British schooner H.P. Kirkham over a 26-hour ordeal in sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds. Chase’s crew were awarded Gold Lifesaving Medals.
- The 1984 Storm: On March 29, 1984, an early-spring blizzard with hurricane-force winds toppled the 70-foot stone tower at high tide. Photographers Rob Benchley and Stan Grossfeld were among the first to wade through the flooded Galls to document the wreckage.
- Senator Kennedy’s Rebuild: Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s $2 million federal appropriation in October 1984 saved the lighthouse from being replaced by a Coast Guard fiberglass tower. At the September 7, 1986 dedication, Kennedy declared, “Great Point is alive and well again.”
- Stones from the 1818 Tower: The current 1986 lighthouse’s rubblestone exterior includes some material salvaged from the original 1818 tower — a physical and symbolic link between the two structures.
- The NRHP Distinction: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as “Nantucket Light,” the listing was rescinded after the 1984 destruction. Great Point is now the only one of Nantucket’s three lighthouses not on the Register.
- Original Fresnel at the Nantucket Lifesaving Museum: The third-order Fresnel lens from the 1818 tower is on display at the Nantucket Lifesaving Museum, allowing visitors to see the original optic that guided mariners for over 130 years.
Visiting Great Point Light
A visit to Great Point Light provides a blend of historical intrigue, dramatic engineering history, and natural splendor, making it a standout destination for those exploring Nantucket.
Getting There
Access to Great Point Light requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle due to the soft sandy terrain leading to the lighthouse. Visitors can obtain an Oversand Vehicle (OSV) permit from the Wauwinet Gatehouse, managed by The Trustees of Reservations.
It’s recommended to deflate your vehicle’s tires to navigate the soft sand effectively. For those without suitable vehicles, The Trustees of Reservations offer guided OSV natural history tours that include a tower climb when conditions permit, providing both transportation and insightful commentary on the area’s ecology and history.
Visiting Hours
The Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is generally open year-round from dawn to dusk. However, access may be restricted during certain periods, such as the nesting season of protected bird species. It’s advisable to contact The Trustees of Reservations or the Wauwinet Gatehouse for current information before planning your visit.
Admission
An OSV permit is required for vehicle access to the refuge, with fees varying based on the duration of the permit. Day passes are available for visitors planning a short-term stay. Pedestrian access is free, though the trek to the lighthouse on foot is considerable and challenging due to the sandy terrain.
Guided Tours
The Trustees of Reservations offer guided natural history OSV tours, providing visitors with in-depth knowledge about the lighthouse’s history, the refuge’s ecology, and the conservation efforts in place. These tours typically operate from late spring to early fall, and reservations are recommended.
Visitor Guidelines
- Respect all signage and barriers to protect the lighthouse and its surroundings.
- Stay on designated paths to prevent dune erosion and protect nesting wildlife.
- Be mindful of changing tides and coastal conditions when visiting the nearby beach.
- Follow local regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.
Plan Your Visit
Embarking on a journey to Great Point Light offers a unique blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty. Pair your visit with a stop at the Nantucket Lifesaving Museum to see the lighthouse’s original 1818 third-order Fresnel lens up close — a tangible piece of the structure’s 240-year story. A visit to Great Point Light not only enriches your understanding of Nantucket’s maritime legacy but also offers a tranquil retreat into one of the island’s most picturesque locales.