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Straitsmouth Island, MA |
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Description:
In July of 2008, the Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse, deemed excess by the Coast Guard, was "made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as Federal Agencies, state and local agencies, non-profit corporations, educational agencies, or community development organizations, for education, park, recreation, cultural, or historic preservation purposes." Two qualified organizations submitted a letter of interest by the September 8, 2008 deadline, and on July 16, 2009, the Department of Interior announced that the lighthouse will be transferred to Rockport and the Thatcher Island Association.
The thirty-seven-foot-tall lighthouse was built in 1835 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. A keeper's dwelling and brick oil house stand near the tower, but are in much worse shape than the lighthouse. In announcing the transfer, Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior department, said, “By transferring ownership of the lighthouse to the Town of Rockport in partnership with the Thatcher Island Association, the American people can be assured that this important part of our nation’s rich maritime history will be preserved for future generations.” Purchase prints and gifts featuring photographs on this page Location: Located on Straitsmouth Island, just offshore from the northeastern end of Cape Ann. Latitude: 42.66226 Longitude: -70.58814 For a larger map of Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse, click the lighthouse in the above map or get a map from: Mapquest. Travel Instructions: The best way to see the lighthouse is from the water. Harbor Tours Inc. of Cape Ann, reachable at (978) 283-1979, offers a cruise that passes the lighthouse. The lighthouse is listed as part of the north-bound lighthouse cruise offered by Boston Harbor Cruises. The lighthouse is owned by the Coast Guard, but the island is owned by the Massachusettss Audubon Society. Grounds/dwelling/tower closed. Find the closest hotels to Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse See our List of Lighthouses in Massachusetts |
