Butler Flats Light Station
Why it's listed
Butler Flats Light Station is a 53-foot white and black cylindrical lighthouse standing in New Bedford Channel at the entrance to New Bedford Harbor. Completed on April 30, 1898, it rests on a cast iron caisson foundation set on the soft mud bottom, with curved plates at the top to deflect waves. Its three-story tower is built of brick with details such as brick window sills and arches, which is unusual among caisson harbor lights. The watchstanders room and lantern house are cast iron. F. Hopkinton Smith designed and built the station. Two officers and five enlisted men once lived there to tend the light and fog signal. The Coast Guard automated the station in 1978 after a nearby hurricane barrier made it less necessary, and a local campaign helped save it. It is valued as a well-maintained caisson light and the only one of its type by a known marine architect. Access is by boat only.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the light retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and is associated with the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. It is a well-maintained example of caisson construction and the only one of its type designed by a known marine architect. The brick tower with building-style detailing is described as unusual and perhaps unique among caisson harbor lights.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001530, listed June 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | New Bedford Channel, New Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001530 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | F. Hopkinton Smith |
| Architectural style | Caisson tank light (caisson harbor light type) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Active and unmanned; automated in 1978, with maintenance by a private organization under a Coast Guard license. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.60196, -70.89782 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001530.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5002608
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.