Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light
Why it's listed
Rising 53 feet beside Water Street in Newburyport, this square brick tower was built in 1873 as the rear light of a range-light pair at the mouth of the Merrimac River. Robert Bayley sold the land to the U.S. Government for the purpose. The tower combines brick, steel and wood, with a stone block foundation, a four-panel wooden door under a granite lintel, and an eight-sided iron lens room topped by a square iron balcony. Inside, an iron staircase winds around the walls, and an original wood cupboard remains in the lens room. The lamp's candlepower was reduced and its fuel changed to electric in 1933, and the light was discontinued in 1961. The tower was sold to a private owner in 1964. Together with the front light, it is considered significant as one of only three sets of range lights in Massachusetts, as the best example of the type in the state, and as part of a historic waterfront with strong ties to navigation aids.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the front and rear range lights retain integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship and are tied to the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. They are one of only three sets of range lights in the state and part of an important historic waterfront. The pair is called the best example of a range light in Massachusetts.
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 87000887, listed June 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Water St. near Merrimac River, Newburyport |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000887 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as inactive/unmanned; the light was discontinued in 1961 and the tower was sold into private ownership in 1964. Interior wood floor and upper stairs are described as in disrepair or slightly unstable. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.79402, -70.80670 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87000887.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7017274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.