Ten Pound Island Light
Why it's listed
Ten Pound Island Light is a cast iron lighthouse on a small island at the eastern end of Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts. The conical tower, 30 feet tall and rising 44 feet above the water, was built in 1881 to replace a stone tower erected in 1821. It is painted white with a black top pierced by four portholes, and a ten-sided lantern sits above a balcony with Italianate brackets and balusters. Inside, a brick-lined shaft holds an iron spiral stair and a wooden ceiling with unusual porthole skylights. Granite walls of an 1821 oil house and the foundations of the keeper's dwelling remain nearby. Fishermen and vessels used the light as a guide when entering the harbor. It was listed for its association with the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts and as a well preserved example of a cast iron tower of its era. The island is now abandoned, and the light has been removed from the lens room.
Significance in brief: The form states 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 described as a well preserved example of the cast iron towers of its period and remains an important location in navigating Gloucester Harbor. It meets criteria A and C at the state level.
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 88001179, listed August 4, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Gloucester Harbor, Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | August 4, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001179 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Cast iron conical lighthouse tower with Italianate balcony details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The light has been removed from the lens room and the station is unmanned. The island is abandoned, and the dwelling and oil house survive only as ruins. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.53682, -70.70136 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 88001179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7699292
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.