Sankaty Head Light
Why it's listed
Sankaty Head Light is a brick lighthouse on a cliff about 160 feet above the Atlantic, roughly a mile north of Siasconset on Nantucket. Benjamin F. Isherwoode directed construction of the 60-foot tower in 1849 at a cost of $10,333, with materials brought in by ship. It was first lit in February 1850. Its Fresnel lens, bought in France, produced a light so bright that fishermen called it the "blazing star," and it warned mariners away from the Southern Shoals. A balcony and lantern added later raised the tower to 70 feet, and an oil house was built in 1887. The lens was electrified in 1933 and the lamp and lens rooms were rebuilt in aluminum in 1970. The station also holds two 1960 ranch-style houses and a helicopter pad, which do not contribute to its historic character. The light was listed for its role in the development of navigation aids in Massachusetts and for its architecture and early Fresnel lens.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the light has integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and important associations with the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. Its Fresnel lens, one of the first installed in a U.S. lighthouse, made the light so brilliant that fishermen called it the "blazing star." It is rated significant at the state level under criteria A and C.
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 87002028, listed October 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sankaty Head, Nantucket Island, Nantucket |
|---|---|
| County | Nantucket County |
| Listed | October 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002028 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin F. Isherwoode (Isherwood) directed construction of the tower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as an unmanned, active aid to navigation owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. A later letter describes the 90-foot bluff as rapidly eroding and proposes moving the tower inland. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Within district | Nantucket Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.28163, -69.96748 (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 87002028.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7418689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.