Bird Island Light
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Why it's listed
Bird Island Light is a 25-foot conical masonry tower, painted white, standing on a three-acre island at the east side of the mouth of Sippican Harbor, across from Marion, Massachusetts. The island is covered with low scrub and rocks and serves as a tern nesting ground. The tower dates from 1819, when the federal government bought the land and the Commonwealth ceded jurisdiction. It was originally attached to a stone dwelling. A hurricane washed away the outbuildings in 1938, and the town acquired the property in 1939 after it was declared surplus. The town and the Sippican Historical Society restored the light in 1976 and installed an automatic beacon, and the society restored the tower again after vandalism in 1981. The cast iron lantern has unusual diagonal astragals between its window posts. The light was judged significant as an early masonry tower, a locally important navigational landmark, and a surviving example of Massachusetts aids to navigation.
Significance in brief: The form says the light retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and is tied to the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. It is described as an early masonry tower and a locally important navigational landmark in a picturesque position. 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 87002030, listed September 28, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sippican Harbor, Marion |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | September 28, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002030 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unmanned and active, with an automatic beacon installed in the 1976 restoration. The tower was vandalized in 1981 and restored again by the Sippican Historical Society. The interior is not accessible. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.66875, -70.71720 (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 87002030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4915874
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.