Scituate Light
Why it's listed
Scituate Light sits on Cedar Point at the entrance to Scituate Harbor, part of the approach to Boston Harbor and the site of many wrecks. The stone octagonal tower and wood-frame keeper's house were built in 1811 for $3,200 by three builders from Hingham. A brick superstructure with granite post-and-lintel window bays and a new dome and lantern was added in 1827, and further rebuilding followed in 1841. Its last lighting came on November 14, 1860, the night before the new Minot's Ledge Light first shone. The light is also tied to a local tale from 1814, when the keeper's children are said to have tricked a British landing party with a fife and drum. The town acquired the property in 1917 under a deed requiring it to be kept as a historic landmark. After vandalism in the 1960s, the Scituate Historical Society took over upkeep in 1968. The tower is valued for its form, its harbor setting, and its complete set of original construction specifications.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and its link to the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. It is a good example of an early masonry tower of unusual splayed octagonal form. It is also unique for keeping a complete set of its original 1811 building specifications, and it is a prime local symbol.
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 87001490, listed June 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cedar Pt., Scituate |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | June 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001490 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Charles Gill, Nathel Gill, Jr., and Joseph Hammond, Jr., of Hingham (1811); Marshall Lincoln (1827 renovations); Winslow Lewis (1841 rebuilding) |
| Architectural style | Early masonry tower of unusual splayed octagonal form |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unmanned/inactive; restored and maintained by the Scituate Historical Society; owned by the Town of Scituate. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.20197, -70.71462 (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 87001490.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.