Boston Light
Also known as: Boston Light Station
Why it's listed
Boston Light stands on Little Brewster Island, a one-acre rocky island marking a main shipping entrance to Boston Harbor. The current rubble stone tower dates from about 1783, replacing earlier towers destroyed in the Revolutionary War, and was raised to 98 feet in 1860. Its cast-iron stairway, balcony and doors date from 1844, and the lens room holds a Second Order Fresnel lens. Other contributing buildings include a keeper's dwelling of about 1884, a brick oil house, sheds and a fog signal building of about 1890. The first light here was authorized in 1715 and first lit in 1716 under keeper George Worthylake. It is recognized as the first formally authorized lighthouse in the United States. The nomination cites that distinction, the station's role in the development of navigation aids in Massachusetts, and the integrity of its setting, materials and workmanship. The station remained staffed and active under the Coast Guard when documented.
Significance in brief: The nomination holds that Boston Light has national recognition as the first formally authorized lighthouse in the United States, authorized in 1715. It is also tied to the development of navigation aids in Massachusetts. The form says it keeps integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 66000133, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Little Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000133 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Communications, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 29, 1964 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as manned and active, owned by the U.S. Coast Guard; keepers live in the dwelling on the island and the tower is operated as a working aid to navigation. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.32808, -70.89083 (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 66000133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2895493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.