Long Island Head Light
Why it's listed
Long Island Head Light is a white brick lighthouse tower completed in 1819 on the highest ground at the north end of Long Island in Boston Harbor. It marks the approach to President Roads and Nantasket Roads and was long known as the Inner Harbor Light, after standing at two other locations. The cylindrical tower has a small gabled brick entranceway, granite-trimmed windows with brick arches, a stepped brick corbel table, and an iron balcony with Italianate balusters. A ten-sided lens room with unusually tall windows sits on top, holding an automatic plastic lens. The remains of World War I Fort Strong lie nearby. Operations changed over time: the light was extinguished in 1982 and relit with solar power in 1985. The nomination values the tower as an early brick light with unusual detailing and as the principal marker of Boston's Inner Harbor, retaining its original location, setting and workmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues 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 an early brick tower with distinctive detail, including triple brick courses over the windows and door and around the exterior. Historically it was the major light marking Boston's Inner Harbor.
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 87001481, listed June 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Long Island, Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | June 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001481 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Italianate details (iron arches and cast iron balusters) on an otherwise simple early brick tower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unmanned and active; the light was extinguished in 1982, then re-established and converted to solar power in October 1985, when the tower was repaired and repainted. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.32779, -70.95592 (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 87001481.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6672695
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.