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Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Massachusetts Lighthouses
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CHATHAM LIGHT

State: MASSACHUSETTS
Location: W. SIDE CHATHAM HARBOR / SE CAPE COD
Nearest City: CHATHAM
County: BARNSTABLE
U.S.C.G. District: 1
Year Station Established: 1808

 Chatham Light
NPS photo by Candace Clifford, 1995
Existing Historic Tower:
  • Year Light First Lit: 1877
  • Is the Light Operational? YES
  • Date Deactivated: N/A
  • Automated: 1982
  • Foundation Materials: CONCRETE
  • Construction Materials: CAST IRON PLATE W/BRICK LINING
  • Markings/Patterns: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN
  • Shape: CONICAL
  • Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
  • Tower Height: 48
  • Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
  • Year Original Lens Installed: 1857
  • Present Optic: DCB-224
  • Year Present Lens Installed: 1993
  • Height of Focal Plane: 80 Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIG. LENS ON DISPLAY IN OLD ATWOOD HOUSE & MUSEUM IN CHATHAM
  • Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s):
  • 1. Construction Date: 1808
  • Description:
  • Fate/Disposition:
  • 2. Construction Date: 1830S
  • Description: BRICK
  • Fate/Disposition:
Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO
  • Year Constructed:
  • Construction Materials:
  • Architectural Style:
  • Fog Signal Type: NONE
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1877
  • Number of Stories: 1.5
  • Architectural Style: DUPLEX
  • Construction Materials: WOOD
Other Structures: RADIOBEACON, LOOKOUT TOWER, OIL HOUSE (1877), GARAGE (1937); DESTROYED: 1872 CHATHAM LIFESAVING STATION

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/COAST GUARD HOUSING

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #87001501
Name of Listing: CHATHAM LIGHT STATION (LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS TR)
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
ORIGINALLY A TWIN TOWER STATION; CURRENT TOWER IS SOUTH TOWER WHICH SERVED THIRD SET OF TWIN LIGHTS (NORTH TOWER MOVED TO NAUSET 1923)



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Last Modified: Fri, Apr 5 2002 2:45:02 pm EDT
JMP


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