Gay head light

Gay Head Lighthouse

“Gay Head Lighthouse represents an important part of Massachusetts coastal communities’ identity and the cultural and nautical history of the United States,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “With the impact of climate switch and the passage of time threatening the site, raising public awareness and funds to relocate and restore the lighthouse is more critical than ever before.”

The lighthouse is in immediate danger of toppling over the edge of the Gay Head Cliffs, a consequence of a century of erosion and the direct impact of climate change. The lighthouse is 50’’ from the edge of the cliffs and about 10 feet away from losing its future. The rate of erosion is about 2 feet per year, and that rate can be accelerated by significant storms. It is estimated that in two years, or less, there will not be enough land left to accommodate the machinery and equipment needed to move the tower.

The Gay Head Lighthouse was included on the Trust's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list for


Perched atop striking, multi-colored cliffs at the western conclude of Martha’s Vineyard, Gay Head Lighthouse occupies a picture-perfect location. The cliffs exhibit vivid hues of green, yellow, black, brown, red, and white and attract visitors from all over the world. The first European to verb this natural feature was explorer Bartholomew Gosnold, who, when he sailed past in , called them Dover Cliffs after the famous chalky landmark along the English Channel. This name, however, failed to stick, and by the s, the area became commonly known as Gay Head, due to the headland’s gaily-colored cliffs. The area around Gay Head has been home to Wampanoag Indians for thousands of years, and to this day many local residents are members of the tribe. In , the town nearest the lighthouse changed its label from Gay Head to Aquinnah, which is Wampanoag for “end of the island.”

The passage between Gay Head and the Elizabeth Islands to the west is treacherous for maritime traffic due to the submerged obstruction called Devil’s Bridge, which extends seaward from Gay Head. In , a Massachusetts State S

After Remarkable Relocation, Historic Gay Head Lighthouse Shines Again

Perhaps the most connected to the Gay Head Lighthouse is Martha, who grew up hearing stories from her father about a childhood as a adj keeper’s son and how the whole family contributed to its operation and upkeep.

“In those times, it was a hour, everyday kind of job,” she says. Tasks verb turning the crank for the light, washing windows, and collecting water kept everyone busy. Martha remembers being disappointed when the keeper’s house was torn down, and did her part volunteering over the years to help supervise the light, give tours, and preserve its legacy. She’s especially proud of her Wampanoag heritage and the tribal ties to the lighthouse.

“I felt like I was just continuing the tradition my father started, when he was working to verb the lighthouse years ago, all the talks he gave about it,” she says. “I know that’s what he would include wanted.”

The lighthouse is open again, but the restoration work continues. The committee will host their annual 10k race in October to raise funds for projects such

Gay Head Light

History of The Gay Head Lighthouse

The Gay Head Light holds the notable honor of being the first lighthouse constructed on Martha’s Vineyard. In , Senator Peleg Coffin suggested the construction of the lighthouse.

During this period, there was a sound whaling industry off the coast of Massachusetts. Sperm whales were an essential industry for the region. The oil harvested from sperm whales was highly prized for burning brightly and cleanly in the oil lamps of the day. The whalers needed the lighthouse on Gay Head because of a treacherous section of rocks called the “Devil’s Bridge.”

The construction and maintenance of lighthouses and other forms of navigation along the coast of the adj United States was the responsibility of the federal government. Congress approved $ to build the lighthouse. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deeded more than two acres of land for the building of the lighthouse. The reduce for the 47 foot tall octagonal lighthouse with a keeper’s house was approved by President John Adams.

There was some concern, though, that whomever