The Portland Head Light towers majestically over the crashing surf while braced for the approaching squall. Located on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, it marks the entrance to Portland Harbor. This light was commissioned by President George Washington and became operational in 1791. Since becoming automated by the Coast Guard, the keepers house has been turned into a museum and is open to the public.

This light was built in 1858 and stands on the southwest point of Mount Desert Island., Me. It marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and is still active.

Pemaquid Point Light was built in 1827 and is located on the western side of Muscongus Bay, Maine. It sits on a very exposed part of the coast  and is frequently exposed to extremly bad weather. Despite the light, several ships have been wrecked in this vicinity during violent storms.

This watercolor was painted from an old photo (circa 1950) and shows the old clam shacks that have since been demolished.  Portland Head Light is visible in the background.

This is a view of Provincetown Harbor at low tide looking out southeast across the harbor toward the curling arm of Cape Cod.  The Long Point Light, just visible in the background, is located on the tip of this arm and marks the entrance to the harbor. The first light was erected at this point in 1827.  During the Civil War two forts were constructed at Long Point. They were called by local residents "Fort Useless" and "Fort Harmless".  They never saw any action.

Nauset Beach Light gets its name from the lighthouse positioned on the dunes seen in the background. The beach is part of the National Seashore on Cape Cod which runs north and south on the eastern shore of the cape as it turns north at the town of Chatham. This stretch of the cape is notorious for shipwrecks. Between the years 1887 to 1907, over one-half the total number of shipwrecks occurring on the Atlantic Coast took place between Nauset and Nantucket. In fact, “wrecking” (salvaging materials from wrecked ships) was a major industry on the Cape and the decision, in 1832, to build a lighthouse on this stretch of beach was not met with any enthusiasm by the local residents as they claimed it would significantly impact on local “business”.

A closer view of Nauset Beach Light showing its distinctive red band on the upper half of the tower. This location originally had three lighthouses (nicknamed the "Three Sisters of Nauset") but was changed to a single lighthouse in 1911.  The present structure is one of the twin lighthouses previously located at Chatham.  It was moved to Nauset after the twin Chatham lights were changed to a single one in 1923. The original Three Sisters were purchased and restored by the National Park Service. They are located about one third of a mile from the Nauset light and are open to the public.

Sankaty Head Light, on the southeastern edge of Nantucket Island, was built in 1850.  You want to keep this light well to the west of you if you wish to clear the dangerous Davis South Shoals off Nantucket. Like so many old light houses in New England, this one is in danger of toppling into the sea because of the erosion of the dune on which it is perched. Although not often visited by tourists, golfers rave about the beautiful golf course located there.

A closer view of the Sankaty light shows how perilously close to the edge  of the bluff on which it stands. It will have to be moved in the near future. However, erosion control measures in recent years have managed to postpone the date for its relocation. Renovations to the tower were completed in 1994 but the keepers house and other outbuildings were removed.    

Nobska Point Light

Woods Hole is familiar to many as the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the home port for Robert Ballard and crew of Titanic fame. The Nobska Point Light, located between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, stands on the rocky headlands above Woods Hole Harbor. The first light, built in 1828, was replaced with the current 40-foot cast iron tower in 1876. In reality, this view of the structure has a nicely manicured lawn. I thought a rocky face was more dramatic so I relandscaped for my picture. I can do that - artist’s license.