Name and Location

The Sankaty Head Light, also known as "the Stanchie Head Light," is a historic white brick lighthouse located at Baxter Road, Siasconset, Nantucket, MA 02564, USA. It marks the easternmost point of Nantucket Island.

2. Construction and History

The Sankaty Head Light was planned and constructed under the U.S. Lighthouse Board from 1848 to 1850, designed by Alexander Parris. The first light was lit on August 30, 1850. In the 1870s-1880s, it was upgraded to a fourth-order Fresnel lens with a flashing characteristic. The lighthouse was automated in 1965 and its original keeper's house was destroyed by fire in 1989. On August 14, 2007, the entire 70-ton brick tower was moved 270 ft inland to prevent collapse due to coastal erosion.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Sankaty Head Light is a mid-19th-century cylindrical lighthouse tower with classical proportions, constructed from brick with a stuccoed exterior and cast-iron lantern housing. The tower stands at 100 ft (30.5 m) from base to lantern roof and has a focal height of 120 ft (36.6 m) above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse exhibits a flashing white light every 5 seconds (Fl W 5s) with a range of 23 nautical miles (approx. 42 km). The original lens was a fourth-order Fresnel lens, replaced by a 300 mm acrylic modern optic. The aid to navigation is active and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset without fee. However, the tower interior is closed to general public for structural and safety reasons. Guided tours are occasionally offered by the "Friends of Sankaty Head" during summer weekends. Parking is available in a small lot on Baxter Road (informal, first-come, first-served). The site has gravel paths but is not wheelchair-accessible.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Perched atop 70 ft high bluffs overlooking the Atlantic, the lighthouse offers panoramic ocean and coastline views from the outside gallery only. Adjacent landmarks include the Sankaty Head Golf Club, known for its cliffside holes and ocean vistas. The natural environment is characterized by coastal heath and bluff erosion constantly monitored.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse has a rich history of shipwreck rescues along Siasconset's "Graveyard Shore." Locals speak of phantom lights dancing offshore, tied to 19th-century shipwrecks. In 2007, the tower was famously relocated inland using hydraulic jacks, one of the tallest masonry structures ever moved.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated and solar-powered backup was installed in early 2000s. There are no dedicated radar or AIS installations on site, but nearby shipping lanes are monitored by regional USCG stations.

9. Further Information

For further reading, refer to the Nantucket Historical Association, U.S. Coast Guard Light List Volume I—Atlantic Coast, National Register of Historic Places nomination form (Ref. #85000813), and Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankaty_Head_Light