Name and Location

Long Island Head Light is an active aid to navigation located at the western tip of Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. The address is 1 Long Island Road (Long Island Rd), and the coordinates are 42.3302159 N, 70.9576735 W.

Construction and History

The current tower was erected in 1901 to replace an earlier beacon that guided vessels through the narrows into Boston Harbor. The lighthouse reflects early-20th-century design under federal auspices. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 (NRHP Reference No. 87001481).

Architecture and Materials

The construction era is early 20th century, but official records do not specify materials. Many contemporary Boston Harbor lighthouses were built of brick or cast iron over a masonry foundation.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is active, with a specific flash pattern and range maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The focal plane height is presumed to clear the island's low headland, but exact figures are not publicly documented.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is managed by the United States Coast Guard (Sector Boston) and remains an active aid to navigation. Public access to the headland and tower is restricted, with no regular ferry service directly to this part of the island. Long Island is part of the Boston Harbor Islands national recreation area.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the tower, one would have panoramic views of the harbor entrance, nearby harbor islands, and the distant Boston skyline. The island itself is lightly wooded, with uneven terrain of outcrops and coastal shrubs.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is presumed automated (no resident keepers since the mid-20th century), with current use as an active aid to navigation. The managing authority is the United States Coast Guard (Sector Boston).

Further Information

For more information, please visit Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Head_Light, Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6672695, and MassGIS Lighthouses: http://mass.gov/mgis/lighthouses.htm.