Boston Light on Little Brewster Island is a National Historic Landmark. It’s the oldest working light station in the country and the only one still actively staffed by the US Coast Guard. Tours to Boston Light include a climb to the top of the lighthouse with its fabulous 81-inch second-order Fresnel lens and sweeping harbor views.

Highlights from our Boston Light tour follow. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps

7/2/2016

Welcome Center Position: -71 3.15, 42 21.61 At the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center to check-in for our trip to Boston Light on Little Brewster Island.

Columbia Point Position: -71 2.91, 42 21.53 Our ride to Little Brewster Island, the MIT research vessel Columbia Point.

Boston Fish Pier Position: -71 2.01, 42 21.16 Boston Fish Pier in south Boston is the oldest continuously operated fish pier in the country.

Leroy Grumman Position: -71 1.11, 42 20.74 The USNS Leroy Grumman in dry dock at Boston Ship Repair.

Boat ride Position: -70 57.86, 42 20.04 Today was a perfect day to visit the light. The weather has generally been sunny and warm most of the time we’ve been in Boston.

Little Brewster Island Position: -70 53.63, 42 19.67 Boston Light on Little Brewster Island is a National Historic Landmark. It’s the oldest working light station in the country and the only one still actively staffed by the US Coast Guard.

Sally Snowman Position: -70 53.50, 42 19.68 The current lighthouse keeper, Sally Snowman, is the 70th keeper and the first female. wearing Revolutionary-era clothes she makes herself, Sally gave us an overview of the station and explained the various parts of the lighthouse before we went inside.

Museum Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 A small museum is in the bottom of the lighthouse, containing an number of historical artifacts. This fifth-order Fresnel lens was used as a harbor light and is about 21 inches tall, compared to the 81-inch second-order Fresnel lens in Boston Light. The lighthouse we visited in Deal Island north of Tasmania had a first-order Fresnel lens that stood 102 inches high.

Lighthouse Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 Boston light is the oldest active station in the country, but the second oldest working lighthouse. Sandy Hook Light in New Jersey is the oldest lighthouse, in operation since 1764, but it doesn’t have an active station. Boston Light is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. The first lighthouse, constructed in 1716, was destroyed by the British forces as they withdrew in 1776. The current lighthouse was built in 1783 and raised to its current height of 98ft in 1856. The light is visible for 27 miles on a clear night.

Steps Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 Climbing the 76 steps up the lighthouse tower.

Hatch Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 Through the hatch into the gear room.

Fresnel lens Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 Looking up into the second-order Fresnel at the top of Boston Light from the gear room. The multi-part Fresnel lens design allows for a thinner, lighter lens compared to a conventional design. And the complex arrangement of glass is simply beautiful.

Ladder Position: -70 53.41, 42 19.68 Up the ladder to the lantern room.

Top Position: -70 53.40, 42 19.68 And finally at the top.

View Position: -70 53.40, 42 19.68 Looking across the second-order Fresnel lens at the top of Boston Light to the keeper’s house with Boston visible in the distance.

Snack Position: -70 53.42, 42 19.68 Climbers went up in four groups of 8-9, so we had some time to relax and enjoy the island while the other groups visited the light.

Boston Light Position: -70 53.49, 42 19.67 We had an excellent visit to Boston Light and Little Brewster Island. It was a real highlight of our Boston trip.

Tap Trailhouse Position: -71 3.41, 42 21.67 After our Boston Light trip, we had an excellent lunch street-side at the Tap Trailhouse.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise. On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps.