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The tall twin granite towers of Thacher Island are among the most recognizable features along the coastline of Massachusetts’ Cape Ann, and the towers are now the only operating twin lighthouses in the United States. First established in 1771 as one of the 12 original colonial lighthouse sites, Thacher Island boasts as much notable history on or near its shores as practically any American light station. This has now been recognized by the federal government. On January 3, 2001, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt designated Cape Ann Light Station on Thacher Island a National Historic Landmark, making it the ninth lighthouse station to receive this designation.
Paul St. Germain, President of the Thacher Island Association, said “This is a great honor for Rockport and an opportunity for us to attract private and public grants for our ongoing preservation efforts for this historic site.” St. Germain pointed out that “there are fewer than 2400 sites deemed as National Historical Landmarks, putting us in very special circumstances as a highly regarded significantly historic site.”
Anyone interested in joining the Thacher Island Association should contact Dottie Carroll at 978-546-7697 or Paul St. Germain at 978-546-7214. You can also learn more by visiting the Thacher Island Association’s website at www.thacherisland.org.
This story appeared in the August 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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