Lighthouse Explorer Database ... Monomoy Point ...

05/19/03 12:47 AM

1-800-758-1444

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Name: Monomoy Point Light

Also known as: Monomoy Light

Nearest Town or City:
Chatham, Massachusetts, United States

Location: Southern end of South Monomoy Island.

Click to enlarge: 27Kb    824Kb

Photo:

Managing Organization:
Monomoy NWR Headquarters

Telephone: 508-945-0594

Contact Address Information:
Wikis Way
Chatham
Massachusetts, 02633, United States

Notes:
Monomoy Point Light was considered expendable after the opening of the Cape Cod Canal in 1914. The lighthouse was discontinued in 1923 and was sold into private hands. Today the station is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the support of a nonprofit group, the Friends of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The lighthouse was restored in 1988, but more work is needed. Monomoy Island was cut into two islands, North and South Monomoy, by a blizzard in February 1978.

Tower Height: 40

Height of Focal Plane: 47

Description of Tower: Red, cylindrical cast iron tower with black cast iron lantern.

This light is not operational

Other Buildings?
1849 two story wood Cape Cod style keeper's house, 1894 brick oil house, generator building.

Earlier Towers?
1823: tower on roof of keeper's house.

Date Established: 1823

Date Present Tower Built: 1849

Date Deactivated: 1923

Optics: 1857: Fourth order Fresnel lens.

Current Use: Part of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.

Open To Public? yes

Museum?
no

Directions:
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History offers guided wildlife tours (from Chatham) of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Day trips include a visit to the lighthouse station, and overnight stays (dinner and breakfast included) in the keeper's house are also available. It's about a 1.5 mile walk over sand to the lighthouse. Call (508) 896-3867 or (800) 479-3867 (eastern MA only) or email them at info@ccmnh.org for details.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Keepers: Solomon Doane (c. 1842); Asa L. Jones (1875-1886); Joseph P. Smith (1899-?).

Nearby Lodging: Overnight stays (dinner and breakfast included) in the lighthouse keeper's house are available through the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. It's about a 1.5 mile walk over sand to the lighthouse. Call (508) 896-3867 or (800) 479-3867 (eastern MA only) or email them at info@ccmnh.org for details.