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Managing Organization:
Race Point Lighthouse
Website: http://www.racepointlighthouse.net
Contact Address Information:
P.O. Box 570
North Truro
Massachusetts, 02652, United States
Notes:
Race Point Light is located on the Cape Cod National Seashore, at the tip of Cape Cod. A duplex keeper's house was demolished by the Coast Guard in 1960, and the remaining keeper's house was abandoned after the light was automated in 1978. In 1995 the Coast Guard leased the station to the American Lighthouse Foundation. International Chimney Corp., contractor Richard Davidson and volunteers completely restored the house, and it is now open for overnight stays. The fog signal building was restored in 1999 and is used as a research station for marine mammal study. The Coast Guard still maintains the active optic.
Tower Height: 45
Height of Focal Plane: 67
Characteristic and Range: Flashing white every 10 seconds.
Description of Tower: Conical white cast iron tower with black cast iron lantern.
This light is operational
Other Buildings?
1876 two story wood frame keeper's house, 1876 brick fog signal building, 1876 (?) oil house.
Earlier Towers?
1816: 25-foot stone tower.
Date Established: 1816
Date Present Tower Built: 1876
Date Automated: 1978
Optics: 1855: Fourth order Fresnel lens; replaced by 190mm, now Vega VRB-25, solar powered.
Fog Signal: 1852: Fog bell; 1873: Steam-driven fog horn. Automated horn discontinued 2002.
Current Use: Active aid to navigation, overnight accommodations, research station.
Museum?
The lighthouse station is open to visitors in summer; there are often volunteers of the American Lighthouse Foundation present. The fog signal building was restored in 1999 and is used as a field station for marine mammal research. For more information contact the Center for Coastal Studies at ccs@coastalstudies.org.
Directions:
You can park at Race Point Beach and walk about 45-60 minutes to the lighthouse. As you walk along the beach watch offshore for whales. The walk may be difficult or impossible at high tide. If you are staying at the lighthouse station, transportation can be arranged; call (508) 487-9930. Occasional lighthouse cruises offered by the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands may offer views from the water; call (781) 740-4290 for details.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Keepers: ? Cook (?); Waterman Crocker (?); Jesse Smith (assistant, ?); Elliott Hadley, Jr. (assistant, 1912); William H. Lowther (1915-1935); James Hinckley (asst., then keeper, 1920-1937); Osborne Earle Hallett (1945-1955); Thomas Branco (coast Guard, c. early 1970s).
Nearby Lodging: The keeper's house at Race Point is open for overnight stays; call (508) 487-9930 for information.
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