Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse | Marthas Vineyard

The East Coast Lighthouse Tour

Few sights bring us more joy than that of a lighthouse rising up along the shorelines of our favorite New England towns.  Rich in history and bearing an enviable waterfront address, each lighthouse has a personality that makes them unique and iconic to those who love them.  The very glimpse of them in a harbor marks the start of memorable weekends and vacations spent on the shores of their seaside hometowns. 

One of our favorites is Edgartown Harbor Light, which is located in Edgartown, Massachusetts, along the southeastern shores of Martha’s Vineyard. It marks the entrance to Edgartown Harbor and Katama Bay, and is one of five lighthouses located on the island. The original lighthouse, a two-story wooden structure that also served as the keeper’s house, was constructed in 1828. It was demolished, and replaced by the current cast-iron tower, in 1939. Originally located on an artificial island 1/4 miles from shore, the lighthouse is now surrounded by a beach formed by sand accumulating around the stone causeway connecting it to the mainland. (source wikipedia)

Major renovations, including the installation of a staircase to the lantern room, were completed in 2007 and allowed the interior to be open to visitors. Under the stewardship of  Martha’s Vineyard Musuem, Edgartown Light is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays until 8 p.m., weather permitting.