Bakers Island Light

This article is about the lighthouse in Massachusetts. For the lighthouse in Maine, see Baker Island Light.

Bakers Island Light is a historic lighthouse on Bakers Island in Salem, Massachusetts.^[2][3][4] The station was originally established in 1791, with a daymark. This was replaced in 1798 by two lights atop a keeper's house, one at each end. After storm damage in 1815, an octagonal stone tower was constructed. The current round stone tower was added in 1820. The 1820 tower was taller, leading to the names "Ma" and "Pa". The two remained in service until 1926, when the older, shorter tower was removed.^[2]

Bakers Island Light

Location	E of Salem on Bakers Island, Salem, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°32′11.2″N 70°47′9.3″W
Tower
Constructed	1791
Foundation	Granite
Construction	Granite and concrete
Automated	1972
Height	59 feet (18 m)
Shape	Conical
Markings	White with black lantern
Heritage	National Register of Historic Places listed place
Fog signal	Horn: 1 every 30s
Light
First lit	1821 (current tower)
Focal height	111 feet (34 m)
Lens	4th order Fresnel lens (original), 7.5 inches (190 mm) (current)
Range	White 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) Red 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi)
Characteristic	Alternating White and Red 20s
Baker's Island Light Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Area	11.5 acres (4.7 ha)
Built	1821
MPS	Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR (AD)
NRHP reference No.	76000289[1]
Added to NRHP	November 21, 1976

The light was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Baker's Island Light Station in 1976.

Nomenclature

The City of Salem, the Coast Guard, and NOAA spell the name without an apostrophe, but the National Register of Historic Places includes it. The name is always written with the "s".^[5]

A USCG photo circa 1925	Bakers Island Lighthouse 2020

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Massachusetts
• List of lighthouses in the United States, Massachusetts

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Massachusetts". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
3. Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2009. p. 5.
4. Rowlett, Russ (2009-12-14). "Lighthouses of the United States: Northern Massachusetts". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
5. "National Register Historic Districts & Landmarks" (PDF). City of Salem. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-07.