Brant Point Light

Brant Point Light is a lighthouse located on Nantucket Island. The station was established in 1746, automated in 1965, and is still in operation. The current tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1987; it has the distinction of being the tenth light on the point, in addition to several range lights. Four of the others burned or blew down, two were condemned, two were unsatisfactory, and the remaining one stands unused.Chronology1746: First wood tower, burned 17581759: Second wood tower, blown down March 9, 17741774: Third wood tower, burned 17831783: Lantern between two spars1786: Fifth light, a frame with a place for lights at the top, wrecked 17881788-95: Sixth light, a tower, condemned 18251825: Tower framework on top of keeper's dwelling, rotten by 18531856: Brick tower, still standing, front light of Nantucket Range Lights1900: A lantern at the extremity of Brant Point, about from the 1856 tower1901: Wood tower, the tenth light and seventh tower replaced the 1900 lantern, still in useHistoryAt a town meeting at Nantucket on January 24, 1746, the sea captains of the island spoke out for a lighthouse and the sum of 200 pounds was voted "in supposition that the owners of or others concerned in, shipping will maintain a light therein", but the town actually paid for its maintenance. The wood 1746 tower burned in 1758.Town meeting authorized a new light, which was completed in 1759, which lasted until 1774. From the March 12, 1774, issue of The Massachusetts Gazette and the Boston PostBoy and Advertiser, "We hear from Nantucket that on Wednesday the 9th of March Instant (1774) at about 8 o’clock in the Morning, they had a most violent Gust of Wind that perhaps was ever known there, but it lasted only about a Minute. It seemed to come in a narrow Vein, and in its progress blew down. and totally destroyed the Light-House on that Island, besides several Shops, Barns, etc. Had the Gust continued fifteen Minutes it is thought it would not have left more than half the Buildings standing, in the Course that it passed. But we don’t hear of any Persons receiving much hurt, nor much Damage done, except the loss of the Light-House which in every respect is considerable."