Gay lighthouse

Not only are the cliffs themselves beautiful but the lighthouse is also quite interesting. It is the only working lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard. The Gay Head Lighthouse is perched atop the cliffs. Gay Head Light was one of several early U. S. lighthouses to use a so-called "revolving illuminating apparatus" to generate a flashing white light signal.

On Saturday, the Gay Head Light reached its final stop on a foot journey back from the site it had occupied since , and which after more than a century of erosion was precariously. Gay Head Lighthouse. We found the Gay Head Cliffs to be one of the more beautiful natural areas of Martha's Vineyard.

With great fanfare, the lighthouse was relit and rededicated as a navigational aid and museum. The resulting Memorandum of Agreement MOA and covenants addressed title transfer, lighthouse relocation, associated ground disturbance, rehabilitation, museum use, and ATON operation.

Come visit!. Perched atop the striking, multicolored cliffs at the westernmost point of Martha’s Vineyard in Aquinnah, Massachusetts, Gay Head Lighthouse serves as a beacon of maritime history and cultural significance. The beautiful, colorful layers of clay make up the cliffs.

The revolving illuminating apparatus consisted of sperm whale oil lamps placed on circular service tables attached to a Pedestal rotated by wooden clockwork. till sunset Admission:$6 – ages 13y/o and older Free entry for 12y/o and younger, Military – Veterans & Active Duty, and Aquinnah residents.

The Lighthouse is open for the season! Broad community efforts saved the cherished local landmark from certain destruction, for public use and enjoyment. Standing atop the National Natural Landmark Gay Head Cliffs, the lighthouse serves as a beacon to Wampanoag tribal heritage and is the only lighthouse with a history of Native American Lighthouse keepers.

Relocation necessitated ground disturbance, requiring advance archaeological surveys and soil remediation. The Gay Head Cliffs are a national landmark. The Town of Aquinnah developed a plan, and all details were managed and formalized in the Section process. The Gay Head Cliffs are a national landmark.

To ensure the long-term structural stability of the lighthouse and return the Gay Head Cliffs to a more natural state, the Town planned to move the lighthouse farther away from the cliffs to a new foundation on Town-owned land. Located at the westernmost tip of the island, the light, a federal Aid to Navigation ATON , guides traders, fishermen, cruise ships, and recreational boaters.

It is the only lighthouse with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers, and was one of the first in the U. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in For decades, the tower was owned by the U. Section requires that federal agencies identify historic properties and assess the effects of the projects they carry out, fund, or permit on those properties.

The Gay Head Lighthouse is OPEN to the public June 21st thru Labor Day weekend 7 days a week, ampm* *Thurs. As part of the deed, the Town granted preservation covenants to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the National Park Service to protect and preserve the lighthouse in perpetuity.

It has been said that fossil bones of whales, camels and wild horses have been found in the cliff layers. Federal agencies also are required to consult with parties that have an interest in the fate of the property when adverse effects may ensue. Recognizing its importance, local leaders mobilized grassroots and regional support and significant financial backing.

The beautiful, colorful layers of clay make up the cliffs. Almost all consultation occurred remotely to speed the process. Community Rallies to Save Historic Lighthouse. Standing 51 feet tall and weighing tons, it is constructed of clay bricks, a brownstone cornice, and topped with a cast iron light room.