Chatham Lighthouse

Year Built

1808

Cost

$5,000

Type

Conical

Height

48 feet

Location

Chatham

Automated Year

1982

First Lit

1877

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), Carlisle & Finch DCB-224 (current)

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

White with gray lantern

Last Keeper - Date

George T. Gustavus (1940 – 1945)

Description

A tower made of cast iron rings and a single story, one-bedroom keeper’s house.

Brief History

•  In 1841 the wooden towers were replaced by 40-feet brick towers.
•  In 1857 the towers were fitted with Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.
•  In 1923 the north tower was relocated to Nauset, Massachusetts, ending the 115 years of service of the twins at Chatham.
•  1969 The Fresnel lens is moved to Atwood House Museum, replaced with a rotating light generating over 2.8 million candlepower.
•  Chatham Light was automated in 1982, and in August 1993, crowds gathered to watch as new DCB-224 aerobeacons were installed in the lantern room.