Long Point Lighthouse

Year Built

1827

Cost

$16,000

Type

Square tower

Height

38 feet

Location

Long Point, Provincetown

Automated Year

1952

First Lit

1875 (re-built light)

Lens Type

Oil Lamp (1826); - Sixth-order fresnel (1856); - Fifth-order fresnel (1875; - Solar-powered 300 mm lantern (1982)

Fog Signal

Horn: one 2-sec blast every 15 secs[note 1] - Previous (1875): 1,200 lb (540 kg) fog bell

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

White with black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

William H. Swanson (at least 1950)

Description

All that remains is the lighthouse with plans to rebuild the keeper's dwelling.

Brief History

•  Long Point Light’s first keeper was Charles Derby (1826 –1849), who first arrived in Provincetown in 1798.
•  1873, The Lighthouse Board asked Congress for funds to replace the lighthouse.
•  In 1874 Congress approved $13,000 for rebuilding the dwelling and tower and erecting a fog signal.
•  1933, The fog signal mechanism broke down. The keeper had to ring the bell by hand for over 9 hours straight.
•  Although the Coast Guard still owns the lighthouse, the American Lighthouse Foundation was granted a license in 1998 to maintain the structure.