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Boston Light Lighthouse Tours

Lighthouse Tours of Boston Harbor

Experience the historic lighthouses of boston harbor on our special two-hour narrated cruise.

Voyage through maritime history with a special three-lighthouse tour featuring close-up views of Long Island Light, Graves Light, and Boston Light – America’s first light station.

Delve into history as you travel to the edge of Boston Harbor on an exciting 2-hour cruise and encounter three iconic lighthouses, and enjoy onboard narration provided by Boston Harbor Islands park staff and volunteers from the United States Coast Guard. Learn about the maritime traditions of Boston Harbor, enjoy unforgettable views of the park and city, and experience one of the most unique and historically significant ports in the country.

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Boston lighthouses: 12 to visit nearby

Editor's note: This map was originally published in May 2016, and has been updated with the most recent information.

Massachusetts has dozens of lighthouses, but only a relative handful are officially open to the public. Many of these, too, are open only during the warmer months.

Here are a dozen options relatively close to Boston proper. Most are located in Martha's Vineyard and along Cape Cod. Check the websites for contact info and tour hours.

[Sources: VisitNewEngland.com ; NewEnglandLighthouses.net ]

Plum Island Light

The current tower was built in 1898, and the original was built 110 years before. Also called Newburyport Harbor Light, the tower is open on select dates, weather permitting.

• Open in Google Maps

Marblehead Light

This spindly lighthouse dates from 1895, when it replaced the original brick-and-wood one constructed in 1835.

It is open to the public through special arrangement only.

Boston Light

This lighthouse dates from 1716, and is the oldest continuously used lighthouse in the U.S. of A. On certain days, it is open for tours, which include a 76-step climb to the top.

Highland Light

Deemed the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod (George Washington ordered its original construction), the current structure dates from 1857. It is open to the public as part of the much wider Cape Cod National Seashore.

Three Sisters of Nauset

The National Park Service took control of this trio of 15-foot lighthouses in 1975. They were restored in the 1980s, though their roots date from the 1830s.

Nauset Lighthouse

Preservationists moved the lighthouse in 1996 from the edge of a 60-foot cliff. It is open for tours.

Great Point Light

This lighthouse dates only from 1986, a replica of lighthouse a storm destroyed two years before. That structure dated from 1817, and had replaced the original wooden lighthouse dating from 1797. (Got that?) It is open to the public as part of wider tours of the area.

Chatham Light

The second-oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod, this structure originally dates to 1808. The current one, though, went up about 70 years later.

Cape Poge Light

The Cape Poge lighthouse, which dates from 1893, is part of a much larger wildlife refuge. Tours are available with a reservation. Its light is 63 feet up and can be seen 9 miles out to sea.

Ned's Point Light

The original lighthouse here dated from the late 1830s, and the current one from a series of moves in the 1890s and early 1900s. It is open to the public for much of the summer.

Gay Head Light

In early 2015, the lighthouse was moved 129 feet away from eroding cliffs. The original structure was built in 1796, making Gay Head the oldest lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard. The current one dates from the 1850s, however, and is open to the public during the summer.

Nobska Point Light

The Town of Falmouth formally took control of the lighthouse from the Coast Guard in the spring of 2016. It dates from the 1820s, and it is open for tours as is the surrounding 4-acre preserve.

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12 of the Prettiest Lighthouses to Visit in Massachusetts

From the north shore to the tip of the Cape, take a trip to one of these picturesque coastal lights.

From day trips to weekend getaways, our biweekly Traveler newsletter shows you the best of New England and beyond.

Gay Head Lighthouse Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lighthouses were first built to prevent seafarers from crashing into dangerous rock formations and cliffsides (as was tragically commonplace in the early 1800s), and signaled to captains and their crew that land was up ahead. Each one had a distinct blinking pattern that not only warned of perilous land formations, but also allowed ships to determine their location (although, now that the GPS is commonplace, the light patterns aren’t as crucial as they once were). The coast of Massachusetts, from the Cape to the north shore, has long had an abundance of maritime traffic—and thankfully more than two dozen lighthouses that still stand today to guide those ships.

While many of those lighthouses are still active in the maritime industry, they’ve also become notable tourist destinations over the years for travelers interested in their history and scenic appearance (just count the lighthouses you can spot while browsing an art museum). Each one has a lengthy history—having been rebuilt, remodeled, and even moved over the course of the last two centuries. Many have nearly fallen victim to eroding cliffs and bluffs, but have been rescued, often multiple times, and relocated further inland by heavy machinery. Some have ghost stories to go along with them, and a handful can be toured, climbed, and explored. So whether you’re staying close to Boston or venturing out for a weekend-long road trip, these twelve lighthouses from the north shore to the tip of the Cape are well worth the visit.

Annisquam Lighthouse, Gloucester

Built in 1801 at the entrance of the Annisquam River, the area’s namesake lighthouse is now manned by the US Coast Guard. The 41-foot tower sits on private property, with (unfortunately) no public access. However, it can be easily admired from afar. Head to Wingaersheek Beach for the day and you can see the white brick lighthouse sitting across the river. Or, you can see it from the ocean—as it was meant to be seen —on a boat ride or harbor cruise around Cape Ann. (You can also get a US Lighthouse Society passport stamped along the way).

Rte 127/Washington Street, Annisquam, Gloucester

Boston Lighthouse, Little Brewster Island, Boston

Boston Light is the oldest continually used and manned lighthouse in the country. Constructed in 1716, it was the first to be built in the colonies. Although it was destroyed by the British during the Revolutionary War, and has been rebuilt and renovated multiple times since, the present tower is still a quintessential symbol of coastal New England. It’s located just off the coast of Boston on Little Brewster Island—but that means a boat is required to see it. If you don’t have your own vessel, you can take a two-hour Boston Harbor Lighthouse Cruise around the outer islands instead (and see two other lighthouses along the way).

191 W Atlantic Ave., Boston; 617-223-8108, bostonharborislands.org

Chatham Light, Chatham

One of the dozens of lighthouses scattered across the Cape’s coastline, the historic Chatham Light is a well-known Cape landmark. Because of cliff erosion (which has significantly affected many other Cape lighthouses, too) Chatham Light has undergone a series of renovations, replacements, and even relocations since its 1808 construction. Originally built as a pair of lighthouses (called the “Twin Lights”), in 1879 the south tower fell off the cliff onto the beach below, after powerful storms left it sitting only 27 feet from the cliff’s edge. The north tower lasted for a bit longer, only to be reconstructed inland (where it stands today) in the years following the south tower’s demise. Tours of the current reconstructed tower are offered weekly (but are currently suspended due to COVID-19).

37 Main St., Chatham

Eastern Point Lighthouse, Gloucester

This 36-foot lighthouse has overlooked Gloucester Harbor since 1832, when it was built to prevent the dozens of shipwrecks that happened off the coast. It gained additional notoriety after the film “The Perfect Storm” brought a local tragedy to national attention. The film, which stars Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney, dramatizes the sinking of the Andrea Gail, a ship that set out from the harbor, only to be caught in the center of a hurricane-strength storm. The ship was lost at sea and the crew was never recovered, and scenes from the movie were filmed at the lighthouse. Although it can’t be accessed directly, it can be admired from the nearby Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary (or in the movie, of course).

Eastern Point Boulevard, Gloucester, 978-887-9264

Edgartown Harbor Light, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard

Just a short walk from Edgartown and a stone’s throw from the aptly named Lighthouse Beach, Edgartown Light is a tourist hub. Originally, it was just a two story house with a lantern on top. But in 1938 it was replaced by a 45-foot tall lighthouse tower, transported from Crane Beach in Ipswich. After Edgartown residents rejected the city’s plans for a bare-bones skeleton lighthouse structure (made of metal and not as pleasing to the eye), the Crane tower was moved to the Vineyard by barge in 1938 and reassembled on its current site in Edgartown harbor. The lighthouse is currently open for visitors, and you can take the spiral staircase to the top to enjoy the views of Chappaquiddick Island and a panoramic seascape. If you’re afraid of heights, the grounds and the area surrounding the lighthouse are worth the trip as well.

121 North Water St., Edgartown, mvmuseum.org

Gay Head Light, Aquinnah, Martha’s Vineyard

In 2015, Gay Head Light was saved from falling off the edge of the Aquinnah Cliffs after erosion caused the cliffs to deteriorate dangerously close to the tower, and was ultimately moved over 100 feet inland. The lighthouse has sat atop the famous multi-colored cliffs since it was constructed in 1799, when the light wasn’t electrical, but a candle submerged in sperm whale oil. It’s also the site of a noted ghostly encounter, after a ship floated ashore in 1804 with no captain or crew—only cargo, and no owners were ever found. It’s one of the island’s busiest spots during tourist season, so make sure to get there early if you want to take a trip to the top without too big of a crowd.

15 Aquinnah Circle, at the end of Lighthouse Road, Aquinnah, gayheadlight.org

Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Highland Lighthouse, Truro

Built in 1797, the Highland Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Cape — but the current 66-foot tower isn’t the original structure that was built there. It was rebuilt in 1831, rebuilt again in 1857, and then moved in 1996 when significant erosion left it sitting dangerously close to the water below. The 430-ton lighthouse was then lifted and moved back more than 450 feet to a safer, more inland location. The interior of the Highland Light is closed for renovations until 2022, when visitors can once again climb the 69-step, five-story staircase to the top.

27 Highland Light Road, North Truro, highlandlighthouse.org

Photo by Brian Walker/Getty Images

Minots Ledge Light, Scituate

Sitting all alone in the middle of the water, Minots Ledge Light is perhaps the most interesting lighthouse in MA. Just a mile off the coast of Scituate, the grey stone tower rises straight out of the waves, anchored directly into the large rock formation below it. Minots Ledge has been dubbed the “I-Love-You” light, and considered one of the most romantic lighthouses in the country, for its signature 1-4-3 flash cycle (a shorthand for the three-word phrase). But it’s also rumored to be very, very haunted, specifically by the ghosts of the men who perished when the lighthouse collapsed during a storm in 1851. There’s no shortage of ghostly sightings and unexplainable phenomena reported by those viewing the lighthouse on a stormy night. Needless to say, this light is closed for visitors, but you can still view it from the surrounding water (if you dare).

Off the coast of Scituate and Cohasset

Nauset Light, Eastham

Eastham’s Nauset Light can arguably boast the most turbulent history of all the lighthouses in the state. In the early 1800s, the light station was completed with three separate towers (nicknamed “The Three Sisters”). But because of coastal erosion, the towers were dismantled, moved, or replaced three times before 1930. By 1996, only one tower remained, and sat only 35 feet from the edge of the cliff, before being moved 300 feet to safety (that same year, it was adopted by Cape Cod Potato Chips as the iconic light pictured on every bag). While tours are temporarily suspended, you can climb to the top of the light tower for free once it reopens.

120 Nauset Light Beach Road, Eastham, nausetlight.org

Photo by lucky-photographer/Getty Images

Nobska Light, Falmouth

In 1828, the property on which the Nobska Light stands was purchased for $160, and a wooden tower was built to house the keeper’s quarters and the light itself. In the 1870s, the current 40-foot tall cast iron lighthouse replaced the wooden one (and is, thankfully, much more durable). Up until the early 1970s, the lighthouse was operated by a civilian keeper, who lived on the property and manned the electrified light. Interior tours of the lighthouse tower are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so you can climb the spiral staircase and take in the surrounding views from the top.

233 Nobska Road, Woods Hole, Falmouth, friendsofnobska.org

Race Point Lighthouse, Provincetown

Getting to the lighthouse requires quite a hike (four miles round trip, to be exact) through soft sand and sea grass. But the trail goes along the picturesque seashore, and the view makes it significantly less taxing. Although tours have been cancelled for the 2021 season, they’re typically offered on the first and third Saturdays of the month from June-October. Plan your day with enough time to walk there and back—or, if you have an ATV, you can take that down the path instead. (Plus, pre- and post-COVID, the Keeper’s House at the lighthouse is also open for overnight stays).

Race Point Road, Provincetown, racepointlighthouse.org

Sankaty Head Light, Siasconset, Nantucket

The Sankaty Head Lighthouse, a picture-perfect red-and-white-striped tower on the east edge of Nantucket, sits on a 7-acre stretch of bluff perfect for exploring. Bring your dog, pack, and picnic, and try to go on one of the two days a year the lighthouse is open for climbing. The best way to visit the light? On the Sconset Bluffs Walk, widely regarded as the most beautiful stroll on the island. The picturesque public footpath takes you from downtown Sconset to the Sankaty Head Light, right along the bluffs and behind lavish oceanfront homes.

122 Baxter Road, Siasconset, Nantucket, sconsettrust.org

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Boston Light

Top ways to experience Boston Light and nearby attractions

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Boston Light - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Our tour out to Boston Light and Little Brewster Island left from the State Pier near the JFK Library. The tour also included free admission to the presidential library, which is also worth a visit.

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Boston Harbor Lighthouse

Boston, Massachusetts Built in 1716

On Little Brewster Island marking the entrance to Boston Harbor. Tours are offered to cruise pass the island and park tours are available to get on the island and explore the lighthouse during the summer months.

Latitude: 42° 19' 42" N Longitude: 70° 53' 24" W

Historic Stories:

Boston Light Station is the oldest lighthouse in the country, however, technically the tower itself is the second oldest because it had to be rebuilt in 1783.

In 1716, the Colony of Massachusetts Bay constructed and lit the first light tower in the "New World" overlooking Boston Harbor. At this time there were only 70 lighthouses in existence on earth.  

In 1719, the nation’s first fog signal, a canon, was created and used on Little Brewster Island until it was eventually replaced by a 1375-pound fog bell operated by clockwork machinery in 1851.

Tragedies at Boston Lighthouse In the Early Years

The first light Keeper was George Wothrylake. On a cold November day, in 1718, he was heading back to the lighthouse on a sloop from Boston after collecting his pay and gathering supplies with his wife Anne, his daughter Ruth, his servant George Cutler, and a friend, John Edge. His other daughter Ann, and a friend, Mary Thompson, watched from shore. The seas were choppy from the gusts of wind that were kicking up from an approaching storm. The sloop was anchored a distance from the lighthouse. As a canoe was sent out to bring the five passengers back to the lighthouse, the wind picked up and forced the little boat to capsize from the weight of the six passengers, spilling them into the freezing waters and drowning all.

At the same time a young 12-year old Benjamin Franklin, was encouraged by his brother to put his locally known writing skills in creating a poem based on the disaster. Franklin wrote a poem called “The Lighthouse Tragedy” and made copies to sell on the streets of Boston.

The second keeper, Robert Saunders, drowned just days after taking the job.

The third keeper John Hayes asked that "a great gun be placed on the Said Island to answer ships in a fog." He was granted his request but the tasks related to maintaining the cannon were added to his duties without an increase in pay. Hayes protested and the Council increased his pay to 70 pounds, as long as he didn't attempt to make any money entertaining guests on the island. The cannon was the first colonial fog signal.

A nasty fire occurred at the lighthouse lantern room in early 1720 when a couple open fire oil lamps tipped over and set a wooden bench nearby on fire. Repairs were completed in a couple months, but the Council blamed Hayes for the accident and held back his pay until he came to provide an adequate explanation. After hearing his explanantion of trying to put out the fire, the Council concluded that the fire started not out of neglect on the keeper's part and granted him back his pay.

In the mid-1700’s when lightning struck the tower a number of times, a lighting rod was originally approved for installation, but was hampered at first by local religious individuals who didn’t want to interfere with the acts of God. A lightning conductor was eventually placed on the tower in the 1770s, it was one of many inventions developed by Ben Franklin.

Boston Light During the American Revolution

The lighthouse was the scene of several important battles during the Revolution, as the British occupied it as a strategic post. First, the Colonial Minutemen set fire to the lighthouse in July 1775 to strike back at the British blockade, which was created after the "Boston Tea Party" where Colonists were in revolt because of taxes imposed upon them. The fire was not as effective as hoped, and was quickly repaired. 

General George Washington sent a second raiding party to the island, catching the British by surprise, and set fire to everything they could find. As the men were performing their orders on the island, the tide had gone out and stranded them as they were set to leave. As they tried to move their boats over rocks to escape, they found themselves in front of a small British flotilla that had just arrived and a battle ensued. Although the British outnumbered the Colonials, Washington's men caused severe damage to one of the British vessels as cannon shots fired from nearby Nantasket destroyed one vessel, causing the small fleet to retreat. The small Colonial troop only lost one man in the battle.

On June 13, 1776, armed Colonials fired upon the British blockaders on the island, driving most of them away. One British vessel was left anhored at Little Brewster Island, and those British soldiers, before retreating, set gunpowder in the lighthouse and blew it up.

During the War of 1812, on a summer day in 1813, lighthouse keeper Jonathan Bruce and his wife Mary watched from their station on Little Brewster Island, the battle between the American Navy’s U.S.S. Chesapeake and the English warship HMS Shannon , in which Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake was known to have made his famous cry "Don’t give up the ship!" as his ship was rendered helpess and was boarded by British troops. The Chesepeake lost the battle and Captain Lawrence was killed in the fight.

In the mid-1840’s, Keeper Tobias Cook set up a cigar factory on Brewster Island next to the lighthouse. Here he employed young women to manufacture what he called "Spanish Cigars". It was an effort to deceive Boston smokers into thinking that the cigars were imported. These poor women toiled under what are considered miserable conditions under Cook. He was removed from duty when he was later discovered by authorities in 1849.

Shipwrecks and Rescues By Boston Harbor Lghthouse

Around Little Brewster Island through the years there were many shipwrecks, and daring rescues made by lighthouse keepers, and by the life saving station at Point Allerton, located at the end of a long peninsula on the mainland in Hull. The station was about 2 miles across the shipping channel from the lighthouse and the island, most ships would have to come through this channel to safely enter Boston Harbor. During many storms signals were coordinated by the keeper of Boston Light, and the lifesavers of Hull, as the keeper's main job was to maintain the light burning, where the lifesavers were specially trained in rescues. 

A little over 750 yards away from the lighthouse is a group of jagged rock formations known as Shag Rocks. This deadly outcrop of rocks were one of the main reasons for the initial construction of Boston Light at its location on Little Brewster Island nearby, to steer mariners away from these jagged rocks to the safety of the harbor.

The Rescue of the Maritana By the Hull Lifesavers The worst tragedy in Boston Harbor occurred when the massive square rigger ship, the Maritana was caught in a fierce November storm in 1861, of gale force winds and blinding snow, and became wedged on Shag Rocks around 1:00 A.M on November 3. Around 8:30 that morning the storm and breaking waves were too much for the vessel and it broke in two, sending many of its crew and passengers into the icy waters. Only twelve surviviors were able to climb onto the pinnacle-like rocks and wait to be rescued. 

Because the storm was so deadly, Keeper Moses Barrett was unable to leave his post the following morning when he saw the wreck, and tried to signal the Hull Lifesavers, who did not see the flag through the blinding snow until later that afternoon when the storm started to dissipate. The lifesavers from Point Allerton were finally able to rescue all twelve survivors, but 26 people drowned in the Maritana tragedy. 

Keeper Thomas Bates Rescue of the Fanny Pike Keeper Thomas Bates was promoted to Keeper of Boston Light after rescuing the keeper of Minot's Ledge Lighthouse, and other rescues. On a severe winter storm in January 31, 1882, he saw the coal schooner  Fanny Pike get caught in a storm and was driven on Shag Rocks. The ship broke in two, with half her hull quickly sinking, but the crew were able to stay on the wreck. Keeper Bates along with the help of his assistants, Charles Pochaska and George G. Bailey, along with a young fisherman who lived on the island, was able to row out and safely rescue all survivors without any tragedy.

Rescue of the Calvin F. Baker By Hull Lifesavers    During one of the worst storms of the century of hurricane force winds and blinding snow on November 26-28, 1898, known as the "Portland Gale" for the lives lost of the steamer that sank during the storm. The schooner Calvin F. Baker was sailing from Baltimore to Boston with a load of coal and was blown onto the northern end of Little Brewster Island at 3:00 a.m. on November 27th. It grounded about 75 yards from the rocky shore, near Boston Harbor Lighthouse. The storm was relentless and the crewmembers could only hold on to the rigging and wait for a break in the storm to be rescued.

Keeper Pingree was unable to leave his station with the intensity of the storm and its fierce winds engulfing the area, and he had no adequate equipment or lifeboat strong enough to enter the churning waters. He was able to put out a distress signal to the Hull lifesavers of Point Allerton, but they too were unable to risk going out in open waters until the storm finally calmed somewhat on the following morning of November 28th.

With the help of the tug Ariel , Captain Joshua James of the lifesavers, along with members of his crew and some volunteers, were towed across the open waters, to about a quarter mile from shore as the seas were still heaving. They launched their surfboat and rowed with all their might to rescue the crew of the Calivin F. Baker who were literally frozen on the rigging on what was left of the wreck, and barely alive. Five crewmembers were rescued and survived, two others were swept off the deck and drowned, and one crewmember froze to death. Becuse of the ferocity of this historic storm, it took 30 hours to finally rescue the crew.

Keeper Jennings Rescues Survivors of the Wreck of the U.S.S. Alacrity One of the most daring rescues by a Boston lighthouse keeper involved the rescue of the U.S.S. Alacrity by Keeper Charles H. Jennings. On February 3, 1918, the U.S.S. Alacrity was wrecked on the ice-covered ledges off Little Brewster Island just before daybreak during a winter storm. Jennings realized that time was critical and fearing the wreck could slip off the ledge and sink immediately, he decided to attempt the rescue with his crew before putting up the distress signal to the lifesaving station in Hull.

He had some lifesaving equipment given to him by the Massachusetts Humane Society, and one was a canon like Lyle gun to shoot a line to a wreck. However, after four failed attempts, Jennings decided to grab his wooden dory and brought it down to the shore. Then, along with the help of two local sailors visiting him, whose last names were Hero and Harvey, they launched the dory over the ice and into the churning surf.

Twenty-four men, were clinging to the wreck in the freezing February temperatures, as the tenacious keeper and his crew dragged the boat over and between ice flows and finally reached near the wreck. Finally, after a number of attempts, they were able to secure a line to the survivors. After four time-consuming heroic trips from the wreck to the shore in the small boat, Keeper Jennings was able to sucessfully rescue all twenty-four men of the U.S.S. Alacrity , without any lives lost.

Boston Harbor lighthouse was the first to be constructed to be operated by appointed keepers, and it was the last lighthouse to be automated in 1998. It had more than 60 keepers tending it during its series.

In 2013, Boston Harbor Lighthouse was chosen as one of a series of five New England lighthouses, painted by artist Howard Koslow, for the "Forever" stamp collection sold at all US Postal stations.

Today, Boston Harbor Lighthouse is the only beacon in the nation that retains an official keeper. Her name is Sally Snowman and she maintains the lighthouse 7 months of every year, and the rest of the time, she visits the island about once a month to ensure that everything is in fine working order. She dresses in colonial period costume for visitors each summer season, and is directly involved in recruiting, training, and scheduling Boston Light’s 70 auxiliary volunteers. She is also the 70th keeper at the beacon, and its first woman keeper.

On September 14, 2016, Boston Light celebrated its 300th anniversary.

Places to Visit Nearby:

The waterfront also offers an outdoor museum for visitors to explore the Nation’s oldest Naval ship, the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides).

Boston offers plenty of cultural and diverse events for any tourist.

The Boston Harbor Island Park Service in coordination with the newly formed Boston Harbor Now alliance, have developed an exciting 2-hour narrated tour involving the maritime history of Boston Harbor. Visitors can get close up views of Graves Lighthouse, Long Island Head Lighthouse, and the famous Boston Harbor Lighthouse on Little Brewster Island.

Note: Currently (2023) the Boston Harbor Lighthouse tower is closed to the public, so their are no lighthouse tower tours on Little Brewster Island, as the building is undergoing necessary repairs from winter storms .

Boston is one of the largest cities on the east coast with plenty of rich history; you can take guided walking tours to Boston’s historic places, like the Freedom Trail, or explore the Bunker Hill Monument that marked one of the starting events of the American Revolution.

Visit some of Boston’s 40 museums . Take in some of its cultural and varied events and nightlife to enjoy.

Get involved and hike in the Boston Harborwalk tours, which connects Boston's waterfront to open space networks and various trails surrounding Boston.

Check out Boston's North End, Boston's oldest neighborhood, after visiting Boston Harbor Light and surrounding lighthouses in the harbor from Long Wharf. You'll plenty of Italian cuisine and other ethnic cuisine, and lots of festivals and events year round.

Boston's South End also boasts some incredible restaurants with many buildings displaying elegant Victorian architecture. It too has plenty of ethnic and arts festivals year round.

In addition to musical shows and events, families can learn about musical instruments from musicians. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world with a collection of nearly 45,0000 works.

The Huntington Theatre Company is Boston’s leading professional theater for those who want to take in a show, or visit a classic show provided by the world famous Boston Ballet . If you love loud, crazy, and let’s say something definitely different, you must see Blue Man Group !

Contact Info:

Boston Harbor Island Park Service 191W Atlantic Ave Boston, MA 02110 Phone: (617) 223-8666

Boston Harbor Now 1 Constitution Road Boston, MA 02129 Phone: (617) 223-8667 Email: [email protected]  

Boston's Waterfront Directions

Directions to boston's rowes wharf for harbor cruises:.

• Take US Route I-93 North to the Logan Airport I-90)/S. Station exit towards Worcester, Exit #20
• Continue towards Frontage Road/South Station
• Bear right towards Kneeland Street/Downtown
• Continue on Atlantic Avenue
• Rowes Wharf is on the right.
• Take Take US Route I-90 East (Massachusetts Turnpike) to the 24 A-B-C/I-93/South station exit towards Concord NH/Quincy.
• Continue towards South Station, Exit #24A
• Take US Route I-93 South to the Purchase Street exit, Exit #23
• At the traffic light, turn left onto Congress Street
• At the next traffic light, turn left onto Atlantic Avenue

Directions Public Subway Transportation (MBTA):

Take the Blue Line to Aquarium Station

Turn LEFT immediately out of the station Continue on Atlantic Avenue

Rowes Wharf is on the left.

Directions to Boston's Long Wharf for Harbor Cruises

• Take US Route 93 South to Exit 24A bearing right on off ramp (Government Center).
• Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf. Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.
• Take US Route 93 North to Exit 23 (Government Center).
• Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf.
• Boston Harbor Cruises is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel

Local Boat Tours For Visitors

Boston Harbor Islands Park Service and Boston Harbor Now Narrated trips by the park rangers are provided with boat trips running every weekend during the summer where visitors can see Boston Harbor Lighthouse, Graves Lighthouse, and Long Island Head Lighthouse. They have been directly involved in the preservation of all 34 islands in the harbor. Boston Harbor Now is the non-profit partner of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. They also offer public ferry service, cultural and recreational activities, etc.

Note: Boston Light is undergoing repairs from damage caused by a series of devastating winter storms, therefore, there are no tours of the lighthouse tower in 2023.

Books to Explore

You'll find this book and my lighthouse tourism books published by Schiffer Books , or they can be found in many fine bookstores like Barnes and Noble .

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New England Lighthouses > Exploring > Boston Area > Boston Harbor Lighthouse

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Boston Lighthouse tours

Boston light tours (by the national park service).

USLHS Tours and Traveling Adventures

2024 Lake Erie South

The original Lake Erie South Tour has been modified to these new dates to coordinate with when the lighthouses will be open for visiting.  Also, more lights and lighthouses have been added for a total of 20.  There will be 7 nights in one hotel.

UPDATE:  3/16/2024 - there are 2 rooms available as of this date.

Tour Leaders: Kelly Bowers and Mike Rosenberger

Tour Cancellation / Refund Policy / Trip Insurance 

2024 Denmark/Germany - Wait List Only

2024 Rhode Island and Connecticut Tour

Don't miss out on this trip around Connecticut and Rhode Island to see over 30 lighthouse and lights.

UPDATED 3/18/2024

Tour Leaders: Jerry and Marjie Rowland,  Assistant Dean Lohmeyer

2024 Northern California

2024 Southern Maine and New Hampshire

Join us on this tour of Southern Maine and New Hampshire during the fall colors.  You will see 30 lighthouses and enjoy cruising the local waters to see these lighthouses.

Tour Leaders: Tina Hans and Jeremy D'Entremont

2025 Canary Islands

Don't miss this chance to get away from the winter weather.  This is a wonderful sailing trip around the Canary islands.  The Windstar Cruise Line ship, THE WIND STAR, is a sleek 4 masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests with a crew of 101.  All state rooms will have ocean views. The boat offers 2 primary dining venues, a new pool, spa and hot tub.  You will touch foot in Spain and Portugal on this trip and see over 30 Lighthouses. Put this on your winter getaway list.

Tour Leaders: Chris and Janet Brookes

Upcoming Tours Preview

2025 tour preview - domestic tours​.

• Lake Superior North Shore August 15-22, 2025 (Dates are not confirmed - Entry into Canada)
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts - (Dates are not confirmed)

2025 Tour Preview - International Tours

• Australia - January 3-28, 2025
• France South by Southwest - June 5-21, 2025
• Canary Islands - Nov 30 – Dec 9, 2025

Slideshows of Past Tours

This is just a small sample of photos. Go here to see all photos from past tours.

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Lighthouse Tours

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Repeating Event

Type of event, description.

Voyage through maritime history with a special three-lighthouse tour featuring close-up views of Long Island Light, Graves Light, and Boston Light – America’s first light station.

Delve into history as you travel to the edge of Boston Harbor on an exciting 2-hour cruise and encounter three iconic lighthouses, and enjoy onboard narration provided by Boston Harbor Islands park staff and volunteers from the United States Coast Guard. Learn about the maritime traditions of Boston Harbor, enjoy unforgettable views of the park and city, and experience one of the most unique and historically significant ports in the country.

Reservation or Registration: Yes

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Boston Light

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Home to the National Historic Landmark, Boston Light, this little island is steeped in U.S. history.

The historic Boston Light overlooks the sea from Little Brewster Island, casting a light beam 27 miles into the Atlantic. This island is home to the oldest continually used and last staffed lighthouse in the country, which dates back to the Revolutionary War. Prior to housing Boston Light, the island was used for sending signal fires to aid novice travelers navigating the dangerous sandbars and unpredictable weather.

Today, Little Brewster Island is an active U.S. Coast Guard navigational aid facility. To view this historic lighthouse or simply take in the beautiful views of the harbor, take a two-hour Boston Harbor Lighthouse Cruise narrated by National Park Service and U.S. Coast Guard staff.

• Two-hour narrated cruise
• Restrooms onboard

Recreation & Activities

Know Before You Go

Little Brewster Island is currently closed to visitors.

Come explore the oldest continually operated light station in the country and learn of its rich history guiding travelers safely to Boston Harbor.

Boston Light was first lit on September 14, 1716, and was operated by its first keeper, George Worthylake, who also acted as pilot for vessels entering the harbor. Unfortunately, George, his wife and daughter, and two men drowned in 1718 after their boat capsized returning to the lighthouse. Benjamin Franklin went on to write a ballad about the event, entitled “Lighthouse Tragedy.”

The lighthouse survived invasion and war over the years. In 1774 the British overtook the island and Boston Light was partially destroyed. A new lighthouse was erected in place of the old in 1783, which still stands today. The tower was later raised to 89 feet in the 1850s to accommodate the new second order Fresnel lens.

Today, the lighthouse is permanently manned by its first female keeper, Dr. Sally Snowman. Its light, which was first provided by candles and then oil lamps, reaches 27 miles to survey the harbor.

Join us on a guided Lighthouse Tour!

Experience all three lighthouses of Boston Harbor on a two-hour narrated cruise with close-up views of Boston Light, Graves Light, and Long Island Light.

Follow Us @bostonharborislands

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Top 5 summer vacation destinations for 2024

Grab your sunscreen and get excited for your upcoming summer adventure in one of these incredible destinations around the u.s..

April 11, 2024

It's that time of the year. You know what we mean: the weather alternates between gray, drizzly skies and sunny yet chilly; you have a burning desire to start making tomato salads, but the tomatoes aren't there yet; and the internet keeps targeting you with swimsuit ads. Yes, you guessed it. Summer travel-planning season is officially here! Not to worry if you haven't started thinking about it yet because we've done the research for you. Read on and discover the most popular summer vacation destinations in the U.S. for 2024:

San Diego boasts a riviera atmosphere and laid-back SoCal charm, including a diversity of neighborhoods and natural surroundings. Take in the seaside beauty at San Diego Bay, enjoy the pristine beaches of La Jolla and the vintage allure of the Gaslamp Quarter. A stroll along the Embarcadero, San Diego’s waterfront social hub, includes everything from shops, grassy parks and restaurants to Navy aircraft carriers that now house museums. For wildlife encounters, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are internationally known attractions that also add to the city’s family-friendly reputation. Green spaces abound and joining the locals to bask in the lush surroundings of Balboa Park is never a bad idea. While exploring the park’s multiple gardens, don’t forget its top-notch museums, too. The San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum and The San Diego Museum of Art are fascinating and memorable and filled with exhibits that will appeal to a wide range of ages.

Portland, Maine

Portland fits the bill for any traveler who wants a bit of everything in their summer getaway: outdoorsy fun, great food, history and intriguing art. Start by acquainting yourself with the city’s Old Port. With cobblestone streets, 19th-century brick buildings and dozens of boutiques, this riverfront part of town is oozing with New England charm. Positioned at the heart of Old Port and only four blocks from downtown, Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront is ideally located and shows off Portland’s chic, modern side. Venturing outside of the city’s central area, a stop at Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse, is a must. If you’d like another quintessential Maine experience, and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, then hop on a tour with Lucky Catch Cruises for a hands-on look at lobstering. Continue the seafood experience at Luna Rooftop Bar where the menu selections include fresh-from-the-ocean Maine oysters and other shareable dishes like wagyu sliders, tuna tartare and truffle fries.

If you’re able to get an early start on your summer vacation, head to Boston in June. With area schools typically in session until later in the month, visitors get to enjoy the city’s attractions without the crowds. Of course, the other months have their perks, too. In July, the city hosts Boston Harborfest, one of the biggest Independence Day festivals in the country. The weeklong celebration includes parades, live music, fireworks, Chowderfest and other special events that are mostly free to the public. For travelers who love a great deal and the chance to savor award-winning cuisine, visit in August, when Dine Out Boston offers discounted prix fixe meals at some of the city’s top restaurants. That same month, the August Adventures program grants free admission to several museums and attractions. No matter when you’re in town, the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England Aquarium and the popular-for-all-ages Boston Duck Tours make the city particularly welcoming for families.

Bend, Oregon

Bend is arguably the hottest travel destination in all of Oregon right now. The city sits on the eastern side of the Cascades, putting it squarely in the high desert. The mile-long (1.6-kilometer) Lava River Cave at Newberry National Volcanic Monument is the longest lava tube in Oregon and is accessible to the public. Visitors descend 55 steps into the cave and the tour takes about two hours. Inside the cave can be as cool as 42 F (5 C), even in summer, so bring warm clothes and sturdy shoes to traverse the sharp and potentially slippery rocks. Learn more about the area by visiting Bend’s High Desert Museum. The museum brings regional wildlife, culture, art and natural resources together to promote an understanding of natural and cultural heritage of North America's high desert country. Another local highlight is the dozens of tiny breweries all over town. Stop in for a pint at the Deschutes Brewery, known for being a community gathering place since 1988.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is split up into four sections: the South Rim, the North Rim, the West Rim and the East Rim. The South Rim and the North Rim are operated by the National Park Service, and the West Rim is on Hualapai Indian Tribal Lands. The West Rim, home to the Skywalk and rushing waterfalls, makes for a doable day trip from Las Vegas (some visitors even opt for helicopter tours of the West Rim, which leave from Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas and take only a few hours). The South Rim and the seasonal North Rim work best as overnight trips, but you can’t go wrong exploring any part of the Grand Canyon and its striking rock formations.

Need more inspiration? Discover more incredible summer vacations

It's all included.

Find your ideal all-inclusive stay and have the summer of a lifetime with these unique experiences around the globe.

Awesome Austin

This summer, the party is in Austin. Head to Texas for a long weekend getaway filled with good eats, live music and Instagrammable artwork.

Pet-friendly

Enjoy the dog days of summer (literally) with a road trip through the Deep South.