The Boston Light on Little Brewester's Island. 6 September 2003 Boston Light is located on a small island about 7 miles offshore from Downtown Boston. It is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Small tours of the Island are given by the United States Coast Guard. Boston Light is the oldest lighthouse station in the United States (1716) and has been in continual use. The lighthouse had to be rebuilt in 1783 as it was destroyed by the British at the close of the Revolutionary War. Boston Light is also the last manned lighthouse in the nation. This is the view from the lighthouse, looking down at the Lighthouse Keeper's house. The skyline of Boston is in the background.   More information.

Lighthouse on Long Island.

Approaching Little Brewster's Island and the Boston Light.

The Lighthouse Keeper's Home. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard are stationed here. In the past,
large families have been raised in this house on this tiny island. I don't think they had a Satellite Dish
in those days.

The lighthouse is about 5 stories tall. 76 steps and
two ladders, but who's counting?

Looking up into the "Fresnel Lens." The Fresnel Lens is insured at 1.9 million dollars and is
irreplaceable. The original materials no longer exist to rebuild the light if damaged. The light can
be seen up to 27 miles away on a clear night.

Sammy, an official Coast Guard Dog. The Coast Guard trains dogs to aid in rescues. Many of
them are Newfoundlands, but Sammy is a Labrador Retriever. When rescuing a person at sea, the
dog will jump in the water and carry a rope in its mouth to the person. The dogs can also jump
from tall heights, aiding in helicopter rescues. Sammy is old and no longer on active duty.

Coast Guard Interpreter. These are the last official Lighthouse Keepers in the
United States.

Back in the day, ships would fire their cannons on a foggy day. The Lighthouse Keeper
would return with an empty discharge from his cannon. Each party would have to return
fire until the ship could comfortably coordinate its position. Nowadays, no cannons are
needed.

Our return vessel. The egg-shaped structures on the right-hand-side of the picture are part of the
water treatment plant at Deer Island. The Boston Harbor Island is much cleaner now than it was
20 years ago.

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