Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light and
Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light


[photo]
Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light-current color view, and black and white image prior to restoration
Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont, www.lighthouse.cc
Established in 1873, Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light and Rear Range Light guided mariners traveling the Merrimack River to Newburyport Harbor, a center for shipbuilding and maritime trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. The range lights also helped vessels avoid a dangerous underwater obstacle known as Goose Rocks. Range lights, also known as leading lights, typically consisted of paired towers developed to guide vessels into harbors and channels. The front light is usually low, while the rear light is much higher and located some distance away. Mariners know they are on a safe course when both lights are aligned one on top of the other. Only three sets of range lights exist in Massachusetts.

[photo]
Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light
Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont, www.lighthouse.cc

The front range light tower was originally situated on the land-end of Bayley's Wharf. In the 1950s, the height of the light in this tower was raised when the original cast iron and glass lantern was removed and a 20-foot tall wood-frame tower, covered in wood shingles, was placed atop the 15-foot tall steel tower. The rear range light tower is situated several feet behind the front range tower and rests on a foundation of beveled stone blocks. It is a 53-foot tall pyramidal brick structure. The original daymark (a sign or shape that is clearly visibile by day) consisted of white paint on the upper third of the north side (or river-facing side) of the structure, with a thick white stripe running the length of the tower. Today, the entire north side of the tower is painted white. Both range lights were discontinued in 1961. Shortly thereafter the front range light was moved to a concrete foundation on nearby Coast Guard property and the rear range light was sold to a private owner. Later, a fire greatly damaged the front range light tower. When it was restored, a replica lantern was placed back atop the 15-foot tall iron tower returning it to its original appearance.

Newburyport Front Range Light Station is located on the grounds of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Merrimack River. Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light Station is located on Water St. between Federal and Independent sts. Though neither light tower is open to the public both are visible from Water St. in downtown Newburyport or from boat cruises on the Merrimack River .

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