Chatham Light
Chatham Light and Coast Guard Station (2007)
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| Location | Chatham, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 41°40′16.704″N 69°57′.554″W / 41.67130667°N 69.95015389°WCoordinates: 41°40′16.704″N 69°57′.554″W / 41.67130667°N 69.95015389°W |
| Year first constructed | 1808 |
| Year first lit | 1877 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1982 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | Cast iron plate with brick lining |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | White with gray lantern |
| Focal height | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Original lens | 4th order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | Carlisle & Finch DCB-224 |
| Range | 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s, lighted continuously |
| Fog signal | none |
| Admiralty number | J0394 |
| ARLHS number | USA-158 |
| USCG number |
1-525 |
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Chatham Light Station
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| Location | Main St., Chatham, Massachusetts |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Part of | Old Village Historic District (#01001406) |
| MPS | Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR |
| NRHP Reference # | |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1987 |
| Designated CP | December 17, 2001 |
1-525
Chatham Lighthouse, known as Twin Lights prior to 1923, is a lighthouse in Chatham, Massachusetts, near the "elbow" of Cape Cod. The original station, close to the shore, was built in 1808 with two wooden towers that were replaced in 1841 in spite of questions as to why a single tower would not be adequate. In 1877, two new towers, made of cast iron rings, replaced those. One of the towers was moved to the Eastham area and became Nauset Light in 1923.
The station was established in 1808; it was the second light station on Cape Cod. To distinguish it from Highland Light, the first Cape Cod light, and to act as a range, twin octagonal 40-foot (12 m) wooden towers were built. They were on skids so that they could be moved to keep them in line with the entrance channel as it shifted. Samuel Nye was appointed as the first Keeper of the Chatham Lights by President Jefferson on October 7, 1808. The light had an interesting history afterwards.
Chatham Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Chatham Light Station on June 15, 1987, reference number 87001501.
The following individuals were the principal light keepers over the years.
Today, the former keeper's house is an active U.S. Coast Guard station, and on-duty personnel living quarters. Search and Rescue, maritime law enforcement, and Homeland Security missions are carried out here. Flotilla 11-01 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary operates from this station.
The Chatham Lighthouse is featured in the film The Finest Hours depicting the US Coast Guard’s rescue of the SS Pendleton in 1952 off the coast of Chatham. All four of the Coast Guard crew received the Coast Guard’s Gold Lifesaving Medal.
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