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Last Visited: September, 2007
History:
Point Gammon Light had been established at the southern approach to the harbor in 1816, but it became increasingly apparent that a navigational light was needed to guide shipping into the inner harbor. One local man took it upon himself to provide a light some years before the government decided to erect one. The first light in the harbor was a privately-built shack on the beach with a lamp that hung in a window. It was erected by Daniel Snow Hallett, who was assisted in his lightkeeping duties by his son, Daniel Bunker Hallett.
In 1848, Congress authorized the building of a proper lighthouse at South Hyannis for $2,000. A 19-foot (to the base of the lantern), conical brick tower was built, and the light went into service on May 7, 1849. A fifth-order Fresnel lens replaced the original lighting apparatus in 1856, and a new cast-iron lantern was installed in 1863. In 1885, a range light was added on the nearby Old Colony Railroad Wharf, a simple lamp hoisted to the top of a 20-foot tower.
Hyannis Harbor Light was discontinued in 1929. The entire lantern room was removed from the lighthouse, while the range light continued as an acetylene gas beacon. A.W. Fuller bought the lighthouse at auction for $7,007 and subsequently sold it to Annie V. Stevenson. The property has since passed through several hands. The present owners, who are antique dealers, built a new top for the tower. It's not a traditional lantern, but it reportedly provides a great view at sunset.
Source:
New England Lighthouses - A Virtual Guide
Hours:
The lighthouse is privately owned and not accessible to the public. You can get good views of the lighthouse from the nearby beach. Also, if you look out into the harbor, off to the left, you'll see Point Gammon Light off in the distance, about 2.25 miles away.
Latitude/Longitude: 41.636218,-70.288549
Nearest Address: 91 Harbor Rd, Hyannis, MA
Directions:
- From Route 6 take exit 6 in Hyannis. At the end of the ramp turn south onto Route 132.
- Take Route 132 for 2.8 miles to the rotary/circle/roundabout at the intersection with Route 28.
- Go half way around the circle (essentially continuing straight) and go onto Barnstable Road.
- Stay on Barnstable Road for about 0.8 miles to the stop light at the 5-way intersection.
- Take a 45 degree right (you can't take a 90 degree right - it's one way) onto Old Colony Rd.
- Follow Old Colony Rd. 0;9 miles to the end and turn right onto Gosnold St.
- In 0.1 miles turn left onto Harbor Rd.
- The road ends in a cul-de-sac. There are No Parking signs in the cul-de-sac but we didn't see any signs on the road just before the cul-de-sac so we parked there. Walk to the end of the the road and take the path out to the beach where you'll have a good view of the lighthouse.
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