Palmer Island Light

About Palmer Island Light

The location of the light is west side of New Bedford Reach. The nearest city is New Bedford, MA. The station was first established in 1849. The current lighthouse was first lit in 1849.

The lighthouse is a white conical tower on a stone pier.  The tower has a single-flashing white light.  

The light has a focal plane height of 34 ft above mean high water. The tower height is 33 ft. The light has a period of 4 seconds.

Open to the Public?: By Appointment    Active?: Yes

Identification number: 1-16898 (U.S.)

From 1888 until 1891 it served, with Fairhaven Bridge Light, as a range light to guide vessels past Butler Flats, a rocky shoal on the west side of the entrance channel.

NOAA Nautical Chart 13230

A 'single-flashing' light is a light in which the total duration of light in a period is shorter than the total duration of darkness and the appearances of light (flashes) are usually of equal duration. So in the 4 second period, the light is on for less than 2 then off for more than 2.

Palmer Island Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 26, 1980, reference number 80000433.

Photo by: Jim Tracy Source: USBeacons