National Register of Historic Places

Derby Wharf Light Station

Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
Listed
June 14, 1987
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87001466

About this property

Derby Wharf Light Station is a historic lighthouse on Derby Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts that is within the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. It was built in 1871 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The United States Coast Guard Light List description is "White square tower. Maintained by the U.S. Park Service". The actual light is 25 feet (7.6 m) above Mean High Water. Its red light is visible for 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi). The Light Station was originally built in 1871 and used an oil lamp shining through a Fresnel lens. For many years, Derby Wharf Light had one of only 17 sixth-order Fresnel lenses in the United States. Today, the light is solar powered, and the light is a red flash every six seconds. National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts

Location

Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
42.51451, -70.88383

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Listed
0.4 mi
House of Seven Gables Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Derby Waterfront District
Listed
0.6 mi
Charter Street Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi
Joseph Fenno House-Woman's Friend Society
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Action at Hog Island
1775Revolutionary War
10.9 mi
Battle of Chelsea Creek (1775)
1775Revolutionary War
11.1 mi
Battle of Chelsea Creek
1775Revolutionary War
11.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Derby Wharf Light Station listed on the National Register?

Derby Wharf Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Derby Wharf Light Station?

Derby Wharf Light Station is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Derby Wharf Light Station?

The period of significance for Derby Wharf Light Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Derby Wharf Light Station?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Derby Wharf Light Station will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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